A sustainability framework for mobile technology integration in resource-constrained schools: a case study in South Africa

The importance of sustainability for ICT4D projects has been acknowledged but there remains, however, a lack of frameworks to guide the long-term sustainability of mobile technology integration to support teaching. The diversity of contexts complicates the development of a consolidated view of how to sustain mobile technology integration into teaching. This study sought to investigate and develop a sustainability framework for mobile technology integration in schools in resource-constrained environments in South Africa (SFMTIS). The Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) was applied to answer the research questions and to iteratively develop the SFMTIS artifact. The main philosophy which guided the research is pragmatism. Interpretivism was applied, when a case study was used, to refine and validate the framework within the DSRM process model. This research was undertaken from 2014 to 2017 and the SFMTIS was developed in three phases. Based on the review of the existing literature, an initial framework was synthesised in Phase 1. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate mobile technology integration in the South African basic education system as well as ICT4D sustainability models and frameworks. The SFMTIS sustainability dimensions, as abstracted from the literature, include financial, political, social/cultural, technological, environmental and pedagogical sustainability. In Phase 2 of the research a case study was done to investigate the perspectives held by teachers and district officials regarding mobile learning integration in the schools. The findings were used to improve the initial SFMTIS. The case study involved teachers from schools that had formerly participated in the ICT for rural education and development (ICT4RED) initiative who were selected through purposive sampling to participate in this research as well as district officials from the same school district. The ICT4RED initiative is a large-scale South African government research, development and implementation initiative which was carried out over a period of three years, from 2012 to 2014, at one of the school districts in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The initiative investigated ways in which ICTs can be integrated into teaching and learning in rural areas. The findings from the interviews with teachers and district officials, provided evidence which confirmed the value of the sustainability dimensions identified in literature. The study highlighted financial and technical support mechanisms required for the sustainable iv deployment of ICTs. The research findings indicate that communication and coordination at all levels of the education system, micro (school), meso (school circuit and district) and macro (provincial and national) are essential for ensuring sustainability. The findings highlighted some specific issues related to institutional challenges. This motivated the proposition of the institutional dimension to represent the structure, processes and practices at micro, meso and macro levels of the education system. The intermediate SFMTIS was refined by applying the findings of the case study to the initial framework. In Phase 3 the intermediate framework was presented to the teachers and district officials who had formerly been interviewed during the development of the SFMTIS, as well as other experienced individuals who had been involved in the implementation of the ICT4RED initiative, for their expert evaluations. The expert reviewers’ feedback was applied to refine the intermediate SFMTIS and aided in the development of the final SFMTIS. The research contributes to theory by developing the theoretically grounded, evidence-based SFMTIS, thus contributing to praxis and adding new knowledge of a focal theory that addresses sustainable mobile technology integration in schools in resource-constrained environments.Information SciencePh. D. (Information Systems

Co-design of youth wellbeing indicators for ICT intervention in an underserved community in South Africa

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The challenges faced by members of underserved communities in South Africa have frequently been reported in literature. To ameliorate these challenges, different interventions have been introduced both locally and internationally to improve the wellbeing of the members of these communities. One such intervention is the introduction of information and communication technology ICT as a means to close the digital divide and meeting the socio-economic needs of the community. Youth living in these communities are expected to derive more benefit from ICT interventions as they have been reported to be more technology savvy and dependent on technology than the older adults are. However, the failures of ICT interventions deployed by donors have also been reported in literature. Authors have identified several reasons for the failure of ICT interventions, but a lack of consultation with the beneficiaries of this type of intervention is common to many findings. The exclusion of the youth as major beneficiaries of ICT interventions causes a lack of alignment between the interventions deployed for their use and the actual wellbeing needs of the youth in underserved communities. The failure of ICT interventions increases the digital divide and frustrates the good intentions of local and national government as well as international donors to improve the wellbeing of the youth in underserved communities. By using the concept of wellbeing, the study aimed to explore how youth wellbeing indicators can be used to facilitate effective ICT interventions for youth empowerment and development in underserved communities in South Africa. Furthermore, the study aimed todesign an ICT-based artefact to prioritise youth wellbeing indicators in underserved communities in South Africa. The study was implemented through a qualitative research method using a service design strategy that allowed for a participatory research approach and co-design instrument for data collection from the youth living in Grabouw anunderserved community in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Data was collected from 40 youth aged between 15 and 30 at two workshops. Content analysis technique was used to analyse data. Findings from the research show that given the opportunity, the youth are able to determine their social-economic needs. A comprehensive set of wellbeing indicators was developed. Thirteen wellbeing indicators symbolising the issues in the community were prioritised, which are:unemployment, self-image, reaching full potential, family support,access to water, sanitation and electricity,meaning and purpose of life,being healthy,religious practice,educational level,future expectations,freedom of expression,skills to get a job, and access to skills and training. Overall, nine categories of wellbeing indicators were identified; of these, seven are similar to theGlobal Youth Wellbeing Index(GYWI) categories. Three new categories – aspiration, social support, and infrastructure and services – were realised. The three factors are an indication that the Grabouw youth may have special needs different from the global perspective as specified by the GYWI categories. Moreover, the priorities of the wellbeing indicators when compared to the GYWI rating for South Africa differ significantly, which may indicate that the needs of the youth living in underserved communities may vary largelyfrom other youth in the country. Furthermore, an artefact that can be used to prioritise wellbeing indicators was designed. It is important for stakeholders of ICT interventions to embrace participation of the beneficiaries as a means of aligning interventions to their needs. These stakeholders need to seek ways of developing artefacts that address the needs, not limited to health, so that the youth can take advantage of technology to improve their wellbeing on a continuous basis

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