From Software Risks to Sustainable Information Systems: Setting the Stage for a Delphi Study in Nigeria

In this paper, we argue that the research framework used in western software risk research - software projects - must be expanded to include information system implementation and use contexts, particularly in developing countries.The literature of software risk management indicates that the risk of failure in information system development (ISD) can be mitigated by identifying and analyzing the threats to success. In Africa the understanding of success or failure in ISD has a broader meaning than in industrialized countries. The magnitude of constraints in Africa makes the sustainability of information technology (IT) a major issue. The question of how ISD is practiced in Africa is very little studied.We are in the process of conducting a Delphi study in Nigeria to produce a rank-order list of the most common risk factors in software projects. However, the goals when implementing new technology in Africa, taking socio-economic develop-ment into consideration, are manifold. IT is anticipated to promote better, sustainable living conditions for people. In this paper we present a holistic framework for studying successful ISD in Nigeria. A detailed methodology is induced from the framework and the framework's applicability assessed in the light of preliminary results. Since this paper focuses on the research framework, the actual results will be published at a later stage.