Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries最新文献

There exists isolated work that focuses on context, resilience, and sustainability of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D). However, research on how the three concepts inform and influence one another to better meet the development goals and priorities is limited. More research is required to enhance our holistic understanding of ICT4D interventions in terms of the approaches applied to investigate context, resilience, and sustainability from socio-technical perspectives. This research explores the link among the triple concepts to fill the above void, drawing from qualitative data collected from multiple but networked stakeholders at a local agriculture extension information service. Data is processed in a way to understand: the context of the local development practices and stakeholders, the gaps in the design of information systems applied to support local development practices, and how local communities remain resilient in their information exchange practices. Building on the existing knowledge of context, resilience, and sustainability in ICT4D the research shows how the context of the local development practices inform resilience and in turn how resilience enables the continued operation of the local development practices (context), and how context and resilience lead to sustainable ICT4D interventions. The research contributes to theory by showing how the social and technical resources distributed in the social system and the stakeholders' networks can be unlocked to conceptualize the links between the triple concepts. It informs practitioners on how they can develop a holistic understanding of the socio-technical contexts of local developments and the socio-technical factors to design resilient ICT4D that will lead to sustainable digital interventions.

The article investigates the Geographical variations in the outreach of information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion and its effects on rural development across 341 Community Development (CD) blocks of West Bengal. The study is based on secondary data. Secondary data has been collected from Districts Statistical Handbook, Primary Census Abstract, District Census Handbook, and Socio-Economic and Caste Census. The principal component analysis technique has been used for ICT diffusion index calculation. ArcMap 10.1 has been used for Mapmaking to understand the spatial intensity of the ICT index. The study finds that West Bengal falls within the least zone (0.07–0.18) of ICT diffusion in India due to multi-dimensional socio-economic factors. Only 35 CD blocks out of 341 are located in the high ICT diffusion zone (0.49–0.79) in West Bengal, which is 6.87 percent area to the total area. The study concluded that the higher the ICT diffusion higher is the rural development in West Bengal. The study recommends that the government invest more money in ICT in rural development.

The article aims to identify the stage of development of Fintech in the Balkan countries given the existence of numerous influencing factors Fintech is present in the Balkan countries, with a landscape colorfully generated by the different factors as the involvement of public authorities, the EU membership of only a few countries, the level of financial and digital education of the population. In order to highlight the variables influencing Fintech and financial inclusion in selected countries, specific indicators were used—internet usage and the share of bank assets in GDP, and several indicators regarding individuals performance, that is, online shopping, paid bills via internet, accessed a bank account online, paid utility bills using a mobile phone, made or received digital payments, account ownership and debit card ownership. The sample consists of all eight Balkan countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania. For testing the hypothesis in the analysis are used: descriptives, ANOVA, cluster analysis and principal components analysis. The results demonstrated that Balkan countries are not homogenous regarding Fintech and financial inclusion, the differences being generated both by the public policies in the financial field but also by IT development and by the population openness for using the new financial services and products. For these reasons, the authors identified economic policy measures that can be applied to increase financial inclusion in these countries given the facilities offered by Fintech and the digitization of financial products.

Telemedicine comprises different health services held at a distance and is a promising practice for inclusive health care. However, there is still no consensus in the literature about the factors that influence the acceptance and dissemination of these practices. Thus, this study analyzes the factors that influence the acceptance of telemedicine, more specifically, of teleconsultations, by physicians, and seeks to understand how institutional factors act to disseminate or prevent their acceptance. An exploratory and qualitative study was carried out in Brazil, through interviews with physicians from different specialties and documents analyzes. We analyzed documents from public hearings on the regulation of telemedicine, and reports, discussions, and videos about teleconsultations. We conducted two coding cycles of data and we identified 12 factors influencing the acceptance of telemedicine/teleconsultations. Seven of these factors had previously been identified in the literature, namely: Regulatory Factors, Level of Instruction and Preparation of Users, Resistance to Change, Technological Infrastructure, Value Perception, Organizational Characteristics, and Financial Support. Five other acceptance factors emerged from our empirical data: Corporatism, Possibilities by Medical Specialization, In-Person Physical Examination, Commoditization of Telemedicine, and Previous Doctor–Patient Relationship. Based on Institutional Theory, we associated all the acceptance factors identified to the three institutional pillars, as in the study by Scott in 2014: Regulative, Normative, and Cultural Cognitive, also identifying main themes to which these factors are related, in each one of the three institutional pillars, respectively: regulation, structure, and lack of knowledge.

This study examines the mechanisms fostering sustainable value propositions of implemented e-Governments projects in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a research focus. Value propositions identify how public organizations use e-Government to fulfill citizens' needs across different roles. Using a concept-centric systematic review, we identified such value propositions as effective public organizations, quality service delivery, open government and democratic values, as well as social values and well-being. We chose some selected e-Government projects in Nigeria and Rwanda; adopted realist evaluation (RE) multiple case studies as a methodology and introduced affordance actualization, self-determination theory, and sustainability framework for e-Government success as theoretical lenses. To collect data, we adopted a mixed method RE approach and used a contingent valuation method (CVM) as a quantitative aspect to identify the actualized value propositions in operations in the implemented e-Government projects in Nigeria and Rwanda as outcomes. Sequentially followed by a realist interview as a qualitative approach to collect and analyze data we uncovered the generative mechanisms causing such outcomes to exist and be sustainable. Our findings revealed technological cognizance and autonomy as well as competence as individual mechanisms identified for sustaining such outcomes. While organizational mechanisms revealed are continuous availability of funds, institutional, administrative, and coordinating capacity with leadership and political support. Other organizational mechanisms include institutionalizing the technology within local settings with ongoing monitoring and improvement evaluation enabled by both internal and external contextual conditions. We synthesized our findings into an actualized value sustainability framework for implemented e-Government projects in SSA to contribute to academics and practice in ICT4D, particularly RE application in e-Government study, which is nascent.

This article addresses the multifaceted and far-reaching implications of digital inequality (DI), drawing upon emerging trends and examples. The aim is to sensitize policymakers, practitioners, and academics to issues surrounding DI and foster a common and deeper understanding among relevant stakeholders. While research has recognized digital inequality and its dimensions, it has not explicated its broader impact thoroughly, particularly in the current era of digital transformation. The information communication technology (ICT) domain has evolved significantly because of its strong interrelationship with many other sectors, encompassing critical issues such as ethics, inequality, leadership, social capital, governance, and management. There is still a considerable gap in understanding the complexities around digital inequality, which varies across different contexts. Reflecting on over 15 years of experience in information communication technology for development (ICT4D) as both a practitioner and researcher, the evolution of DI in terms of social transformation and its growing short- and long-term implications are discussed. Strategies and pathways for the future are presented, grouped into six areas: a call for a renewed philosophical shift and campaign for digital equality, policy interventions, inclusive technology solutions and services, holistic human capacity building, the universities' role, and the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to address DI.

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions by many countries worldwide to control the spread of the virus forced several organizations to shift work to homes, aided by digital technologies. However, digital infrastructure and homeworking space, which facilitate home-based e-working, are constrained in the developing world. It is, therefore, crucial to understand how developing country organizations maintain business operations under pandemic situations using home-based e-working and the challenges it poses. This study employs interpretive qualitative research methodology with a socio-technical perspective to explore home-based e-working under COVID-19 conditions using five reputable corporate organizations in Ghana. Findings from the study show that home-based e-working under pandemic conditions can be seen as a business continuity strategy that requires business continuity policy and plan, digital infrastructure and platforms, and cybersecurity. The findings also identified the challenges as partial work virtualization, cybercrime, transition cost, digital divide, and home environment constraints. The findings have implications for research and organizational management in developing countries.