Abstract
Information Systems (IS) researchers are increasingly calling for contextual approaches to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) innovations [1]. The call proceeds from the realization that ICT and e-government policies are often adopted and developed with a blind focus on the ICT artifact, and with little reflection on the contribution of ICT to the context [2]. This paper emanates from an ethnographic study that investigated how ICT can facilitate government policy implementation in a development context. The study found it necessary to understand the role of tradition and its potential influence on ICT implementations in South Africa. The paper reviews the context of the South African government and its conspicuous inclination to the way of life, Ubuntu. Ubuntu is growing in popularity and is increasingly being applied as an African solution to African problems such as poverty, political strife and trade. Using Grounded Theory analysis, the findings revealed the critical importance of ICT not threatening tradition but rather complementing it, the role that ICT could play in enabling or enhancing community assemblies, and the marginalized role of women citing how ICT might be used as a means to empower rather than marginalize women even further. We conclude that e-government needs to be re-conceptualized in South Africa for a more culturally acceptable and relevant approach to the use of ICT innovations for development.
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avgerou, C.: Discourses on Innovation and Development in Information Systems in Developing Countries’ Research. In: Byrne, E., Nicholson, B., Salem, F. (eds.) Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries. Dubai School of Government, International Federation for Information Processing, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, p. 510 (2009)
Heeks, R., Bailur, S.: Analyzing e-government research: Perspectives, philosophies, theories, methods, and practice. Government Information Quarterly 24, 243–265 (2007)
The Presidency: Development Indicators: Mid-Term Review. The Presidency, South Africa, Pretoria (2007)
Statistics South Africa: Latest Key Indicators, Statistics South Africa, Pretoria, vol. 2009 (2009) (StatsOnline)
Republic of South Africa: Electronic Government: The Digital Future - A Public Service IT Policy Framework. In: Administration, D.o.P.S.a. (ed.) Department of Public Service and Administration, pp. 1–25 (2001)
Harris, L.: SITA calls on private sector for help. Computing SA, 10–11 (November 2006)
Dennis, A.R., Wixom, B.H., Vandenberg, R.J.: Understanding Fit and Appropriation Effects in Group Support Systems via Meta-Analysis. MIS Quarterly 25, 167–193 (2001)
Republic of South Africa: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. vol. 2008. South African Government Information (2008)
Republic of South Africa: White Paper on the Transformation of Public Service. In: South African Government Information (ed.). Government Printers (1995)
Republic of South Africa: White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (Batho Pele White Paper). In: Administration, D.o.P.S.a. (ed.), vol. 388, p. 34. South African Government Gazette (1997)
Swanson, D.M.: Ubuntu: An African contribution to (re)search for/with a ‘humble togetherness’. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education 2, 53–67 (2007)
Mbigi, L.: Ubuntu. The African Dream in Management. Knowledge Resources (Pty) Ltd. (1997)
Carter, L., Belanger, F.: The utilization of e-government services: citizen trust, innovation and acceptance factors. Information Systems Journal 2005, 5–25 (2005)
UNCTAD: Using ICTs to Achieve Growth and Development. Trade and Development Board: Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development. Expert Meeting in Support of the Implementation and Follow-up of WSIS: United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland (2006)
Davison, R.M., Wagner, C., Ma, L.C.K.: From government to e-government: a transition model. Information Technology & People 18, 280–299 (2005)
Belanger, F., Hiller, J.S.: A framework for e-government: privacy implications. Business Process Management Journal 12, 48–60 (2006)
Chari, S., Corbridge, S.: The development reader. Routledge, London (2008)
Cypher, J.M., Dietz, J.L.: The process of economic development. Routledge, London (2009)
Secondi, G.: Economic Growth, Economic Development, and Human Development. In: Secondi, G. (ed.) The Development Economics Reader, xxiv, 555 p. Routledge, London (2008)
Rosenstein-Rodan, P.: Problems of Industrialization of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Economic Journal 53, 202–211 (1943)
Rostow, W.W.: The Take-Off Into Sustained Growth. Economic Journal 66, 25–48 (1956)
Byrne, E., Jolliffe, B.: Free and Open Source Software - Development as Freedom? In: Silva, L., Westrup, C., Reinhard, N. (eds.) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries. IFIP TC 9 - WG 9.4, Sao Paolo, Brazil (2007)
Avgerou, C.: Information systems in Developing Countries: a Critical Research Review. Journal of Information Technology 23, 133–146 (2008)
Kanungo, S.: On the emancipatory role of rural information systems. Information Technology & People 17, 407–422 (2004)
Wade, R.H.: Bridging the Digital Divide: New Route to Development or New Form of Dependency? Global Governance 8, 443–466 (2002)
Hofstede, G.: Culture’s Consequences. Sage, Beverly Hills (1980)
Atkinson, P., Coffey, A., Delamont, S., Lofland, J., Lofland, L.: Editorial Introduction. In: Atkinson, P., Coffey, A., Delamont, S., Lofland, J., Lofland, L. (eds.) Handbook of Ethnography, xviii, 507 p. Sage, London (2001)
Whitacre, R.A.: Johannine polemic: the role of tradition and theology. Scholars Press, Chico Ca (1982)
Willis, J.: Foundations of qualitative research: interpretive and critical approaches. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (2007)
Kelle, U.: “Emergence” vs. “Forcing” of Empirical Data? A Crucial Problem of “Grounded Theory” Reconsidered. Forum: Qualitative Social Research 6 (2005)
Strauss, A.: Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists. Cambridge University Press, New York (1987)
Coyne, I.: Grounded Theory. School of Nursing & Midwifery, pp. 1–27. Trinity College Dublin, Dublin (2009)
Lee, A.S., Baskerville, R.L.: Generalizing Generalizability in Information Systems Research. Information Systems Research 14, 221–243 (2003)
Achebe, C.: Things fall apart. Heinemann, London (1962)
Mda, Z.: The heart of redness. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2000)
Sen, A.K.: Development as freedom. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1999)
Republic of South Africa: Thusong Service Centre: Business Plan 2006 - 2014. vol. 2007. Government Communication and Information System (2007)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 IFIP
About this paper
Cite this paper
Twinomurinzi, H., Phahlamohlaka, J., Byrne, E. (2010). Diffusing the Ubuntu Philosophy into E-Government: A South African Perspective. In: Janssen, M., Lamersdorf, W., Pries-Heje, J., Rosemann, M. (eds) E-Government, E-Services and Global Processes. EGES GISP 2010 2010. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 334. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15346-4_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15346-4_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15345-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15346-4
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)