Digital inclusion projects in developing countries: Processes of institutionalization

Authors:
Shirin Madon;Nicolau Reinhard;Dewald Roode;Geoff Walsham
Affiliations:
Information Systems & Innovation Group, Department of Management, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK;FEA-USP, Av Prof Luciano Gualberto, 908, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil;33 Malabor Road, Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria 0081, South Africa;Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1AG, UK
Venue:
Information Technology for Development - Development and the Promise of Technological Change
Year:
2009

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Abstract

This article concerns digital inclusion projects in developing countries and, in particular, focuses on processes of institutionalization of such projects. Three case studies are described and analysed. The first is the Akshaya telecenter project in the state of Kerala in India. The second is a community-based ICT project in a town in a rural area of South Africa. The third is the efforts of various agencies on telecenter projects in the mega-city of São Paulo in Brazil. The cases are analysed through a simple theoretical schema derived from institutional theory. The analyses are used to derive four key processes of institutionalization, which are argued to be of relevance to all digital inclusion projects: getting symbolic acceptance by the community, stimulating valuable social activity in relevant social groups, generating linkage to viable revenue streams, and enrolling government support. The article concludes with some theoretical, methodological, and policy implications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chris Westrup is the accepting Editor for this article.