The Possibility of One-Size-Fits-All in ICT4D Design: A Case Study of the Day-Labour Organisations

Related Work

Material on Information systems requirements have had mixed reactions. However, the current trend and agreement seems to have been that context is an important factor though in different perspectives. Other researches in this area generally support our arguments. In their work, McPhail, Costantino, Bruckmann, Barclay & Clement, (1998) showed that computers and computer applications must be considered in the context of their workplace. Wilson (2000), pointed out the need to put the Information Systems design process in the wider context of the user. Similarly, way back in 1981, Wilson (1981) had brought out the improtance of context in information needs of a user. Avgerou (2008) has advocated for Research development towards considering context in Information Systems where he has shown the risks of paying relatively little attention to developing theory on the interplay between IS innovation and its socio-economic context. In their research focusing on the need to balance standardization and local flexibility/localization, Braa & Hedberg, (2002), acknowledged that there exists tension between standardization and localization. Walsham & Sahay (2006), confirmed this and pointed out that, although there is need to standardize for efficiency and comparability, it makes it difficult for the same standards to be applied to diverse local contexts.