Literature review of how Telecentres operate and have an impact on eInclusion. Exploratory study on explanations and theories of how Telecentres and other community-based e-Inclusion actors operate and have an impact on digital and social inclusion policy goals

This report includes the results of the research project ‘Exploratory study on explanations and theories of how Telecentres and other community-based e-Inclusion actors operate and have an impact on digital and social inclusion policy goals’. This study was commissioned by IPTS to feed into a forthcoming 2-year research project: Measuring the impact of eInclusion actors on Digital Literacy, Skills and Inclusion goals (MIREIA). The literature review presented in this report was designed to capture the theories and explanations represented in the existing body of research in order to: provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary landscape on theories and analytical frameworks; analyze the value of these theories and analytical frameworks based on predefined criteria and; Develop recommendations on the most promising theoretical pillars that could inform the future research mentioned above. A two-phase research approach was designed: 1) An extended mapping of the literature from the last ten years in which over 100 articles, reports and books were reviewed, coded and identified the most dominant and/or common explanations in relation to the work of e-Inclusion actors; and 2) a selection, categorization, and in-depth coding of these explanations vis-à-vis different impact areas, as well as in relation to institutional capacity. As a conclusion it has been noted that although a lot of the research on eInclusion is set out to measure impacts, in reality studies often end up with some measures of usage and analysis of why expected impacts were not achieved. In addition, there is a large proportion of available literature on telecenters and other such eInclusion actors which is based more on perceived potential than on demonstrated fact and highly contextualized studies, making it difficult to identify valid or reliable trends. These findings will be taken into account in the development of the different tasks of the MIREIA project.JRC.J.3-Information Societ

A resource management framework for sustainability of rural ICT4D projects in Zimbabwe

Developing countries are embracing Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a tool for alleviating poverty. There are, however, still challenges that developing countries face in trying to establish Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). Among the major challenges is the lack of proper resource management which results in poor sustainability of ICT4D initiatives. If these ICT4D initiatives are to be sustainable for the benefit of current and future generations, proper resource management methods are to be developed and applied. This study proposes a resource management framework that can be applied to the management of ICT4D resources with the aim of achieving sustainability. The framework is informed by theory, and validated through enquiry in the field. Qualitative research methodology was used as a research approach for this study where three rural ICT4D initiatives were used as case studies. The case studies were conducted in rural Zimbabwe to investigate how proper resource management can influence the sustainability of ICT4D initiatives. It was identified from the study that the lack of proper resource management methods adversely affects the initiatives’ sustainability. The proposed resource management framework will guide ICT4D resource management to enhance the initiatives’ sustainability

A sustainability assessment framework for infrastructure: Application in stormwater systems

This research presents a three-pronged framework focusing on the functionality-survivability-sustainability (FSS) aspects for sustainability assessment using stormwater infrastructure as its example, and presents a case study to illustrate how the framework can be used. Existing sustainability assessment tools focus mainly on the functional aspects of environmental, social and economic performance separately with emphasis on reducing resource use, and do not capture the changing demands and issues comprehensively. Infrastructure sustainability is defined as the ability of the system to function well and be able to survive complex and emerging stressors without increasing resource consumption, impacting people\u27s health and well-being, and be able to manage for changing circumstances. A process based approach to infrastructure sustainability from resource, people, and change perspective (PRPC) was conceptualized. An infrastructure decision making survey was conducted among people involved in management of water. The twenty-five questions in Group A focused on how sustainability is visualized and uncertainties are factored, and how performance of the system is evaluated. Thirteen questions in Group B focused on issues concerning data and information management. The findings of the survey informed the framework development. A set of 34 indicators were developed for the three domains (FSS), based on the following criteria: resource minimization (R), public health (P) and change management (C). A detailed decision process was developed for evaluating non-quantifiable indicators. A multi-criterion method based on weights derived from experts, and related literature was developed to perform the final assessment, and a template was proposed to present the outcome. The case study revealed that despite highest weight assigned on R in both the weighting schemes, the performance of R was insignificant compared to P and C for functionality and survivability. This indicated that there may be some complex interactions going among different indicators. The zero score for R in sustainability indicated that not having enough information on certain aspect of infrastructure may lead the system towards unsustainability in the long term, even though it may be functional presently and may survive some stressors. Applying the framework in additional infrastructure systems is recommended to test the robustness and wider application of the framework

A framework for decision-making in ICT4D interventions to enable sustained benefit in resource-constrained environments

In the search to reduce the various divides between the developed and the developing world, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is seen as an enabler in resource-constrained environments. However, the impact of ICT for Development (ICT4D) implementations is contested, and the ability to facilitate sustained change remains elusive. Sustainability emerged as a key lesson from the failure of early ICT4D projects, and has served as a focal point in facilitating ICT4D success. However, interpretation of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development seems to be multiple and disconnected from practice, and is rarely translated into a useful construct for guiding project-level actions. The focus of international development is gradually shifting from donated aid towards capability and choice, empowerment, and per-poor initiatives. However, the reality remains that multiple organisations with varying levels of power, resources, and influence determine the outcomes and the sustainability of benefits from a development intervention. This research investigates mechanisms to sustain benefit by exploring the interface between various role players through the lens of decision-making. It builds on the view that the value created by the virtual ‘organisation’ of stakeholders in an ICT4D implementation results from the sum of its decisions, and develops a framework for decision-making with a view on sustaining benefits. The work follows a Design Science Research methodology, comprising an iterative process for the development, testing, and improvement of the framework based on three literature reviews, two case studies, and an expert review. The research answers the primary research question, namely: What are the elements of a framework that support strategic decision-making for the design and implementation of ICT4D interventions in resource-constrained environments, in support of sustained benefit? The knowledge contribution is primarily at the concept and methodological level. In addition to framework development, the decision problem in ICT4D is defined, andthe concept of sustained benefit is proposed as a means of operationalizing sustainability. This research illustrates the role of decision concepts in structuring the complexity of ICT4D problems. It introduces an alternative perspective into the debate on sustainability in ICT4D, and provides a basis for the future development of theory.Information SystemsD. Litt. et Phil. (Information Systems