Developing an information systems (IS) acquisition, development and implementation framework (ADIF) in Zambia

Abstract

The value expectations of Information Technology (IT) for socio-economic and human development in developing countries have been high, but the real benefits and the positive impacts have been somewhat disappointing. Most developing countries in Africa are at the emerging stage of e-government development and lag far behind developed nations despite having had national e-government strategies in place for a considerable period of time. The harsh socio-economic and infrastructural context makes the sustainability of an Information System (IS) a major issue. Technology transfer to Africa has been too dependent on external factors, like international donor aid, and emphasized on technology itself. Despite government and public sector entities allocating huge sums on their budgets into Information Systems implementations with an objective to ameliorate service delivery, promote accountability and transparency and improve overall operations, benefit and value realization from these investments are hardly achieved. There is a need for locally developed, appropriate information systems, which are based on local needs and structures. This research argues that the Information systems acquisition, development and implementations should be done using appropriate methods in a Zambian (African) context based on local needs and structures. The research has been done by surveying 5 public interest user companies in Zambia, literature review in information systems acquisition, development and implementations in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, India and in the context of developing and developed countries. The Information systems acquisition, development and implementations in Zambia is ambitious, and capable of providing solutions for local companies, but the resources for investments are scarce. In Zambia, low I.T Infrastructure, People, Technology and poor implementation approach are some of the identified hindrances to the growth of the sector. Human capital requirements require further nurturing and mindset change of citizens to begin to appreciate locally designed and produced products and services. Appreciating our baby steps and the need to exercise patience to nurture our talents at our budding stage in information systems development and implementation as we acquire information systems will ameliorate the growth of the sector. The study provides a model, (The Acquisition, Development and Implementation Framework; ADIF) for effective and efficient implementation of Information systems and ensure benefits realization of Information systems investments.