Design Theory for Societal Digital Transformation: The Case of Digital Global Health

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Braa, Jørn; Sahay, Sundeep; Monteiro, Eric

Abstract: With societal challenges, including but not limited to human development, equit ... Expand

Abstract: With societal challenges, including but not limited to human development, equity, social justice, and climate change, societal-level digital transformation (SDT) is of imminent relevance and theoretical interest. While building on local-level efforts, societal-level transformation is a nonlinear extension of the local level. Unfortunately, academic discourse on digital transformation has largely left SDT unaccounted for. Drawing on more than 25 years of intensive, interventionist research engagement with the digital transformation of public healthcare information management and delivery in more than 80 countries in the Global South, we contribute to theorizing SDT in the form of a design theory consisting of six interconnected design principles. These design principles articulate the interplay and tensions of accommodating over time increased diversity and flexibility in digital solutions, while simultaneously connecting local, national, and regional/ global efforts. inception in three townships in post-apartheid South Africa, different versions and configurations of the DHIS have been adopted by more than 80 countriesincluding all but two African countries south of the Sahara, Norway, and other "developed" countriesthrough the efforts of universities, ministries of health, international organizations, funding, and various other agencies. Its ambition highlights the concerns of equity, inclusiveness, and ideology-that is, making design "that matters" (Bødker & Kyng, 2018) for society.According to Markus and Rowe (2021), the study of SDT to date remains underresearched (cf. also Vial, 2019), despite its tremendous significance in the different facets of social life globally. This mirrors the general critique that Jørn Braa is a professor at the University of Oslo, Norway, where he has spent much of his professional career initiating, cultivating, and promoting interventionist research on and around the DHIS2/ HISP efforts. He is the "father" of the project. His work has been published in outlets including the MIS Quarterly, The Information Society, Information Technology for Development, and in books.Sundeep Sahay is a professor at the University of Oslo, Norway and for the last couple of decades has been engaged in the DHIS2/ HISP project, with a main focus on Asia in general and India in particular. His work has been published in outlets including MIS Quarterly, Information and Organization, Information Systems Research, and in books.Eric Monteiro is a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and an adjunct professor at the University of Oslo. He has a long-term, low-intensity engagement with DHIS2/ HISP spanning more than two decades. His work has been published in outlets including MIS Quarterly, European Journal of Information Systems, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, and a recent book. Collapse

Topics: public good digital transformation digital innovation information management health information system

Methods: design theory synthesis theory development theoretical contribution longitudinal research

Oppositional Logics and the Antecedents of Hybridization: A Country-Level Study of the Diffusion of Islamic Banking Windows, 1975–2017

2020 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Boone, Christophe; Özcan, Serden

Abstract: Little is known about when and where hybrid organizations diffuse. We argue that ... Expand

Abstract: Little is known about when and where hybrid organizations diffuse. We argue that neo-institutional perspectives, which stress the constraining role of market categories and institutional logics, have to be complemented with demand-side perspectives that stress the enabling force of economic incentives to explain the origins of hybrids. We develop theory to predict the country-level diffusion of hybrid forms in Islamic banking in the 1975–2017 period, during which many conventional banks invaded the domain of Islamic banking by starting to sell Islamic banking services, or so-called “Islamic windows.” Our findings underscore the relevance of simultaneously studying the impact of constraining and enabling forces. Consistent with neo-institutional theory, we find strong evidence that a lack of constitutive legitimacy of the window form—only in countries where Muslims make up a large share of the population—and the ideological polarization of local audiences reify the ideological boundaries between the oppositional banking logics, which in turn hampers the diffusion of windows in the focal country. At the same time, however, it appears that the failure of local credit markets and country-level economic globalization, the latter even more in countries with a Muslim majority, provide potent economic incentives for the diffusion of windows. By stressing the role of utilitarian incentives and material exchange as drivers of hybridization, we bridge the gap between neo-institutional and more rationalist approaches of institutional change. Collapse

Topics: database system website digital media social identity

Methods: hazard function descriptive statistic robustness check regression analysis method likelihood-ratio test

Theories: institutional theory dominant logic

Mobile phone dependency among highly vulnerable migrants: A belongingness perspective

2020 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 1

Authors: Von Deden, Mette; Masiero, Silvia; Ravishankar, M. N.

Abstract: In this paper we examine how highly vulnerable migrants who exist at the margin ... Expand

Abstract: In this paper we examine how highly vulnerable migrants who exist at the margins of society use mobile phones to achieve a sense of belongingness and control in their precarious life situations. Drawing on the belongingness hypothesis from Baumeister and Leary (1995), we analyse ethnographic data collected during long-term fieldwork (2018)(2019) among African migrants in South Italy. We show how, in the precarious spaces inhabited by recently-settled migrants, mobile phones ease the pain of loneliness and isolation and act as an enabler of belongingness by (1) becoming a place of refuge, and enabling feelings of comfort through (2) the creation of new social relations, and (3) bridging the old and the new world lived by subjects in new settings. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the need for loved ones and friends intertwines with the creation of mobile phone dependency among migrants, who in consequence risk becoming even more vulnerable during a critical juncture of their lives. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on ICTs and the social inclusion of migrants and refugees, exploring an urgent aspect of mobile phone usage among vulnerable migrants and illuminating new forms of sociotechnically induced dependency. Collapse

Topics: mobile phone social network internet technology technology diffusion information system use

Methods: field study qualitative interview ethnography qualitative coding personal interview

A usability assessment of e-government websites in Sub-Saharan Africa

2018 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Verkijika, Silas Formunyuy; De Wet, Lizette

Abstract: E-government holds enormous potential for improving the administrative efficiency ... Expand

Abstract: E-government holds enormous potential for improving the administrative efficiency of public institutions, encouraging democratic governance, and building trust between citizens/private sector and governments. However, most e-government initiatives to date have failed to attain their full potential, because they are increasingly plagued by usability issues. Consequently, there have been increasing calls for evaluating the usability of e-government websites, as they are widely considered to be the primary platform for government interaction with citizens. This study, therefore, seeks to contribute to extant knowledge by evaluating the usability of egovernment websites from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is particularly important as little is known about the usability of e-government websites in the region, and worst still, it is the least advanced region in terms of egovernment development. This study evaluated a total of 279 e-government websites from 31 SSA countries. The findings showed that most e-government websites in SSA were characterised by poor usability. The average usability score for the websites was 36.2%, with the most usable website having a score of only 64.8%. The study also showed that the usability of e-government websites was positively associated with the E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and the E-Participation Index (EPI). Collapse

Topics: government system website usability

Methods: usability testing theoretical contribution survey triangulation

An alternative measure of the ICT-Opportunity Index

2010 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Emrouznejad, Ali; Cabanda, Emilyn; Gholami, Roya

Abstract: We developed an alternative approach for measuring information and communication ... Expand

Abstract: We developed an alternative approach for measuring information and communication technology (ICT), applying Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) using data from the International Telecommunications Union as a sample of 183 economies. We compared the ICT-Opportunity Index (ICT-OI) with our DEA-Opportunity Index (DEA-OI) and found a high correlation between the two. Our findings suggest that both indices are consistent in their measurement of digital opportunity, though differences still exist in different regions. Our new DEA-OI offers much more than the ICT-OI. Using our model, the target and peer groups for each country can be identified. Collapse

Topics: decision making IT policy information technology infrastructure communication service infrastructure

Methods: descriptive statistic trade-off analysis method data envelopment analysis

The Neglected Continent of IS Research: A Research Agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa

2005 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Mbarika, Victor W. A.; Okoli, Chitu; Byrd, Terry Anthony; Datta, Pratim

Abstract: Research with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a major region within the wor ... Expand

Abstract: Research with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a major region within the world's second largest continent, is almost non-existent in mainstream information systems research. Although infrastructures for information and communication technology (ICT) are well established in the more developed and industrialized parts of the world, the same is not true for developing countries. Research on developing countries has been rare in mainstream IS and, even where existent, has often overlooked the particular situation of SSA, home to 33 of the world's 48 least-developed countries. Ironically, it is such parts of the world that can stand to gain the most from the promise of ICT with applications that would help the socioeconomic development of this region. In this study, we present the need for focused research on the ICT development and application for SSA. The information systems research community has a unique and valuable perspective to bring to the challenges this region faces in developing its ICT infrastructure, hence extending research and practice in ICT diffusion and policy. We present here a research agenda for studying the adoption, development, and application of ICT in SSA. In particular, teledensity, telemedicine, online education, and e-commerce present important areas for research, with implications for research, practice, and teaching. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce digital ecosystem information technology infrastructure electronic health internet technology

Methods: literature sample

Applicability of Context-Aware Framework of Knowledge Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Research Proposal

2003 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Okunoye, Adekunle

Abstract: The existing frameworks of knowledge management do not consider the global diver ... Expand

Abstract: The existing frameworks of knowledge management do not consider the global diversity and thus, may not be appropriate for organizations in developing countries. KAFRA, a context-aware framework was developed to meet the specific needs of organizations in developing countries and possibly globally. The framework was based on the empirical study of six research organizations in Nigeria and The Gambia, and a follow-up study in two organizations in India. This paper describes a proposed study on the implementation and applicability of this framework using two different research approaches. Collapse

Topics: knowledge management

Methods: delphi study survey field study longitudinal research

The Evolution of an Information Economy in West Africa: A Framework for Developing an Information Infrastructure in The Gambia

2001 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Kah, Muhammadou; Papp, Raymond

Abstract: This paper develops a framework for developing and implementing an information i ... Expand

Abstract: This paper develops a framework for developing and implementing an information infrastructure in a developing country with limited resources. It is based on an assessment of the evolution of an information economy in The Gambia. It is formulated in terms of the linkages between telecommunications and information technology infrastructure and economic development. The paper proposes a conceptual model of an Information Based Economy (IBE) for developing countries such as the Gambia. The framework, and the propositions that are developed from it, should be useful both for researchers, who can use it for developing testable research hypothesis, and for policy makers in developing economies, who may use it as a basis for developing a comprehensive set of sustainable information technology strategies that they can appropriately implement. Collapse

Topics: communication service infrastructure information technology infrastructure information systems strategy IT policy information system use

Methods: conceptual modelling

Theories: theory of economic development

Strategic Significance of Information Technology: The Gambia, West Africa

2000 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Kah, Muhammadou M O

Abstract: The Gambia, a small West African country with limited resources has began to exp ... Expand

Abstract: The Gambia, a small West African country with limited resources has began to experience the diffusion of information technology. The dawn of the digital economy in this small West African country has already begun. In order for the Gambia to reap the benefits of this new info-economy, the government needs to identify information technology (IT) as a strategic tool. This paper attempts to discuss the country’s experience with IT, significance of IT in this small West African economy, and the potential role of IT. Furthermore, the paper also highlights some of the issues, challenges, opportunities and questions faced as the Gambia slowly and quietly builds her information economy. The paper concludes by examining the challenges faced in building and information infrastructure an info-economy in The Gambia and the strategic significance of IT in the economic growth, development and improvement of quality of life in the Gambia. Collapse

Topics: IS education technology diffusion information technology infrastructure

Theories: theory of economic growth