Exploring the Link between ICT and Development in the Context of Developing Countries: A Literature Review (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
Sen's Capability Approach (CA) has emerged as holistic lenses for theorising development within Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) discourses. There is ongoing research on operationalising CA for ICT, with a number of frameworks having been developed. However, there seems to be minimal usage of these frameworks. This paper explores how the ICT artefact has been conceptualised in these CA-based ICT4D frameworks. This paper gives an overview of CA and then makes a critical review of six CA-based ICT4D frameworks. Research gaps are identified from the review. The paper recommends the development of a framework that holistically conceptualises the ICT artefact in CA. This will be beneficial to ICT4D researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It will help them to empirically analyse the contribution of existing ICT-enabled interventions towards development outcomes. The providers of the ICT artefacts will be able to consider how the ICT artefact plays out in the development journey of their customers. The framework could also be helpful in formulating policies that will ensure implementation of ICT4D interventions which will expand people's capabilities.
Approaches to ICT for development (ICT4D): Vulnerabilities vs. capabilities
Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) scholars have often criticised that most researchers in this field tend not to use theory to build, test or extend further concepts in their projects (Ogan et al., 2009, Heeks, 2007) while Burrell and Toyama (2009) reflected that it is precisely because of its breadth and range of research that ICT4D lack a common foundation of concepts and terms. Heeks (2007) lamented that very little work has been deduced from the “D” of ICT4D. In this paper, the author will attempt to review recent literature which contributed to arguably the two most contentious concept-based research in ICT for Development - Amartya Sen’s and philosopher Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach (Sen, 1999a, Nussbaum, 1988) against a very different vulnerabilities approach of poverty and debate the validity of both approaches to ICT4D research. This paper posits that both paradigms can be applied to the same development project depending on its enthymeme and suggests that the acceptance that all of these viewpoints will and should continue to coexist within the realms of the academic and practitioner communities for the benefit of this new and emerging field called ICT4D.
A Socio-Technical Analysis of ICT Investments in Developing Countries: A Capability Perspective
The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries
Most existing ICT for development (ICT4D) literature tends to focus mainly on design, transfer and implementation issues. There is limited focus on the impact of ICT projects on development and little concrete analysis of these initiatives in terms of their long-term developmental impact. In this paper, we draw upon Luke's (1974) concept of power and Sen's (1999) notion of capabilities as an evaluative space for ICT project assessment. The novel approach taken from Luke's concept of power with Sen's capability approach attempts to understand the social powers that may inhibit or enable individuals from taking full advantage of ICT resources for furtherance of their lives. The framework's utility is illustrated with a case study based on an empirical work in the Nigerian electricity sector. The combined framework and case study contribute to knowledge on the development of theory and informs practice by offering a novel approach to examining ICT-led developmental projects. The study concludes with some implications for policy makers advancing an agenda on "ICT for Development".
Development, capabilities and technology: an evaluative framework
… of the 11th International Conference on …, 2011
In this paper we present a framework to be used for evaluation of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) projects. The framework is based on Sen´s notion of development as freedom where human capabilities and functionings are seen as key aspects to development. Sen´s capability approach presents an alternative way of seeing and evaluating development (alternative to more traditional ways of measuring development). The approach is based on expanding freedoms, or eliminating unfreedoms, for people so that they can live a life that they have reason to value. Even though Sen is referenced a lot in ICT4D literature the analysis rarely goes further then stating that Sen presents an alternative to traditional ways of development. Reasons can be that the capability approach does not specifically mention technology, in addition to the lack of guidelines presented by Sen on how to use the framework. The aim of this paper is to operationalize the evaluation process and to include a clear role for technology in Sen´s capability framework. The framework is validated with a case on distance education from Bangladesh.
Towards a structured approach for evaluating the ICT contribution to development
International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions (ICTer), 2014
Undoubtedly Information and communication Technologies (ICT) contribute to development; however there is a need to know how and the extent to which development occurs. Moreover the evaluation of the ICT contribution to development has been challenged from theoretical, ethical and methodological angles. This paper addresses some of these challenges by proposing a model that enables systematic evaluation of the ICT contribution to development. The proposed model is conceptually motivated by Amartya Sen's capability approach that defines development as freedom. Development is a process that involves the provision of opportunities (capabilities) from an ICT resource, as well as actually exploiting the opportunities to realize development benefits. The conversion of resources to opportunities and opportunities to development benefits is facilitated or inhibited by various contextual factors. Development from the capability perspective is both peoplecentered and multidimensional. This requires consideration of both instrumental effectiveness and intrinsic importance. Consequently five evaluation dimensions concerning social and economic development are proposed; namely research and education opportunities, healthcare, economic facilities, political freedoms and psychological wellbeing. ICT4D evaluation indicators are suggested for each dimension and a Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) structured evaluation process is proposed to guide the evaluation. The application of a structured evaluation approach is illustrated through the example of an online learning environment at a University in a developing country. Future research is underway to further apply and validate the model in practice.
ICT in Development: A Contextual Approach
Indian Journal of Human Development, 2018
The importance of information and communication technology (ICT) in economic development is a topic that still raises contention. The view held commonly among global development institutionsthe World Bank, UN, The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and so on-is that it plays a positive role. Within a new approach to the role of knowledge in economic development, stress is laid on how to bridge the gap between technologically advanced countries (TACs) where ICT use is widespread and less developed countries (LDCs) where shortage or lack of access to it is perceived as an impediment to growth and development. While agreeing, in principle, with a positive viewpoint on ICT in economic development, this essay takes a different approach; it seeks to analyse the contextual adaptations of ICT use rather than its use ipso facto leading to a positive outcome. It is argued that ICT use adapts itself to the socio-organizational design of work in an LDC rather than transforming it. Further, to bring this technological change, a much more hands-on approach in ICT service production and dissemination would be required instead of these countries functioning as mere recipients of arm's length ICT services.
Certain international agencies propose that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) allows development to be reached more efficiently and quickly. While there are success stories galore, there is acknowledgement of not all investments in ICT bringing positive effects towards development. Following the Capabilities Approach, this paper discusses how the use of ICT can promote a more effective development by studying the case of Sudotec (association for technological and industrial development), a non-profit organization that saw in ICT the opportunity to change the local scenario. The results revealed positive effects of the use of ICT in social, economical and cultural spheres, but not presenting political effect.
Conceptualizing development in information and communication technology for development (ICT4D)
Information Technology for Development
ICT4D research is faced with the challenge of rapidly changing technologies and increasingly complex social dynamics and development processes. We argue that ICT4D research requires a more acute sense of where our research is situated within a broader picture of development, e.g. with a better understanding of development processes, their ideological nature, the power structures and driving forces, and the mechanisms through which ICTs may be embedded in and shape these processes. Such a reflexivity is crucial not least in justifying our claims of contribution, but also in understanding the implications and potential impact of our research and practice. This editorial seeks to explore key conceptual components in ICT4D and their relationships, including dimensions of development, perspectives of development, conceptions of artefacts, and theory of change. A tentative conceptual schema is presented that connects these conceptual components.