ICT4D research: reflections on history and future agenda. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walsham, Geoff
• Is Part Of: Information technology for development. Volume 23:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: ICT4D -- ICTs -- international development -- historical reflections -- research topic selection -- role of theory -- methodology -- multidisciplinary -- research impact; Information technology -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 004
• DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2016.1246406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1102

Abstract

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.