Critical practice lens for economic and Government Transformation Programmes

“TRANSFORMATION” has been a recurring pervasive principle and nametag among all the Malaysian public sector initiatives — beginning with the Multimedia Super Corridor in the mid-1990s, then the knowledge-based and innovation economies, and subsequently the regional development corridors in the 2000s. In the last two years, however, the Government has been taking a radically new approach to national transformation. The Government Transformation Programme was initiated in 2009, followed by the New Economic Model and Economic Transformation Programme in 2010. More recently, new programmes were started in the areas of political and rural transformation. Presently, transformation can be perceived as the inception stage, as the various programmes will be undergoing a long continuous implementation journey into 2020. In order to make a real significant change to the condition of the Rakyat, the transformation needs to be driven from a synthesis of economic, managerial, organizational, social and technological dimensions at the multiple levels of the individual, organization, industry, government, society and nation. We offer another way of seeing and doing transformation using an enhanced critical theory and critical practice. We define critical practice as an iterative reflexive process, firstly by developing knowledge-for-understanding from a sophisticated model of reality. Secondly, we provide a critique of underpinning assumptions and presumptions whereby the constraining conditions of the status quo and emancipation become knowable and explicit, that is, knowledge-for- evaluation. Finally, we re-create, re-define, re-design, re-imagine, re-invent and re-vision the pragmatic, doable and implementable programmes from knowledge-for-action. We re-define the concept of “Doing and Being” whereby Yin meets Yang in critical practice of the economic, government, political and social transformation initiatives to transform Malaysia into a high-income developed country by 2020

My kid’s are angels? – Internet and kids, a Portuguese case study

New information technologies provide tools and ways of thinking that shape every aspect of our lives. The Internet, taken as a tool, assists one in specific tasks associated with study, communication, or leisure. But taken as a whole technology, a unified world of systematic processes, they come to dictate one’s perception of reality and to dominate every sphere of life. The aim of this research is to understand the behavioural divergence between kid’s and adults as Internet users in Portugal, through out a field questionnaire, in order to address the theoretical gap regarding literature

The relationship between ERP systems and budgeting: Uncovering the limited ERP system impact on budgeting

This paper investigates the relationship between enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and budgeting to address the limited impact of ERP systems on management accounting. Budgeting is considered as a social phenomenon which requires flexibility for decision-making and integration for management controls. The analysis at the activity level, guided by the concept of ‘conflict’ in structuration theory (ST), suggests that ERP systems impede flexibility in decision-making. However, the systems have the potential to facilitate integration in management controls. The analysis at the structural level, guided by the concept of ‘contradiction’ in ST, concludes that there is a contradiction between them because ERP systems operate in terms of integration alone while budgeting assumes both roles. This research offers three new insights. First it offers a theoretical contribution by employing new theory. Second it offers empirical insights on the limited impact of ERP systems on budgeting. Third it shows how other IS technologies supplement them

A critical study of ISP filtering of child pornography

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are today the most used technologies for child pornography. In an attempt to reduce access to child pornography, some Internet Service Providers (ISP), in the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden have introduced filtering systems which block access to web sites containing child pornography. The aim of this paper is to critically analyse whether the ISP filtering techniques is an effective approach to the problem with child pornography and ICT. The paper will present initial empirical findings consisting of court records, criminal investigation records and interviews with convicted offenders. This material provides information about the type of ICT that has been used for child pornography. The paper has applied critical information systems research, since this perspective is well suited to critically examine the technology used. In light of the empirical material this paper argues that although the ISP initiative to block access to child pornography is a step in the right direction, filtering is not a truly effective approach to this problem. Some identified flaws with the filtering approach will be presented. The results of this study are of great importance to both the critical IS research and professional communities, since the findings enhance the understanding of ICT and its social effects

Criticality, epistemology and behaviour vs. Design –information systems research across different sets of paradigms

Due to its dynamic and rapid development and due to a variety of academic disciplines and research communities contributing to information systems (IS) research, a broad variety of research approaches can be found. These approaches are often discussed as contrasting “paradigms”. Positivism and interpretivism are frequently accepted to be the most relevant paradigms (cf., for instance, Klein & Myers 1999; Lee 1991; Walsham 1995; Weber 2004). A further set of paradigms consists of behavioural science research (‘problem understanding paradigm’) and design science research (‘problem understanding paradigm’) which has been introduced in the IS literature and heavily adopted since (cf., for instance, Hevner et al. 2004; Jani 2001; March & Smith 1995). On top of this distinction, the critical research paradigm, including its logical complement, the non-critical paradigm, shaped the discussion of IS research philosophy for more than two decades (cf., for instance, Brooke 2002; Klein & Huynh 2004; Landry & Banville 1992; Mumford et al. 1985). Though it is essential to research theory and practice in the IS discipline to discuss the interconnections between these different sets of paradigms, such endeavour has not yet been undertaken. Some approaches address the interdependency between interpretivism and critical research. However, a holistic framework, also taking into account also behavioural and design science is still missing. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide an integrated discussion of these different sets of paradigms and to provide novel perspectives for IS research on how to deal with the apparent diversity of approaches. We will furthermore point out why this discussion is of great importance to IS research especially in Europe

Subaltern studies: Advancing critical theory in ICT4D

Critical research has been advocated as capable to uncover multiple contradictions in ICT-induced development processes. This paper explores the potential of subaltern studies to contribute to the generation of critical theory in ICT4D. Following the postcolonial thought of Partha Chatterjee, the paper proposes a vision of subalternity centred on technologies of rule that concur to devoicing the marginalised. The theory is used to examine the computerisation of a large Indian social protection scheme, illustrating how processes of digitalisation, formally aimed at the empowerment of recipients, actually resulted in the systematic crystallisation of alienating power structures in the programme. This resulted in the further de-voicing of the wageseekers that the scheme should have empowered, casting doubt on the image of a pro-poor “digital India” represented in mainstream narratives. Used as analytical framework, subalternity theory makes it possible to represent the views of the devoiced and marginalised, hence contributing to enacting the emancipatory purpose of critical theory in ICT4D

Focus groups and critical social IS research: How the choice of method can promote emancipation of respondents and researchers

Critical social research in information systems has been gaining prominence for some time and is increasingly viewed as a valid research approach. One problem of the critical tradition is that there is a lack of empirical research. A contributing factor to this gap in the literature is the lack of agreement on what constitutes appropriate methodologies for critical research. The present paper contributes to this debate by outlining the role that focus group research can play in the critical approach. The paper outlines the main characteristics of critical research with an emphasis on its emancipatory faculties. It then goes on to review the focus group method in general and gives an account of two research projects that used focus groups as a method of data collection. It is argued that focus groups can contribute to emancipation of researchers as well as respondents. This argument is built upon the critical theories of the two most prominent theorists currently relied upon in critical social IS research, namely Jürgen Habermas and Michel Foucault. Focus groups can improve communication and move real discourses closer to the Habermas\u27s ideas speech situation. At the same time, they can contribute to the challenging of prevailing orthodoxy and thereby overcome established regimes of truth in the Foucauldian tradition. The paper ends with a critical reflection of the shortcomings of focus groups as a critical method and of the specific approach chosen in this paper

Subaltern studies: Advancing critical theory in ICT4D

Critical research has been advocated as capable to uncover multiple contradictions in ICT-induced development processes. This paper explores the potential of subaltern studies to contribute to the generation of critical theory in ICT4D. Following the postcolonial thought of Partha Chatterjee, the paper proposes a vision of subalternity centred on technologies of rule that concur to devoicing the marginalised. The theory is used to examine the computerisation of a large Indian social protection scheme, illustrating how processes of digitalisation, formally aimed at the empowerment of recipients, actually resulted in the systematic crystallisation of alienating power structures in the programme. This resulted in the further devoicing of the wageseekers that the scheme should have empowered, casting doubt on the image of a pro-poor “digital India” represented in mainstream narratives. Used as analytical framework, subalternity theory makes it possible to represent the views of the devoiced and marginalised, hence contributing to enacting the emancipatory purpose of critical theory in ICT4D

Development and emancipation: The information society and decision support systems in local authorities in Egypt.

The published version of this article can be found at Emerald publishing http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/menuNavigation.do?hdAction=InsightHomePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the emancipatory promises and realities of information and communication technology (ICT) in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach – The combination of Habermasian and Foucauldian ideas implemented by a critical discourse analysis of the Egyptian Information Society Policy and interviews with employees of local decision support systems employees. Promises and rhetoric are contrasted with findings and questioned with regards to their validity. Findings – On the policy level, analysis shows that the emancipating rhetoric of ICT is not followed through. ICT is mostly seen as a means of attracting foreign direct investment. Neither political participation nor educational benefits are promoted seriously. On the local level, culture and organisational realities prevent individuals from exploiting the emancipatory potential of the technology. Originality/value – The combination of the Habermasian and Foucauldian approach exposes the problems of ICT use in developing countries. It shows that emancipation is used to legitimise ICT policies but is not taken seriously on a policy level in Egypt. Local implementations also fail to deliver on their promise. In order to have emancipatory effects, ICT policy and use will need to be reconsidered