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ICT4D research: reflections on history and future agenda

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  • Geoff Walsham

Abstract

Research on the use of ICTs for international development, or information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) research, has a history going back some 30 years. The purpose of this paper is to take stock of the ICT4D research field at this important juncture in time, when ICTs are increasingly pervasive and when many different disciplines are involved in researching the area. The paper first provides some reflections on the history of the field broken down into three phases from the mid-1980s to the present day. This is followed by a detailed discussion of future research agenda, including topic selection, the role of theory, methodological issues and multidisciplinarity, and research impact. ICT4D research started largely in the academic field of information systems but it is concluded that the future lies in a multidisciplinary interaction between researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoff Walsham, 2017. "ICT4D research: reflections on history and future agenda," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 18-41, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:titdxx:v:23:y:2017:i:1:p:18-41
    DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2016.1246406
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    Cited by:

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    6. Yang Bai, 2018. "Has the Global South become a playground for Western scholars in information and communication technologies for development? Evidence from a three-journal analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(3), pages 2139-2153, September.
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    9. Ezinne M. Emeana & Liz Trenchard & Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, 2020. "The Revolution of Mobile Phone-Enabled Services for Agricultural Development (m-Agri Services) in Africa: The Challenges for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
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    11. Fu, Xiaolan & Ghauri, Pervez & Ogbonna, Nwamaka & Xing, Xiaoqiang, 2023. "Platform-based business model and entrepreneurs from Base of the Pyramid," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Viviane Frings‐Hessami & Gillian Oliver, 2022. "Clashes of cultures in an international aid organisation: Information cultures, languages and the use of information systems," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(7), pages 1414-1429, October.
    13. Cieslik, Katarzyna & Cecchi, Francesco & Assefa Damtew, Elias & Tafesse, Shiferaw & Struik, Paul C. & Lemaga, Berga & Leeuwis, Cees, 2021. "The role of ICT in collective management of public bads: The case of potato late blight in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    14. Ye, Lisha & Dai, Yishu & Dong, Xiaoying, 2022. "The enabling mechanism of shuren culture in ICT4D: A case study of rural China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Eivor Oborn & Michael Barrett & Wanda Orlikowski & Anna Kim, 2019. "Trajectory Dynamics in Innovation: Developing and Transforming a Mobile Money Service Across Time and Place," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(5), pages 1097-1123, September.
    16. A. Kayode Adesemowo, 2023. "IDADA: towards a multimethod methodological framework for PhD by publication underpinned by critical realism," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    17. Cham, Dawda, 2022. "Exploring the efficacy of e-government models through information systems management-case of The Gambia," MPRA Paper 113400, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Bladimir de la Hoz-Rosales & José A. Camacho-Ballesta & Ignacio Tamayo-Torres, 2019. "Effects of innovative entrepreneurship and the information society on social progress: an international analysis," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(2), pages 782-813, December.
    19. Shiferaw, Yegnanew A., 2024. "A spatial analysis of the digital gender gap in South Africa: Are there any fundamental differences?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    20. Steinke, Jonathan & Ortiz-Crespo, Berta & van Etten, Jacob & Müller, Anna, 2022. "Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    21. Hassad de Andrade, Liz & Moreira Antunes, Jorge Junio & Araújo de Medeiros, Antônio Mamede & Wanke, Peter & Nunes, Bernardo Pereira, 2022. "The impact of social welfare and COVID-19 stringency on the perceived utility of food apps: A hybrid MCDM approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PB).
    22. Julissa Alexandra Galarza-Villamar & Mariette McCampbell & Andres Galarza-Villamar & Cees Leeuwis & Francesco Cecchi & John Galarza-Rodrigo, 2021. "A Public Bad Game Method to Study Dynamics in Socio-Ecological Systems (Part II): Results of Testing Musa-Game in Rwanda and Adding Emergence and Spatiality to the Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    23. Christina Sanchita Shah & Supunmali Ahangama, 2023. "A Cross-Country Examination of Internet Penetration and the Economic Participation of Women: The Influence of Social Capital and Gender Equality," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 12(2), pages 182-196, July.
    24. Roberto San Martin & Marco Painho & Frederico Cruz-Jesus, 2019. "Addressing Geospatial Preparedness Inequity: A Sustainable Bottom-Up Approach for Non-Governmental Development Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-15, November.
    25. Xusen Cheng & Xiangbin Yan & Deepinder S. Bajwa, 2017. "Exploring the emerging research topics on information technology-enabled collaboration for development," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 403-414, July.

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