This study investigates how diverse users can be involved in developing innovations on existing digital platforms. While user participation is emphasized in the design and development of digital platforms, little is known about how heterogeneous user groups can be involved in the design and development of large-scale information systems. The current knowledge base is confined to the context of small-scale information systems with homogenous groups of users. We conducted a qualitative case study where we studied the process of developing innovations on a health digital platform in Tanzania between 2017 and 2019. We investigated three innovations; the mobile application for data management, a case-based TB and leprosy system, and the development of a scorecard system. We found that heterogeneous user groups in digital platforms exist in a continuum of roles, including end-users, use mediators, facilitators, technology mediators, and platform owners, without strict boundaries. Further, we identified three methods of engaging users in these roles depending on the nature of the requirements: participation for policy-level needs, participation for organisational requirements, and participation for technical requirements. We recommend that information systems development adopts this classification of users and their methods of participation from as early as project conceptualisation.
This article investigates recent scholarly research on large-scale community and digital transformation (DT) in Africa that relates to SDG1 (no poverty) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). The study used a rapid review approach to get an exploratory overview of recent scholarly research on the topic. Thirty-seven scholarly papers were included and analysed, departing from a sociotechnical perspective. The findings present a fragmented picture. Most of the studies were quantitative and cross-sectional. A significant number of studies focused on aspects of agriculture, underscoring the importance of agriculture in terms of economic sustainability in Africa. Many studies do not indicate any conceptual foundations that inform the research, or the results presented. The dimensions of DT that were focused on include drivers and disruptions, enablers and constraints, the DT process, and outcomes. The most significant technology related to DT in Africa is mobile technologies. It is also clear from these studies that the development of appropriate technologies cannot be viewed separately from their contexts. Given this, the geographical coverage of Africa in the studies is too limited. The actual changes in the sociotechnical systems during DT are not adequately researched. Studies only focused in a limited way on novel and niche technologies. There is limited evidence of a focus on gender issues, despite their importance. There is a significant scope for qualitative longitudinal studies, and such studies should be accessible to key decision makers and role players.
This research assessed in context, the usability of two widely used fintech platforms, with a focus on identifying gaps that exclude African Caribbean micro-businesses in Leicester from maximizing the affordances of the platforms. Drawing from an integrated perspective of Affordance and Activity Theories, the study involved collecting data from 12microbusiness entrepreneurs through semistructured usability interviews, observations, and competitive benchmarks. Data was analyzed using user journey maps, thematic analysis of observation notes, and transcribed interviews. The analysis revealed significant contextual issues that the fintech platforms have failed to address, which include community-driven needs and trust-related concerns with how data could be used for surveillance among African-Caribbean community. Additionally, platform-specific challenges such as disparities in features across iOS and Android platforms, as well as web interfaces, posed challenges for a seamless user experience. The research also pointed out the redundancy in requesting certain information that was not relevant to all business types, highlighting the need for more tailored and context-sensitive platform designs. These findings have significant implications for inclusivity in fintech platform design and other digital platforms that could enhance inclusivity, development, and growth of minority businesses in the UK and the Global North by extension.
Development planning is key to the attainment of global and national goals, especially in low- andmiddle-income countries where diverse sectors leverage each other's capacities to maximize limited resources. In this paper, we discuss approaches to digitalizing monitoring of national development plans in Uganda along a two-phase timeline where the first attempt to build a system failed while the second achieved relative success. The cross-sectoral dimension in our case adds to an already challenging situation where monitoring is challenged by duplicated data collection, poor data quality, inadequate technological infrastructures, and limited skills in most of the sectors. The empirical material is obtained from our work with a public organization in Uganda following the building and implementation of a monitoring system for national development plans and related challenges in its digitalization process. Our findings highlight variations in implementation approaches based on how user needs are coordinated and the installed base is cultivated. We posit that achieving national information infrastructures for cross-sector planning not only requires cultivation of the installed base to address emerging user needs but also effectively addresses challenges related to adaptability in a cross-sector setting. The study contributes by providing evidence of information infrastructures constructs especially from low-resource setting countries and the context of truly heterogeneous sectors.
Most governments have integrated digital technologies into all facets of their operations to improve internal government operations and enhance effective and efficient service delivery to the citizenry. As a result, accessibility of e-government services is important for all citizens, especially for persons with disabilities. Government plays a crucial role in addressing accessibility challenges internally before services can be cascaded to all citizens. While several studies have evaluated the accessibility of e-government services to persons with disabilities, these studies have not explored the perspective of visually impaired government employees. With this gap in mind, the purpose of the study is to explore the experiences of visually impaired government employees with e-government services. The study is inductive and uses qualitative semi-structured interviews to collect data from ten visually impaired government workers. The findings identified six themes that shape employees' experiences with e-government services. The findings contribute to the gap in literature on the accessibility of e-government services for persons with disabilities employed in the government sector. The study also underpins directions for management in government workplaces regarding the needs of persons with disabilities.
