Towards a Conceptual Framework for Social Wellbeing through Inclusive Frugal ICT innovation in Postcolonial Collectivist contexts

Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) researchers regard ICT innovation as critical to the social wellbeing of the marginalized in developing countries. However, an understanding of how various political, economic and socio-cultural contexts enable or constrain the influence of inclusive frugal ICT innovation on the marginalized in developing countries remains inadequate. Inclusive frugal ICT innovation refers to increasingly popular approach of creating goods and services using ICTs under constraints specifically to enhance the wellbeing of marginalized millions in developing countries. While Sen’s capability approach (SCA) is widely praised for its human centric view of wellbeing, it has been criticized for being individualistic as well as over-optimistic about human wellbeing in the context of disempowering sociopolitical contexts. This research proposes a conceptual framework that provides a holistic perspective of collective social wellbeing based on the pan-African concept of Ubuntu (shared interdependence). This framework makes use of the philosophical perspective of critical social research to better explain the interrelationship between inclusive ICT innovation aimed at empowering the marginalized through inclusion and the context and social wellbeing, particularly the pervasive postcolonial context

In a town called Harmony

A novella of crime and suspense set in the townships surrounding the mining town of Welkom Two friends, both ex-miners, start a welding business only to see it fail because of interference by corrupt officials To make ends meet, they are drawn into the world of illegal gold-mining, working with criminals who employ ‘zama-zamas’: desperate foreign nationals who are prepared to live and work in the abandoned mine tunnels underground The friends make money, but the dark practices of illegal mining put a strain on their relationship, their values, and their family ties

ONLINE STOKVELS: THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY THE MARGINALIZED

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) hold promise for sustainable human, social and economic development particularly for the marginalized in the Global South. This paper employs qualitative methods to assess the implications of ICTs for socio-economic development, by exploring the ways in which online social network services (SNSs) or social media such as WhatsApp and Facebook influence indigenous savings and credit associations (SCAs), commonly known as stokvels in South Africa. Fourteen members belonging to 14 different online stokvels participated in semi-structured interviews. The data reveals how members of stokvels use WhatsApp and Facebook to develop new forms of socio-cultural ties that extend the traditional meaning of stokvels. The study proposes the concept of fictive kinship from anthropology, underpinned by the sub-Saharan humanist ethic of ubuntu (“being human”) – as a lens for understanding the emergence of previously non-existent social bonds due to a sense of collective identity facilitated and mediated by online social network services. This work contributes to a better conception of the processes that help shape the daily use of technology by marginalized communities

Principles for Conducting Critical Research Using Postcolonial Theory in ICT4D studies

The purpose of this research is to derive principles for conducting critical research using postcolonial theory in information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) studies. While information systems research focusing on development in underserved, rural and remote communities has been growing, too little focus is placed on the pervasive and powerful postcolonial context that hampers progress in the impacted regions. This research contends that more critical research will help examine the assumptions and contexts that ICTs are deployed, adopted and used in developing countries, particularly those impacted by colonialism. Critical research in ICT4D studies positions information systems beyond merely being tools for immediate organizational efficiencies but as an emancipatory mechanism for the marginalized against structures of disempowerment. Postcolonial theory is a macro critical theory concerned with the historical asymmetric power relations due to colonialism, therefore, its application as a theoretical lens in ICT4D studies will enable the field to better explain the continuing multi-dimensional developmental implications of colonialism

Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked – A Choice Analysis

This study explored the impact of mobile money on financial inclusion and development from Kleine’s Choice perspective in the lives of entrepreneurs of a least developed country (LDC). A thematic analysis of data gathered from in-depth semi-structured interviews of twenty-three micro and small enterprise entrepreneurs based in Lesotho’s capital city Maseru suggested a variety of primary outcomes that result when the entrepreneurs exercise their choice to use mobile money technology. These include achieving a higher quality of life through increased revenue and profits due to the transactional convenience, financial management capabilities and improved access to banking services (financial inclusion) provided by the mobile money technology. For the entrepreneurs to achieve these primary outcomes, a choice must exist and be accompanied by an awareness of the available choices that can be made. Furthermore, the entrepreneurs must possess the agency to make a choice and actively make a choice before an outcome can be achieved. Mobile money is not without limitations such as withdrawal limits, network failures and safety issues which limit the entrepreneurs’ agency to exercise choice. This study proposes a practical model based on Kleine’s Choice Framework for assessing development that is based on a rich and contextualised understanding of choice, agency and structure

THE ROLE OF SCRATCH VISUAL PROGRAMMING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTATIONAL THINKING OF NON-IS MAJORS

The study explored the role of Scratch in developing the computational thinking (CT) abilities of Non-IS majors. Literature shows that abstraction, parallelism, logical thinking, data representation, flow control, pattern generalization and systematic processing of information produce computational thinking. Using a survey (n = 92) analyzed through PLS-SEM, the study explored and validated computational thinking definitions and constructs based on the other constructs. A final conceptual model shows the relationships between the constructs. The results of the survey indicated that Scratch played a significant role in abstraction for developing computational thinking. Further analysis concluded that Scratch also played a role in developing logical thinking by acting through abstraction and the other CT constructs. Nevertheless, these were not observed to influence computation thinking significantly. Further research is required to link logical thinking to computational thinking and to determine if flow control has a mediating or moderating impact on computational thinking

The Influence of Teacher Attitudes and Beliefs on Information and Communications Technology Integration Behavior in South African High Schools

The integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into teaching practices has the potential to improve both teaching and learning outcomes. Governments and educational authorities worldwide are increasingly investing in various initiatives to introduce ICTs in education. However, the rate of ICT integration by teachers at various levels and types of schools remains low. Research suggests that even in schools where educational ICTs are readily available, teachers do not effectively integrate the technology into their teaching practices. This study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework to understand how the attitudes and beliefs of teachers influence their ICT integration behavior. Participants were drawn from South African high schools in Cape Town with well-endowed ICT resources. The study concludes that even though teachers believe that ICT is beneficial, their ICT integration behavior is inconsistent with these beliefs

Stakeholder Readiness for Adopting a Big Data Governance Framework in a South African Metropolitan Municipality

Digital transformation in the public sector can lead to innovative ways of working with stakeholders, improved service delivery frameworks, and data-driven societal benefits. However, not all public sector organizations, particularly local governments, are ready to adopt digital technologies such as big data. Governance frameworks are critical for technology management, and key stakeholders must be prepared before technology adoption. Recognizing that top management support is crucial for digital transformation projects, this study looked at the state of readiness of metropolitan municipalities in South Africa to adopt a big data governance framework (BGDF). The study had two objectives: first, to assess the readiness for a big data governance framework, and second, to identify what the respondents considered essential in such a framework. Framed by the technology readiness index (TRI), the study found that the stakeholders were not only ready but also had a good idea of what should be included in the framework. Both of the findings resonate with extant literature. The study concluded that the technology readiness index was suitable for investigating digital transformation readiness and that the proposed big data governance framework is a viable initial option