EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. EXPAND TEXT EXPAND CONTENTS DETACH NO HIGHLIGHTING HOME HELP PREFERENCES search titles subjects organizations collage Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Information Technology 17 Microcomputer Acquisition in Developing Countries: Problems and Recommendations 18 Social and Organizational Analysis in Automation Strategy and Planning 19 Using Management Tools to Get the Most from Information Technology in Development 20 Building Information-Management Systems for Developing Countries 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations 22 Impact of Microcomputers on Health in the Third World 21 Microcomputer Implementations in the Least-Developed Countries: Some Policy Considerations CRAIG CALHOUN, PAMELA DELARGY, JOHN FREYMANN, and DALE WHITTINGTON INTRODUCTION This conference and its predecessors signal the widespread recognition that microcomputers are an important tool for developing countries to use in a wide variety of applications. This is not only a matter of conferences and abstract programs, however, as tens of thousands of microcomputers are already in use throughout the Third World, bought by private businesses and governments alike, independently and with bilateral and multilateral assistance. Microcomputers are now having a major impact on sectoral- management and general planning functions, and there is a growing, if still insufficient, literature on applications and implementation processes specific to the Third World. In this paper, however, we wish to point to one topic that has been relatively neglected-the circumstances facing computer implementations in the least-developed countries of the world. These special circumstances call for special policy considerations. The suggestions we offer here are based on our experiences as technical advisors to the Government of Sudan on two USAID-funded projects in which computerization played a major role. One project involved the design and implementation of systems for financial accounting, developmental budgeting, project monitoring, commodity-assistance tracking, and donor coordination for the Sudanese Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The other project involved support for a program of research, policy formulation, and education for the Sudanese National Population Committee (NPC). The two projects delivered and installed several microcomputers, developed specialized software (as well as supplying off-the-shelf software), and trained users. The systems installed were used for a range of functions from word processing in both Arabic and English through data-base management to formal simulation modeling. A SYSTEM-POOR ENVIRONMENT Even in the world's richest, most technologically advanced countries, computer use is still expanding into new applications and new organizational settings. New users can draw, however, on a rich background of experience, training institutions, support organizations, and technological infrastructure. This is of enormous importance even in small applications, but even more so in larger ones. As Kling and Scacchi (1982a) suggest, computer use involves a whole web of activities, relationships, and technologies. No one application can well be understood in isolation. This is particularly important for those countries of the world where computerization is still very limited-usually among the least-developed countries. In these countries, computerization efforts cannot build on strong foundations from prior computer use, strong support systems, physical infrastructure, technological familiarity, or even, in many cases, a common linguistic basis. Foreign exchange and spare parts, as well as such basics as electricity, may be in short supply. In addition, in such countries computerization efforts are likely to be part of an unequal relationship between the host government and international donor agencies. Although the initial implementation may be skewed towards the interests of donors, Calhoun, Drummond, and Whittington (1987) have argued that computer use by LDC governments offers a potential aid to administrative efficiency, which in turn is a precondition of maintaining effective national sovereignty and planning autonomy. Policy Issues in Microcomputer Applications for Developing Countries (1992) Section 4 Acquisition and Management of Infor… Saved to Dropbox • Apr 17, 2020 at 16:08