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

Measuring the Big Data Readiness of Developing Countries – Index Development and its Application to Africa

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Joubert, Anke; Murawski, Matthias; Bick, Markus

Abstract: The use of big data promises to drive economic growth and development and can th ... Expand

Abstract: The use of big data promises to drive economic growth and development and can therefore be a value-adding factor, but compared to private or public organisations, the country level is rarely investigated, and that is even more evident for developing countries. Another topic hardly ever considered in the big data research field is ‘big data readiness’, which means the level of preparation and willingness to exploit big data. We address these shortcomings in the literature and focus on the big data readiness of developing countries. Thus, the first research question is: what components are required for an index measuring big data readiness, and how can such an index be designed? We use a design science approach to develop the “Big Data Readiness Index” (BDRI), which is then applied to all African countries to answer our second research question: how do African countries perform in terms of the BDRI? Our analysis yields country rankings that show relatively high BDRI scores for coastal countries, such as South Africa, Kenya and Namibia, and for islands, such as Mauritius. Related implications for both research and policy are discussed. Collapse

Topics: big data missing data open data research and development telephone

Methods: design science cluster analysis hierarchical clustering literature study design process

Examining Ecosystems and Infrastructure Perspectives of Platforms: The Case of Small Tourism Service Providers in Indonesia and Rwanda

2022 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Foster, Christopher; Bentley, Caitlin

Abstract: Digital platforms are significantly affecting how firms and individuals underta ... Expand

Abstract: Digital platforms are significantly affecting how firms and individuals undertake economic exchange. With their global expansion, exploring the implications of platforms for those who sell goods or provide services in the global south is an important agenda for determining their value. Yet, we argue that existing frameworks only provide a partial understanding of activities and relations.In this paper, we examine platforms through an analysis of two theoretical perspectives. Established ecosystems perspectives focus on platform governance, centralizing the activities of the 'platform owner'. Such perspectives allow an analysis of platform strategy but can underplay the ways platform sellers and service providers engage with platforms. Infrastructure perspectives, in contrast, approach platforms as large and complex systems, which we argue allows for better analysis of the practices and agency of such actors.An analysis of small tourism service providers in Indonesian and Rwandan tourism supports the discussion of these two perspectives. Findings highlight the growth of global platforms, but service providers face challenges in using them effectively. Infrastructure perspectives highlight risks that service providers face in being pulled into adverse relationships as platforms become ubiquitous. As platforms expand, their complexity leads to challenges in engagement, but with potential for learning and collaboration. Collapse

Topics: digital ecosystem electronic mail mobile application platform governance information system use

Methods: qualitative interview literature study case study

Theories: socio technical theory

Understanding AI ecosystems in the Global South: The cases of Senegal and Cambodia

2022 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Heng, Samedi; Tsilionis, Konstantinos; Scharff, Christelle; Wautelet, Yves

Abstract: The Global South (GS) refers to a block of countries in the process of rapidly c ... Expand

Abstract: The Global South (GS) refers to a block of countries in the process of rapidly catching up with the industriali­ zation of their economies. GS countries are trying to leverage their growing demand for innovative products and services to negotiate the uptake of novel technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). The latter can help such countries further stimulate their economic growth and become influential in dictating policies that could advance global development. However, a misaligned AI-adoption strategy entails the risk of alienating the social, economic, and even cultural requirements of such countries, ultimately leading to the incorporation of tech­ nologies not serving the needs of their users. Subsequently, we conduct a study whose goal is to provide guidelines on how to perform a comprehensive analysis of the AI ecosystems in GS countries, to determine their readiness to adopt and utilize beneficially these technologies. For this, we performed a qualitative case study of two GS countries, namely Senegal and Cambodia. The depiction of their AI ecosystems unveiled the need to stimulate their societies (i.e., by media exposure, education, etc.) in discerning the practical effects of AI. However, an impactful AI implementation requires a reciprocated satisfaction of the needs of multiple contributing actors. Finally, particular recommendations are offered at the level of these countries’ academic, industrial, and governmental constitutions, suggesting to focalize their resources in order to better energize (and optimally disperse) their research and entrepreneurial capabilities that could help identify the ways in which AI solutions can be of added-value within the premises of these two countries. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence digital transformation innovation management IS economics privacy

Methods: qualitative interview computational algorithm survey case study theoretical contribution

Theories: socio technical theory theory of economic growth

Towards Synthetic and Balanced Digital Government Benchmarking

2020 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Durkiewicz, Jaromir; Janowski, Tomasz

Abstract: Reliable benchmarking is essential for effective management of the government di ... Expand

Abstract: Reliable benchmarking is essential for effective management of the government digitalization efforts. Existing benchmarking instruments generally fail to support this target. One problem is the diversity of instruments, resulting in a split image of digital progress and adding ambiguity to policy decisions. Another problem is disconnect in assessing progress between digital and traditional “analog” governance, lending support to a dangerous idea that countries can compensate for lack of progress in their governance systems by simply digitalizing them. This paper provides a path to addressing both problems by: aggregating relevant indicators of the World Economic Forum’s Network Readiness Index (NRI) to obtain a single synthetic measure of digital government, balancing this measure with progress in analog governance using World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), calculating new measures for the latest editions of NRI and WGI, and discussing results. Technically, the paper applies multidimensional linear ordering and factor analysis. Collapse

Topics: government system spreadsheet IT productivity information system use

Methods: data transformation computational algorithm principal component analysis literature study descriptive statistic

Deep Pockets and Poor Results: The Effect of Wealth Cues on First Offers in Negotiation

2019 | Group Decision and Negotiation | Citations: 0

Authors: Maaravi, Yossi; Hameiri, Boaz

Abstract: In this article, we examined the effect of external cues on first offers in nego ... Expand

Abstract: In this article, we examined the effect of external cues on first offers in negotiation. Specifically, we present the results of three experiments and an internal meta-analysis through which we investigated the relations between buyers’ external characteristics, which serve as cues of economic wealth, including their clothes, cars and country of origin, and sellers’ first offers in negotiation. We found that when external cues indicated wealth, counteroffers were less beneficial to those communicating the cues, resulting in higher first offers by their counterparts. We suggest, and provide empirical evidence, that these effects will emerge as long as the wealth signal is salient and perceived as an indication for the counterpart’s ‘deep pockets’, or ability to pay. Collapse

Topics: business-to-consumer social influence decision making

Methods: experiment meta analysis parametric test survey two-way ANOVA

Water Wells Site Selection in East Africa Using GIS Applications

2018 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Caceres, Claudia; Osailan, Sarah

Abstract: Safe water accessibility is a basic human right and an essential need for follow ... Expand

Abstract: Safe water accessibility is a basic human right and an essential need for following a healthy lifestyle around the globe. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can serve as a development tool that provides solutions to facilitate easier access to water well locations. However, several methodologies suggest different processes to identify the optimal locations for water wells while at least 1.8 billion people around the world use a fecally contaminated source of drinking water. Since this dilemma is still occurring in the eastern region of Africa, it was necessary to investigate the best practices used to discover locations for drilling wells based on experimental knowledge and updated datasets provided by World Vision. This research utilizes (GIS) to identify the best locations for drilling wells based on empirical knowledge. A web application was created to display the layers generated and to facilitate data access for users. Collapse

Topics: web application geographic information system productivity

Methods: longitudinal research autocorrelation analysis ordinary least square literature study

Emergency Vocabulary

2018 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 3

Authors: Nemeskey, Dávid Márk; Kornai, András

Abstract: For disaster preparedness, a key aspect of the work is the identification, ahead ... Expand

Abstract: For disaster preparedness, a key aspect of the work is the identification, ahead of time, of the vocabulary of emergency messages. Here we describe how static repositories of traditional news reports can be rapidly exploited to yield disaster- or accident-implicated words and named entities. Collapse

Topics: tornado tsunami earthquake armed conflict terrorist incident

Methods: experiment CoreNLP pilot experiment computational algorithm Okapi BM25

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

Legitimacy and the Benefits of Firm Formalization

2017 | Organization Science | Citations: 14

Authors: Assenova, Valentina A.; Sorenson, Olav

Abstract: Entrepreneurs in many emerging economies start their firms informally, without r ... Expand

Abstract: Entrepreneurs in many emerging economies start their firms informally, without registering with the state. We examine how informality at the time of founding affected the performance of 12,146 firms in 18 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings indicate that entrepreneurs who registered their firms at founding enjoyed greater success in terms of sales and employment. But these benefits varied widely across countries. Consistent with the idea that legitimation processes account for these benefits, countries in which people trust their government more had larger advantages associated with being formal. Collapse

Topics: organizational productivity

Methods: survey descriptive statistic data transformation parametric test two sample t-test with equal variance