Information systems and culture: applying ‘stages of growth’ concepts to development administration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Galliers, Robert D. | Madon, Shirin^; | Rashid, Rizwan

Affiliations: Warwick Business School, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK Tel.: +44 1203 524262; Fax: +44 1203 523719; E‐mail: orsrg@ wbs.warwock.ac.uk | Department of Information Systems, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK Tel.: +44 171 955 7627; Fax: +44 171 955 7385; E‐mail: S.Madon@ lse.ac.uk | United Nations Development Programme, P.O. Box 1051, Islamabad, Pakistan E‐mail: Rizwan.Rashid@ un.org.pk

Note: [] Please address all correspondence to: Dr. Shirin Madon at the above address.

Abstract: This paper examines how cultural factors influence the rate at which individuals adopt technology to assist them in their duties. In order to achieve this, we review usage of the stages of growth model of information systems development in organisations which has been applied in the context of western and non‐western organisations in various parts of the world. We then apply the model to the context of development administration where information technology interventions are becoming pervasive but where the inherent traditional cultural characteristics are fundamentally at variance with those of information technology practitioners. The case study we present is that of the implementation of information systems in the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). The findings highlight the utility and limitations of the stages of growth model in terms of its ability to accommodate the inherent cultural characteristics of KDA. While such knowledge will have value for information technology practitioners within their own societies, we contend that it will become even more valuable for practitioners from western cultures in applying technology solutions to development administration.

Journal: Information Technology for Development, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 89-100, 1998