ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb ICT 4 Development: An Empirical Investigation of Determinants of Information Systems Capability By John Ahwere-Bafo (Ghana) Royal Holloway University of London

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Background

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Background Ghana: an independent country from 1957 Punctuated military rule for most years Back to democratic rule since 1993 Ghana as a developing country: economic metrics & value-labels

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Background An African country thirsty for development IT/IS becomes the ‘new hope’ Are Firms in Ghana responding positively? What are the ingredients for successful IS Capability in Ghana?

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Research Strategy using Path Analysis

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Theoretical Model Figure 2: Strategic Choice Theory (1972) in action in a Technology Transfer Firm (Hrebiniak and Joyce, 1984)

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Theoretical Model- Other Possibilities Upper Echelons theory (Hambrick & Mason, 1984) Institutional Theory (Meyer & Rowan,1977) Contingency Theory (Katz and Kahn (1978); Yutchtman & Seashore (1967); Jones (1998); Lieberson & O’Connor (1972); Pfeffer (1977)

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Justifications for Strategic Choice Theory Organising phenomenon (Lake & Powell, 1999) Sharpens the logic of theories Unit of analysis Reconciles philosophies

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Literature Review Mode with most benefits: Mythical Claims? Perceived wisdom: Licensing is better (Radosevic,1996; Pack & Saggi, 1997)

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Data Collection Methods Survey at the firm level Archival Analysis Semi-structured interviews

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Data Collection: Survey Sample Sources About 1000 questionnaires distributed Response rate estimated at 35% N=349 final usable responses Non-response bias is insignificant

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Reliability Scale Correlations & Factor Analysis (sig. p<.000) (Kerlinger, 1978) Cronbach’s alpha above 94% constructs and variables Hypothesis testing: multiple linear regression function

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Findings- Model Building (Parsimony) Model 1: –72% of IS Capability is explained by at least one of the four constructs Model 2: –78% of ISC is explained by at least one of the five variables Reject Null Hypothesis Therefore the proposed model fits very well.

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Findings- Research Model User Involvement L1+L2+L3+L4+L5+L6 +L7+L8+L9+L10+L11 +L12 T1+T2+T3+T4+T5 +T6+T7+T8+T9+T 10+T11+T12+T13 I1+I2+I3+I4+I5+I6 +I7+I8 S1+S2+S3+S4+S 5+S6+S7+S8+S9 +S10 Organ Learning Training Management Support IS Capability = EUI ITT OL Softexp Edu LS IS Capability Y obs = b 0 +b 1 X 1 +b 2 X 2 +b 3 X 3 +b 4 X 4 +… b n X n + E C1+C2+C3+C4+C5+C6+ C7+C8+C9+ C10+C11+C11+C12 Dummy Variables: age, gender, softexp, organ, sector, workexp, joblevel, educ, expertise, training methods, employstatus

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Conclusions & Policy Implications Software Mode is Irrelevant Top priority for Ghanaians are: –Knowledge sharing, –IT training, –Software experience, –End-user involvement, –Education –Management support Over reliance on donor support for ICT-led growth Ghana govt’s role is limited Lack of encouragement of local software start ups

ewb2007 Abu Dhabi Feb Wider Implications: Poverty Reduction & Development Ewb2007 is a winner IT Training Education! Education!!, Education!!! Democracy is a winner Strong and Proactive Govt involvement in ICT4Devt Govt to think global and act local