The Developmental Contribution From Mobile Phones Across the Agricultural Value Chain in Rural Africa

Published version of an article from the journal: The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. Also available fro the publisher: http://www.ejisdc.org/Ojs2/index.php/ejisdc/article/viewFile/849/377 The most widespread information and communication technology (ICT) in developing countries today is the mobile phone. The majority of people in the least developed countries still live in rural areas and their livelihood depends on the primary industries. This study investigates the use of mobile phones among farmers in rural Tanzania in order to supply empirical data on the developmental role of this technology. The results show that the improved access to communication…

Understanding the use of mobile phones in the agricultural sector in rural Indonesia: using the capability approach as lens

This study aims to investigate the use of mobile phones in the agricultural sector and its possible contributions to development of developing countries, with special reference to Indonesia. In our interpretive work, the capability approach is used as a lens, and the study is informed by data from interviews with various actors and field observations. The paper unearths the pattern of use of mobile phones among farmers in their professional network and shows that ownership and use of mobile phones varies, depending on the farmers' location in the network hierarchy. The study further unveils that the conversion factors play a significant role in order to realise achievement (functionings) fr…

Tensions in Information System Artefacts: Explaining Land Information Systems’ Sub-optimal Impact in Indonesia

Part 14: Current Issues; International audience; Despite the advancement of more integrated land information systems (LIS), conflicts and disputes over land in Indonesia remain. Our study seeks to explain this situation. Using an interpretive case study conducted in Eastern Indonesia and framed within the concepts of information system (IS) artefacts, we find that tensions within and between information, technology, and social artefacts help to explain the sub-optimal LIS impacts. Inconsistent information, unsuitable technology, and conflicting social arrangements are examples of such tensions. Unless the tensions are properly resolved, LIS use cannot fulfil its potential for more appropria…

Intermediaries: bridges across the digital divide

The challenge of bringing developing countries into the “information society” has been traditionally framed as bridging the digital divide. Meeting this challenge has predominantly been through technical solutions aimed at providing physical access to the Internet. Yet, other aspects of the divide such as low literacy rates, gender and religious issues arguably pose bigger hurdles in getting the benefits of the Internet to the vast majority of the population of developing countries. They are seldom aware of the information available on the net and even when they are, they have difficulty using it. To facilitate access and use of the Internet by the population, an intermediary is often neede…

Land Information Systems for Development (LIS4D): A Neglected Area within ICT4D Research?

The lack of accurate information about land and land ownership is a major challenge for developing countries. Despite the important role of information systems (IS) in overcoming such weaknesses, the research area of land information systems has been scattered within IS, as well as within the area of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). Based on a literature review research contributions are synthesized into four main perspectives, namely Development, eGovernment, Geographical information systems (GIS) and Land law, policy, and administration. These perspectives form the basis for the suggested conceptualization of the land information systems for development …

The role telecentres play in providing e-government services in rural areas

E-Government Challenges and the Role of Political Leadership in Indonesia:  The Case of Sragen

In general, developing countries are lagging behind in e-government adoption compared to developed countries. Within Indonesia, there is a huge disparity in e- government implementation between districts. This study presents e-government challenges and the role of political leadership in the rural district of Sragen, one of the leading districts in implementing e-government in the country. The study focuses on the supply-side of e- government, and categorises the challenges in three main areas; management, infrastructure, and human factors. Initiatives taken to deal with these challenges are presented and strong political leadership is found to play an important role.

Internet Cafés in Asia and Africa – Venues for Education and Learning?

ABSTRACT
 This paper examines the use of Internet cafés in two developing countries; Indonesia and Tanzania. The research is based on surveys of about 500 respondents in the two countries, supported by in-depth interviews. The findings show that Internet cafés are used for competence development today, and that they have the potential to be suitable arenas for human resource development for a wide range of users. For the users, access speed and price are important obstacles to increased use. More research is needed to see how Internet cafés can attract new user-groups to help reduce the digital divide within a developing country.

Does a land information system resolve land conflicts?

The absence of accurate land management arguably results in land conflicts as well as uncontrolled land use and conversion. The adoption of a land information system (LIS) might remedy such problems. Our study in rural Eastern Indonesia found that land management is a complex system involving various stakeholders, including the side of the local people and the side of the government. To some extent, an LIS is already in place but the actualised affordances it offers are limited because the system is hindered by numerous conflicts over uncertified land.

Supply and Demand of e-Government Services in Developing Countries: Cases from Tanzania

One of the main contributions in order to create development in poor countries is to give people access to information and communication. Most people in poor countries cannot afford to buy their own computer equipment, and access has therefore to be facilitated by arrangements for public use. Today, Internet cafes and telecentres are the two main sources of public Internet access in developing countries. One area where information technology and public Internet access can be particularly useful for the development of poor countries is as a tool for promoting good governance through e-government systems. Generally, developing countries are lagging behind in e-government adoption, and in this…

Grounded Analytic Research: Building Theory from a Body of Research

Track II: Recent Developments in Inductive Research Methods; International audience; In this paper, we present Grounded Analytic Research (GAR) as a method to build theory by synthesizing empirical findings from multiple studies that has been conducted by a single researcher. GAR incorporates concepts from grounded theory, analytic research and systematic literature review. The method was applied in a doctoral dissertation work to build the theoretical concept of Demand Sustainability of public Internet access in the context of bridging the digital divide. We describe GAR and compare it with existing theory building methods that are similar to it in epistemology and ontology.