research-article

Knowledge management in LLiSA ICT4D projects

Author:

Sue CongerAuthors Info & Claims

SAICSIT '13: Proceedings of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists Conference

Pages 225 - 232

https://doi.org/10.1145/2513456.2513464

Published: 07 October 2013 Publication History

Abstract

The Living Labs in South Africa (LLiSA) projects have been introducing telecommunications and Internet technologies to remote rural South African municipalities for over seven years. The projects have exhibited mixed success with some quite successful in assisting schools and health clinics to use the Internet for obtaining and sharing information and others enjoying initial success only to fall into disuse. Knowledge management for technology expertise, Internet and computer usage, and software tools has required a transfer of knowledge to local interested individuals. However, knowledge management is typically not an explicitly named aspect of the projects. Rather, projects cite a need for training and development of skills for maintainability but no explicit knowledge management. This report describes knowledge management characteristics then analyzes information and computer technology for development (ICT4D) projects to develop best practices in knowledge management. The LLiSA projects then are evaluated with attention to the extent and methods used for knowledge management. Knowledge and skills have been spread across several people in each location with encouragement for them to further train others as their backups, thus, maintaining a constant, growing stream of individuals who can provide local support for the technology's use. The knowledge management used is ad hoc, simple, and somewhat effective in developing a growing base of technology users in the project's supported locations. Recommendations for formal knowledge management in ICT4D and, specifically the LLiSA projects, are developed.

References

[1]

Alavi, M. and Leidner, D. E. 2001. Review: Knowledge Management and Knowledge Management Systems: Conceptual Foundations and Research Issues. MIS Quarterly, 25(1), 107--136.

Digital Library

[2]

Best, M. L. and Kumar, 2008. Telecenters: Challenges from the Sustainable Access in Rural India (SARI). MIT Press, 4(4), 31--45.

Digital Library

[3]

Bidwell, N. J., Lamas, M., Marsden, G., Dlutu, B., Jones, M., Tucker, B., and Robinson, S. 2011. Please call ME. NU 4EVER: Callback and Social Media Sharing in Rural Africa.

[4]

Bowen, P., Edwards, P., Cattell, K., and Jay, I. 2010. The awareness and practice of value management by South African consulting engineers: preliminary research survey findings. International Journal of Project Management, 28(3), 285--295.

[5]

Brown, J. S., and Duguid, P. 2001. Knowledge and organization: A social-practice perspective. Organization science, 12(2), 198--213.

Digital Library

[6]

Coetzee, H. du Toit, I., and Herselman, M. 2012. Living Labs in South Africa: An analysis based on five cases studies. The Electronic Journal for Virtual Organizations and Networks, 14(August), 1--30.

[7]

Cunningham, P., Herselman, M., and Cunningham, M. 2012. Supporting the Evolution of Sustainable Living Labs and Living Labs Networks in Africa. Conference Proceedings, Paul Cunningham and Miriam Cunningham (Eds.), Dublin, IE: International Information Management Corporation.

[8]

Dugmore, H. 2012. The Siyakhula Living Lab: An important step forward for South Africa and Africa. Grahamstown, South Africa: Rhodes University.

[9]

Eliasz, T. and von Staden, R. 2008. Dwesa Village Connection Business Modeling Feasibility Analysis. Report to COFISA, October.

[10]

Evers, H. D., Nordin, R., and Nienkemper, P. 2010. Knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia: The emergence of an epistemic landscape. Downloaded on August 13, 2013 from http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/25845/1/MPRA_paper_25845.pdf.

[11]

Geldof, M., Grimshaw, D. J., Kleine, D., and Unwin, T. 2011. What are the key lessons of ICT4D partnerships for poverty reduction? Systematic review report prepared for UNESCO Department for International Development.

[12]

Gold, D., Malhotra, A., and Segars, A. 2001. Knowledge Management: An organizational capabilities perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 18(l), 185--214.

Digital Library

[13]

Gomez, R. 2013. The changing field of ICT4D: growth and maturation of the field, Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 58(1), 1--21.

[14]

Grimshaw, D. J., and Gudza, L. D. 2010. Local voices enhance knowledge uptake: Sharing local content in local voices. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 40.

[15]

Gottschalk, P. 2007. Knowledge management systems: value shop creation. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Digital Library

[16]

Grunfeld, H. 2011. The contribution of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) projects to capabilities, empowerment and sustainability: a case study of iREACH in Cambodia (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University).

[17]

Gumbo, S., Thinyane, H., Thinyane, M., Terzoli, A., and Hansen, S. 2012. Living Lab Methodology as an Approach to Innovation in ICT4D: The Siyakhula Living Lab Experience. In Proceedings of IST Africa May 29--30, Nairobi, Kenya.

[18]

Heeks, R. 2008. ICT4D 2.0: The next phase of applying ICT for international development. Computer, 4(16), 26--33

Digital Library

[19]

Heeks, R. 2010. Where Next for ICTs and International Development? The Development Dimension ICTs for Development Improving Policy Coherence, 29.

[20]

Jeon, S., Kim, Y-G., and Koh, J. 2011. An integrative model for knowledge sharing in communities-of-practice. Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(2), pp.251--26

[21]

Krauss, K., and Turpin, M. 2010, March. Towards the emancipation of the ICT4D researcher: reflecting on a case study in deep rural South Africa. In Proceedings of the Research Voices from Africa Workshop, 22--23.

[22]

Levin, B. 2013. To know is not enough: research knowledge and its use. Review of Education, 1(1), 2--31.

[23]

Madon, S., Reinhard, N., Roode, D. and Walsham, G. 2009. Digital inclusion projects in developing countries: Processes of Institutionalization. Information Technology for Development, 15(2), 95--107.

Digital Library

[24]

Marais, M. 2011. Analysis of the factors affecting the sustainability of ICT4D initiatives. Pretoria, South Africa: Meraka Institute.

[25]

Masiero, S. 2011. Financial vs. social sustainability of telecentres: mutual exclusion or mutual reinforcement? The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 45.

[26]

Mason, R. O., McKenney, J. L., and Copeland, D. G. 1997. Developing an historical tradition in MIS research. MIS Quarterly, 21(3), 257--278.

Digital Library

[27]

Nonaka, I. 1994. A dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation. Organization science, 5(1), 14--37.

[28]

Pade, C., Mallinson, B., and Sewry, D. 2008. An elaboration of critical success factors for rural ICT project sustainability in developing countries: Exploring the Dwesa case. The Journal of Information Technology Case and Application (JITCAR), 10(4), 32--55.

[29]

Pade-Khene, C., Mallinson, B., and Sewry, D. 2011. Sustainable rural ICT project management practice for developing countries: investigating the Dwesa and RUMEP projects. Information Technology for Development, 17(3), 187--212.

[30]

Pade-Khene, C. and Sewry, D. 2011. Towards a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework for ICT for Development Evaluation -- An Analysis of Evaluation Frameworks. Proceedings of the 2^nd International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation. Toronto, Canada, April 2011.

[31]

Phahlamohlaka, J., and Lotriet, H., 2003. An investigation into community development imperatives at a rural South African community education center. In Santosh Krishna, Shirin Madon, (Eds.), The Digital Challenge: Information Technology in Development Context. London: Ashgate Publishing, 136--155.

[32]

Pitse-Boshomane, M. 2009. Report on SAFIPA/LLiSA, Provincial Event in Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, July 1--3.

[33]

PMI. 2004. The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. PMI: Newton Square, PA.

Digital Library

[34]

PMI. 2008. The Standard for Program Management, 2^nd Ed. PMI: Atlanta, GA.

[35]

Probst, J. 2010. Knowing Me, Knowing You...Ah Ha: A Knowledge Management Primer. Proceedings of Pink Elephant Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 21--23.

[36]

Rogers, E. 2003. Diffusion of Innovations, 5^th Ed. New York, NY: The Free Press.

[37]

Schwabe, C. 2002. Information: the foundation of sustainable development. Cape Town, South Africa: Human Sciences Research Council. Integrated Rural and Regional Development Research Programme, Occasional Paper 7.

[38]

Szulanski, G. 2000. The process of knowledge transfer: A diachronic analysis of stickiness. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 82(1), 9--27.

[39]

Teece, D. J. 1998. Research directions for knowledge management. California management review, 40(3), 289--292.

[40]

Thapa, D., and Saebo, O. 2011. Demystifying the Possibilities of ICT4D in the Mountain Regions of Nepal. In System Sciences (HICSS), In Proceedings of the 44th Hawaii International Conference, Kauai, HI 1--10.

Digital Library

[41]

Toyama, K. 2011. Technology as amplifier in international development. In Proceedings of the 2011 iConference. New York, NY, 75--82.

Digital Library

[42]

Turpin, T., and Ghimire, M. A. 2010. The internet and social capital: conceptualising openness for development in remote and rural areas in least developed economies.

[43]

Unwin, T. and Unwin, P. (Eds.). (2009). ICT4D: Information and communication technology for development. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

[44]

Walsham, G. 2010. ICTs for the broader development of India: an analysis of the literature. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 41.

[45]

Yang, S. C, and Farn, C. K. 2009. Social capital, behavioural control, and tacit knowledge sharing---A multi-informant design. International Journal of Information Management, 29(3), 210--218.

Digital Library

Cited By

Goosen L(2019)Technology-Supported Teaching and Research Methods for EducatorsTechnology-Supported Teaching and Research Methods for Educators10.4018/978-1-5225-5915-3.ch007(128-148)Online publication date: 2019
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-5915-3.ch007
Goosen L(2018)Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development SolutionsEnsuring Research Integrity and the Ethical Management of Data10.4018/978-1-5225-2730-5.ch009(155-173)Online publication date: 2018
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-2730-5.ch009

Index Terms

Knowledge management in LLiSA ICT4D projects

Recommendations

Knowledge Management in Projects

Knowledge transfer in project-based organizations has been recognized as a productivity and economic growth promoter that is currently not properly managed. Therefore, it is critical to investigate the importance of knowledge regarding its acquisition, ...
Towards a Model to Reduce the Risk of Projects Guided by the Knowledge Management Process ź Application on FERTIAL
IC3K 2015: Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management

Knowledge plays a key role in the information revolution. Major challenges are to select the information from numerous sources and transform it into useful knowledge. In this context and in an economy strongly focused on the "Knowledge", take the turn ...
Application Research of Knowledge Management in R&D Enterprise Project Management
ICIII '09: Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Information Management, Innovation Management and Industrial Engineering - Volume 04

By means of studying project management body of knowledge and analyzing characteristics of R&D enterprise project management, the differences between R&D enterprise project management and the current construction project management in management content,...

Comments

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Other conferences

SAICSIT '13: Proceedings of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists Conference

October 2013

398 pages

ISBN:9781450321129

DOI:10.1145/2513456

Conference Chairs:
John McNeill,
Karen Bradshaw,
Editors:
Philip Machanick,
Mosiuoa Tsietsi

Copyright © 2013 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than the author(s) must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected].

Sponsors

Amazon: Amazon.com
Rhodes Univ.: Rhodes University
IBM: IBM

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 07 October 2013

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Request Permissions

Check for updates

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Research-article

Conference

SAICSIT '13

Sponsor:

Amazon
Rhodes Univ.
IBM

SAICSIT '13: 2013 South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists

October 7 - 9, 2013

East London, South Africa

Acceptance Rates

SAICSIT '13 Paper Acceptance Rate 48 of 89 submissions, 54%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 187 of 439 submissions, 43%

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

2
Total Citations
View Citations
169
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)1
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0

Reflects downloads up to 02 Sep 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Goosen L(2019)Technology-Supported Teaching and Research Methods for EducatorsTechnology-Supported Teaching and Research Methods for Educators10.4018/978-1-5225-5915-3.ch007(128-148)Online publication date: 2019
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-5915-3.ch007
Goosen L(2018)Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development SolutionsEnsuring Research Integrity and the Ethical Management of Data10.4018/978-1-5225-2730-5.ch009(155-173)Online publication date: 2018
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-2730-5.ch009

View Options

Get Access

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

eReader

View online with eReader.

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Table of Contents