Browsing by Author "Pade, Caroline"

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    An Elaboration of Critical Success Factors for Rural ICT Project Sustainability in Developing Countries - Exploring the Dwesa Case
    (Taylor & Francis, 2014-09-12) Pade, Caroline; Mallinson, Brenda; Sewry, David
    Rural development is significantly enhanced and supported by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. An investigation of the use of ICT by rural people suggests that there are a number of barriers and constraints that are faced when taking advantage of these technologies in developing countries. These include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. These challenges threaten the success and sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project, therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories of sustainability which include social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. An exploration of the Dwesa Case study reveals the extent of the application of these critical success factors of sustainability.
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    An exploration of the categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas of developing countries: a case study of the Dwesa project
    (Association for Computing Machinery, 2006-10) Pade, Caroline; Mallinson, Brenda; Sewry, David
    Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a significant role in enhancing rural development in developing countries. However, rural ICT projects are confronted with challenges that result in projects that are not sustainable, or fail altogether. These challenges include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project, therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories are social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological sustainability. An exploration of the categories of sustainability is undertaken on an ICT project in rural Dwesa.
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    In Exploration of the Critical Success Factors for the Sustainability of Rural ICT Projects – The Dwesa Case Study
    (Springer, 2008-09-14) Pade, Caroline; Mallinson, Brenda; Sewry, David
    Rural development can be enhanced and supported by information and communication technology (ICT), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. The use of ICT presents a number of constraints which threaten the sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project. The categories of sustainability reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. An exploration of the Dwesa project reveals the extent and effect of the application of these critical success factors of sustainability.
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    The Practice and Need for Rural ICT for Development Evaluation: An Experience of the Siyakhula Living Lab Baseline Study
    (International Development Informatics Association, 2009) Pade, Caroline; Sewry, David
    Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been identified as essential tools in supporting rural development as information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic development. A number of cases exist where ICTs are known to have beneficial effects in communities. However, there are also cases where ICTs have made little difference, or have actually worsened the development status in a rural community. The benefits and challenges associated with ICTs in rural areas need to be questioned in terms of the relevance and actual impact of such programmes on rural development. Fundamentally, development organisations should be aware of the need for evaluation and its significance for ICT projects that aim to support development. On the other hand, ICT projects that have attempted to implement evaluation frameworks are also confronted with shortcomings and challenges which influence the reliability of evaluation conclusions. It is essential that these shortcomings and challenges are understood, so as to improve existing evaluation frameworks, and/or to develop frameworks that more effectively address them. A Baseline Study of the Siyakhula Living Lab in the Eastern Cape of South Africa presents an example of an evaluation approach of the first stage of an ICT project evaluation. The practices applied and experience illustrate the benefits and challenges associated with conducting this evaluation approach.
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    The Use of Information Communication Technologies for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation in Developing Countries: An Investigation of Gender Specific Agricultural Development
    (LINK Centre (Learning Information Networking Knowledge Centre), 2005-12-15) Pade, Caroline; Mallinson, Brenda; Lannon, John
    Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a priority among developing nations, and play a significant role in supporting rural development. A core aspect associated with rural development is gender specific agriculture, which focuses on elevating women's contributions towards economic and social enhancement through agriculture. An investigation into the use of ICTs by rural women farmers reveals the constraints they face when it comes to taking advantage of such technologies. Studies within Africa and other developing countries illustrate that these constraints are particularly associated with the social and cultural limitations that women encounter in the traditional environments that characterise most developing countries. Local communities, Government and non-governmental organisations should collaborate to devise policies and initiatives that can support the effective implementation and sustainability of ICT projects, and hence start to remove the barriers that limit the potential use of ICTs by rural women.