INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

A Newsletter of IFIP Working Group 9.4
and
Commonwealth Network for Information Technology

Volume 8, No3, January 1998
Editor: Subhash Bhatnagar

January 1998

IFIP WG 9.4 Conference: Implementation and Evaluation of Information Systems in DCs

Bangkok, Thailand, 18-20 February 1998

http:// csrc.lse.ac.uk/isdept/ifip/dc.htm

email:ifip9.4@lse.ac.uk

The conference will explore two professional activities which directly address the social and organisational context of information technologies: implementation of information systems and assessment of the value of information systems. While efforts to secure the required investment and to develop the necessary skills for IT and telecommunication applications should not be underestimated, there are critical research questions regarding the way organisations in developing countries make use of such technologies and the value they get from them.

This conference will focus mainly at the level of the local organisation - either business firm or government administration. The aim of the conference is to study issues facing professionals when they implement new technology-based information systems and when they try to assess the difference such systems make for the organisation and its people. The conference will involve research papers, case studies, panel discussions, work in progress, and tutorials.

Preliminary Conference Programme

Wednesday, February 18

09:00 - 10:30 Opening session, the Director of AIT

11:00 - 12:30 Room A: Research Papers

On the design of management assistance systems for SMEs in transition countries, Per Lind, Link¸ping University, Sweden.

Information technology, information systems and public accountability, Richard Heeks, University of Manchester, UK.

11:00 - 12:30 Room B: Research in Progress

Successful EIS implementation in Thailand: what factors do you need to contribute?, Anongnart Srivihok, Kasetsart University, Thailand.

Inter-organizational information system in the planning and implementation systems of development projects, Salimah Mokhtar and Hasmiah Kasimin, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia.

Pathways of Technology Transfer in Thai commercial Banks, Tanai Khiaonarong, London School of Economics, UK.

14:00 - 15:30 Room A: Research Papers

Health information systems in Mongolia: a difficult process of change, J°rn Braa, Norwegian Computing Centre, Norway; Ch. Nermunkh, Ministry of Health, Mongolia.

Design and evaluation of wireless health care information systems in developing countries, Mathias Nicola and Mathias Jarke, Technical University of Aachen, Germany.

14:00 - 15:30 Room B: Tutorial

Information systems evaluation, Frank Land, London School of Economics, UK.

16:00 - 17:30 Room A: Case studies

The implementation of the Multimedia Super Corridor: issues and challenges, Raslan Ahmad, University of Manchester, UK.

Development of a technology information (intelligence) system in Mexico, C.A. Macias-Chapula, Information Science Consultant, Hospital General de Mexico; J. Alcantar, and B. Cruz-Aguilar, Mexican Institute of Petroleum.

16:00 - 17:30 Room B: Panel

Transforming the capability of African countries to access and exchange data and information for socio-economic development, Dewald Roode, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Olalere Ajayi, Nigeria; discussant to be arranged.

Thursday, February, 19

9:00 - 10:30 Room A: Plenary session

IT, globalization and cultural diversity, Geoff Walsham, Cambridge University, UK.

11:00 - 12:30 Room A: Research Papers

What's in information technology? Issues in deploying IS in organisations and developing countries, Christopher Westrup, University of Manchester, UK.

Getting value from IT investments, Subhash Bhatnagar, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.

11:00 - 12:30 Room B: Tutorial

Information systems implementation, Dimitrios Tsoubelis, SAP Hellas, Greece; Angeliki Poulymenakou, Athens School of Economics and Business, Greece.

14:00 - 16:00 Room A: Research in Progress

Institutional intervention in the adoption of computer-based information systems: the case of the Nigerian banking industry, Abiodun Bada, London School of Economics, UK.

On the inapplicability of western models to information technology development in Chinese companies: the case of the Hong Kong newspapers, Ada Wong and Frank Gregory, City University of Hong Kong.

Managing roadblocks to the ECOWAS trade statistics network, Mohammed Lamin Mansaray, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Togo.

Blueprint for an African systems development methodology: an action research project in the health sector, Mikko Korpela, University of Kuopio, Finland; H.A. Soriyan and K.C. Olufokunbi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; Anja Mursu, University of JyvSskylS, Finland.

14:00 - 16:00 Room B: Research in Progress

Past misuse of information technology resources, present opportunities for better usage: a case study of Ghana, Jacob Adu Aryeetey, University of Ghana.

Albania û a contradictory story of applied information systems, G. Beqiraj and N. Frasheri, Academy of Sciences of Albania.

Networks of firms and regional IT diffusion policies for SMEs, Renata LFbre La Rovere, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Making information technology systems work in Nigeria against all odds, Dade Sadare, Lagos Business School, Nigeria.

16:30 - 17:30 Room A: IFIP 9.4 general meeting

19:00 Cruise in Chao Priya river, and dinner.

Friday, February 20

9:00 -10:30 Room A: Research papers

Competitive advantage in the software industry: an analysis of the Indian experience, S. Krishna, and Abhoy Ojha, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India; and Michael Barrett, University of Alberta, Canada. Information technology in Africa: the policy of the World Bank, Gert Nulens, Free University Brussels, Belgium.

9:00 -10:30 Room B: Research in Progress

Vernacular Software in South Africa: what happens now, and what is needed, Pat Hall, Open University, UK. Socio-technical evaluation of networking projects: the case of Venezuelan institutions of higher education, Luis Rodrfguez, Universidad Central de Venezuela; and Irene Plaz Power, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientfficas, Venezuela.

Modern communication and socio-economic development, Shamsul Chowdhury, J¸nk¸ping's International Business School, Sweden; Mats Helander, Link¸ping University, Sweden; Shahed Latif, Grameen Telecom, Bangladesh; and Per Lind, Link¸ping University, Sweden.

Web-based information systems development, Sharifah Syed-Mohamad, Suhailin Luis, and Sodhy G.C., University Science Malaysia.

11:00 - 12:30 Room A: Research papers

Information systems and human activity in Nepal, Peter Malling, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Urbanisation and megacities: the management challenge, Shirin Madon, London School of Economics, UK; Sundeep Sahay, University of Alberta, Canada.

11:00 - 12:30 Room B: Panel

Technology leapfrogging for development, chaired by Robert Davison, City University of Hong Kong and Roger Harris, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia; panellists: Noel Jones, The World Bank; Doug Vogel, City University of Hong Kong.

14:00 - 15:30 Room A: Research Papers

The African information society: rhetoric and practice Leo Van Audenhove, Free University Brussels, Belgium.

Humanware investment in Egypt, Sherif Kamel, Egypt.

14:00 - 15:30 Room B: Case studies

The role of Thai values in managing information systems: A case study of implementing an MRP system, Kaewta Rohitratana, Lancaster University, UK.

Strategic use of information technology requires knowing how to use information, Natalia Volkow, London School of Economics, UK.

16:00 - 17:30 Room A: Closing plenary panel

Discussion of the main issues that will emerge during the conference.

Social Programme: The conference will be an opportunity for IFIP 9.4 members and friends to get together again, in one of the most beautiful and hospitable countries of the world. A special feature of the social programme will be a Thai dinner on the boat cruising the Chao Priya River, providing an excellent view of the city of Anngeles.

Transportation: AIT is located 17Kms North of the Bangkok International Airport on Highway. All kinds of transport are available, but taxis are recommended for the arriving conference participants. Airport prepaid taxis are available at the airport counter at baht 400. Metered taxis are also available at Baht 250 from airport.

Visa requirements: Nationals of most Western European, Australian, North American and Asian countries can get visa on arrival. However some countries of Asia, Africa and South America need visa prior to arrival. We advise you to consult the Thai embassies and the airlines. The organising chair would be pleased to issue a letter of invitation if required.

Please email, fax or mail Registration and Accommodation enquiries to: Dr R. Sadananda, School of Advanced Technologies, AIT, PO Box 4, Klong Luang 12 120, Thailand. Email: sada@cs.ait.ac.th

Tel:(66-2) 524 57 02; Fax: (66-2) 524 5721