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Digital transformation goes beyond digitalization to make radical changes to organisational models and social structures. It takes people with knowledge, skills and motivation to use ICTs to be able to carry out digital transformation. Human capital is seen to be the key for effective digital transformation as it can fuel sustainable development when people use ICTs to lead the lives they choose to live. Unless there is a transformation in capabilities, access to ICTs, requisite skills and knowledge, then digital transformation will merely exacerbate existing inequalities. It will need to touch personal psychology: not merely enabling the marginalised to participate but offering them the ability use digitalization to improve their lives. The human capital key to digital transformation is offered as a means of attaining positive cycles of sustainable development. Lessons learned from papers in this issue throw insight into ways of applying digital technologies to overcome forces of oppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) may take over many functions performed by humans while offering new opportunities for socio-economic development. However, the unchecked ubiquitous adoption of generative Machine Learning (ML)that appears to assist humans while increasing job losses, inequities and threats to social institutions. Systems of survival are explored in the light of the synergies between governments who aim to protect their citizens and corporations who trade with them. Understanding how these processes affect human agency, particularly that of refugee populations whose data is harvested from their cellphones while they seek to build new lives in foreign lands. Their resilience, ingenuity and contributions to the global economy may hold the key to supporting positive cycles of development. A formative agenda is offered that enables researchers to support positive cycles of development that account for the systems of survival needed for equitable artificial intelligence implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital spaces offer expanded economic and social opportunities to exercise human agency. With increasing numbers of people falling into poverty, it is those same people at the margins who hold the key to global recovery. The term human digital development refers to the exercise of human agency using ICTs, in particular human interactions in cyberspace that offer new ways in which people may lead the lives they choose to live. Being healthy is central for an individual's capabilities and freedoms to bring about improvements in their lives. The role for human digital development in global health lies in the ways in which artificial intelligent applications are used to support people, their providers and institutions operating in low-resource environments. In this way, digital health enables the use of artificially intelligent technologies to achieve improved health outcomes. Investments in human digital development can create positive cycles of prosperity by spurring economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world watches millions of refugees whose livelihoods ripped apart by deadly missile attacks, this editorial investigates the forces that lead to the marginalization of populations as they battle for their sovereignty from the margins. It draws upon current publications to offer insights into the transformation of the lives of those residing in world's economic margins. Places that were once economic peripheries are now at the center of the digital transformation of the global economy as it changes how those at the margins can attain their freedoms. Insights from patching development and technologies of the oppressed offer unique insights into ways out of the structural oppression. Insights from these and papers published in this issue offer contributions to what we know about digital transformation in the context of socio-economic and human development and how the battle for the soul of self-sovereignty is won by digital transformation at the margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selection of Prof. Peter GW Keen's publications 1 Alavi, M., & Keen, P. G. W. (1989). (3) frameworks for knowledge mobilization and knowledge fusion, which Keen and Tan ([8]) have defined contrast with knowledge management in the term knowledge fusion first coined in Keen ([22]). When the internet was a figment in most people's imagination, Peter Keen was paving the way for us to understand the many ways in which our lives would be changed forever. (2) the nature of effective business models where Qureshi and Keen ([35]; Keen & Qureshi, [7]; Qureshi & Keen, [33]) define a business model as a hypothesis in the customer-driven, globally-connected economy. [Extracted from the article]

As the world opens up from the clutches of the pandemic to heightened demand for goods and services, businesses inextricably interconnected globally are coping to meet this demand due to worker shortages. In honor of Peter Keen, this editorial offers insight into how the quest for global talent can be addressed. Our work on how knowledge networking enables innovation through the creation of talent pools and the Global Capability Sourcing (GCS) model are combined to offer a view into addressing this challenge. The GCS explains why wages are declining for some skills while rising for others and asks: what role does a company most effectively play in the global sourcing economy? When workers are free to choose where and when they offer their services, the development imperative comes into effect. The development imperative is freedom of choice and can occur through innovation in talent pools stimulated through knowledge networking. When people have greater freedom and capabilities to improve their knowledge and skills, their incomes increase along with the range of choices and capabilities enjoyed by their households and governments. The papers in this issue add to what is known about how digital competency can be stimulated through investments in ICT training programs, how innovations take place in the development context and insights into conducting context-sensitive research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic has brought to light and exacerbated inequities that have plagued the world even before COVID-19 spread. Despite its medical and technological advances, much of the western world was unprepared for what its people faced. With a death toll and mortality rates unseen in modern times, the datafied world amidst some populist regimes witnessed additional pandemics within the pandemic of raging infections. In the changing world broadband internet access is becoming more essential to enabling people to lead their lives while locked-down and/or in quarantine. People become accustomed to accessing healthcare information, resources and providers through mobile and or other devices for their COVID 19 information, while tracking and tracing is being carried out using mobile applications. Those at the margins become vulnerable to digital biopolitics or efforts by governments and corporations to maximize knowledge and control of populations using digital means for political and economic power. In this the datafied society, increased data surveillance offered cause for activism and fight for human rights and freedoms. This also referred to as the datafied pandemic in which life revolves on the internet more than ever through access to tools, basic services, and social environments. Within these digital divides, the forces of globalization forge ahead with perils and promises. These issues are explored in this editorial and ways of tackling the pandemics offered in the light of papers in this issue. ICT4D research offers ways in which we may together create a better world for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst a global pandemic, outrage and anger over the death of a Black man at the hands of a White police officer spread globally. The protests exposed generations of institutional racism and socio-economic inequities in many countries. This editorial explores the socio-economic inequities that have left those in racially segregated marginalized communities most at risk from COVID 19. It offers a cyclical view of the relationship between socio-economic inequities and health outcomes, suggesting that once these inequities are addressed, then health outcomes can improve. There is an important role to be played by ICTs in enabling a positive cycle to take place. The papers in this issue reflect the ways in which the socio-economic indicators can be increased to support better health outcomes for people in low SES communities. They uncover the key issues facing communities offering healthcare service to their constituents and move the field forward by showing the ways in which ICTs may support a positive cycle of development and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread extraction of very large datasets, artificial intelligence using machine learning hold the promise to address socio-economic problems such as poverty, environmental safety, food production, security and the spread of disease. These applications entail Big Data for Development in which social problems, poverty, food security and responses to climate disasters can be solved in the most efficient and effective manner. This brave new world of solving pressing problems through machine learning has several dark sides. A data divide is being created that leaves the most vulnerable populations out of the solutions being created while discriminating against those whose data is churned by obscure algorithms. Complex mathematical models together with computing algorithms produce scores that are used to evaluate the lives of the masses. These systems have scaled to enormous proportions, changing lives by affecting credit scores, job prospects and access to healthcare. The promise of fairness, transparency, cost-effectiveness and efficiency gives rise to powerful scoring algorithms that have the power to create mass devastation while discriminating against the most vulnerable. Questions arise as to: What injustices (types of injustice) are created by datafication of development? how can the injustices caused by the extraction, analysis and commoditization of data be alleviated? Who has access to and what is being done with private data? And for whose benefit or purpose is personal data being extracted? Such questions are explored through the contributions in on data justice, the use of ICTs by micro-Entrepreneurs, mobile money and financial inclusion offered through papers in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is perhaps the most important phenomenon to have dominated the discourse of sustainable development at this time. They add that in order to adapt to climate change, people need adaptive capacities to mobilse the social and physical resources they need to cope with climate change (Heeks & Ospina, [2]). In adaptation to climate change, the role of ICTs is in offering systemic resilience to climate change. Heeks and Ospina ([2]) suggest that ICTs offer adaptive capacity to climate change by helping strengthen physical preparedness through technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). [Extracted from the article]

The concept of development has been used by scholars and practitioners to demonstrate changes for the better in the lives of individuals, communities, nations and regions. Historically, the practice of development has been associated with interventions and categorizations that have had the opposite effect in countries and regions deemed to be developing. Current notions of development predicated on respect for individual rights, human freedoms, environmental sustainability, health and well-being and education have been more successful in achieving improvements in the lives of people. Yet, historic notions of development persist and continue to drive failing projects. This editorial explores the historical notions of development that persist to this day and offers a view of contemporary perspectives on development. As a growing set of development interventions and papers in this issue involve Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the question of why Information and Communication Technology for Development matters? is addressed in the light of development perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very small island states face unique challenges, such as volatile economies, increasing vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly with raising seas, increases their dependence on the world economy. Despite their growing use of ICTs, the results are mixed in terms of the effect of growing ICT usage on income growth. This paper investigates how growth in ICT usage may enable growth in per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in very small island states by analyzing the effects of average ICT usage on GDP growth based on the most recent data available from the World Bank and from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Following an analysis of data over four years of 32 very small island states, this paper identifies an ICT multiplier effect that may explain and predict the relationship between average ICT usage and GDP growth. By showing how the ICT multiplier effects may be connected to GDP growth, this paper adds to what we know about the relationship between these two indicators in very small island states. This has implications for how government interventions can enable ICT capacity to bring about GDP growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented with topic including synthesis of Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) in terms of history and future prospects, role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and effect of environmental factors on ecommerce institutionalization.

The article discusses the dilemma of access to healthcare ensuring quality of care outcomes for patients in worldwide. Information about the use of global positioning system (GPS) technology in Nigerians to locate contacts and map links between identified chains of transmission with the collaboration from the association World Health Organization (WHO), is provided. Also mentioned is the establishment of emergency coordination offices for potential outbreaks of disease.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including information & communication technologies for development, small businesses and standards of living.

An introduction to articles published in previous issues is presented on topics including the role of hardware in the success or failure of information and communication technologies (ICT), the sociological state of mobile money service, and effect of diffusion of ICT on human progress in developing countries.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including information and communications technologies, political corruption in Latin America and sub-Saharan African countries and Internet diffusion.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the benefits of public access to computers, human development, and the inhibitors and facilitators for implementing management information system (MIS) and integrated decision support system (DSS).

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the implication of globalization to the development of information technology (IT), health information systems in developing countries, and entrepreneurship behavior of community members.

The article presents an introduction to articles published in this issue including "A knowledge economy or an information society in Africa?" "Telecommunications development and economic growth in Africa" and "A knowledge economy or an information society in Africa? Thintegration and the mobile phone revolution."

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including digital divide Maung Sein and Bjørn Furuholt, capacity of the Internet to enhance development in emerging regions using Sen's freedom perspective by Yael Valerie Perez and Yahel Ben-David, and the role of information and communication technologies by Monideepa Tarafdar, Prashanth Anekala and Ramendra Singh.

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss various reports within the issue on topics including the low usage of telecenters in rural India by Kamala Gollakota, James Pick and P. Sathyapriya, information and communication technologies (ICTs) to individuals with disabilities in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands by Katherine Ratliffe and colleagues, and access to public services by Christopher Reddick, Hisham Abdelsalam and Hatem Elkadi.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including inter-organizational systems, mobile phones impact on development, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses various reports published within the issue including "Bangladesh calling: farmers' technology use practices as a driver for development," by Sirajul Islam and Åke Grönlund, "Developing women: why technology can help," by Ashima Goyal, and "Measuring impacts of e-government support in least developed countries: a case study of the vehicle registration service in Bhutan," by Mayumi Miyata.

Current efforts in managing knowledge have concentrated on creating, sharing and storing knowledge while business problems require the combined use of these intellectual resources to enable organizations to provide innovative and customized services. The Intellectual Bandwidth model posits that an organization's potential to create value is determined by its intellectual assets and collaboration capabilities. While this is a potentially powerful assertion, the model does not explain the relationship between knowledge management and collaboration. This paper argues that knowledge management and collaboration have common, mutually interdependent purposes and practices. It demonstrates this interdependence, by mapping collaboration processes to knowledge management activities. Following an analysis of the relationship between knowledge management activities and collaboration, this paper concludes with implications for the use of collaboration technologies for increasing the potential of an organization to create value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in 2001 by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union. he summit discussed digital divide. The delegates discussed how information and communication technologies can bring about development. The dialogue at the summit also focused on how information technology influences development. The summit also tackled the role of the United Nations with respect to the Internet.

The emergence and widespread use of collaborative technologies for distributed project management has opened up opportunities for off-shore outsourcing and collaborative development. However, most tools and techniques for project management focus on on-site, long term relationships and sourcing strategies at a time when inter-organizational relationships are becoming more dynamic and geographically dispersed. This paper uses grounded theory to analyze data on virtual teams' projects. The analysis uncovers “effects” in the way in which distributed projects are managed. These effects relate to coordination, communication and adaptation to distributed electronic work environments. Following an analysis of these electronic collaboration “effects”, a model for distributed project management is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic collaboration has become a driver for productivity as organizations develop linkages for the planning, sourcing, and execution of goods and services. These organizations require mechanisms to harness the diverse and personalized intellectual resources that are distributed across the world. While electronic collaboration technologies have matte it possible to harness intellectual resources across space and time, knowledge management is locked in a paradox of perception-the more valuable a knowledge resource is seen to be, the less it is shared. This paper develops a framework for the activation of knowledge that relies on a view of knowledge as identity. The analysis of a case study reveals activation conditions that delineate processes in which electronic collaboration technologies can be most effective. This has implications for the creation of collaborative work environments that enhance knowledge activation in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Computer supported teams are capturing the attention of academics and practitioners as organisations increasingly put them into practice as virtual teams. The practical relevance of current research into computer supported teams could be increased if greater attention is paid to organisational challenges as they form the context within which virtual teamwork takes place. A model of organisational challenges mapped against processes of adaptation is developed to highlight principle factors affecting virtual teams. A sample of current research groups studying computer-supported teams is plotted onto this map to reveal the extent to which current research addresses these contextual factors. From this map insights are distilled with respect to what is known and is not known about virtual teams. This paper concludes with specific research needs in the study of virtual teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the changing nature of organisations, their structures and processes, managing organisational change is seen to be an ongoing challenge. In this paper, organisational learning is considered to be a potent force that drives organisational change. The use of an electronic group communication system supporting a distributed work process is explored in a network form of organisation. Following an analysis of the patterns of behaviour that occur within an evolving electronic social space, this paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for managing change through learning in a network form of organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including one on the global economy during recession, the other on emerging economies and the third on the rising information and communication technology.

Abstract. The use of electronic communications technology within the developing world context brings forth challenges that may potentially unleash the power of society by fostering networking amoung experts and their organisations. The subject of this paper is a particular form of networking, that of building associations among civil servants involved in public administration reform. The inception of one such association, GOVERNET, an administrative reform network is explored in the context of public administration reform in Africa. This paper concludes with insight into the salient issues driving this form of networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights the key considerations that drive the need for building civil associations through networks and explores the development of GOVERNET, an administrative reform network in Africa. National sovereignty and fostering regional collaboration; Use of information technology in public administrations in Africa; Implementation of GOVERNET.

This paper describes the use of a distributed group communication system to support consultation and collaboration among people in different international agencies who cannot meet physically. Following a description of the network of international agencies and the technology that they use, two types of interaction are presented. The study culminates with an analysis which provides practical insights into the type of support required for a globally networked way of working. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including digital divide, telecommunication investments and public-access computing.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports published within the issue which include the role of information and communication on the society, the contribution of Internet to business companies, and the evolution of social networks.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Yousuf Islam on e-learning environments for Bangladesh, one by Ariyo Maiye on the role of institutions in ICT innovation, and another by Anteneh Ayanso on the digital divide of ICT leaders and followers.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Allen Brown and Gerald Grant on the development literature and classification of information and communication technology (ICT), one by Mark Thompson and Geoff Walsham regarding the research agenda on ICT utilization for the African countries, and one by Diego Navarra on the case study relative to Jordan's electronic governance.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses an article on e-learning by Annika Annderson and Mathias Hatakka, information and communication technology (ICT) execution by Nicolaas Moens and colleagues, and ICT public access by Arlene Bailey and Ojelanki Ngwenyama.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including "Software Exports Development in Costa Rica: Potential for Policy Reforms," by Brian Nicholson and Sundeep Sahay and "Negotiating the Symbolic Power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): The Spread of Internet-Supported Distance Education," by Ståle Angen Rye.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Hazel Gillard and colleagues on information and communication technologies (ICT) and gender, one by Ayman Elnaggar on gender equal access to ICT, and Felix Bollou and Ojelanki Ngwenyama on ICT investment in Africa.

The article discusses reports published within the issue including an article by Mariyam Adam and Cathy Urquhart about the impact of the lack of information technology skills, and another by Allam Ahmed which investigates the open source movement as it relates to development in Africa.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by John Benamati and Mark A. Serva on the role of online banking in developing countries and another by Mike Metcalfe on oral technologies.

The article discusses various reports published within a 2006 issue of the periodical "Information Technology for Development," including one on the risk factors in the collaborative development of management information systems for Nigerian Universities, and another on technology-supported collaborative learning for higher education.

This article discusses e-government and information technology policy and the choices for government outreach and policy making. Governments that want to connect with their citizens through online media can potentially implement their policies more effectively and increase their influence on citizens more directly. The delivery of public sector information and services to citizens through the Internet is considered to be e-government. While the benefits of e-government are compelling, it is worth noting that the countries that are taking advantage of this trend are those that have a high concentration of Internet hosts per thousand inhabitants. The benefits of e-government may indeed materialize in countries where a majority of the electorate uses the Internet frequently. At the same time, GSM-based mobile (wireless) phones are replacing land line connections in many developing countries because of the cost and unreliability of land connections--this has an impact on Internet viability for e-government. The connection between national policies and development appears to be an illusive one. However, an understanding of what constitutes this link can provide governments with powerful tools to bring about economic growth.

This section presents an overview of several articles which address the ways in which information technology is being used in order to enable social and economic development, published in the September 2003 issue of Information Technology for Development. The first article is an examination of the diffusion of Information and Communication Technology in developing countries through careful analysis of economic indicators. The indicators of Information and Communication Technology analyzed are Internet hosts, Internet users, personal computers and mobile phones. The next two papers in this issue consider two different ways in which Geographical Information Systems are used to address specific development objectives. Development is not restricted to developing countries but also includes developed countries with populations that are marginalized and could benefit from information technology. The second paper by examines the use of a Geographical Information Systems for the provision of health services to the African American population. The integration of both spatial and non-spatial datasets in a Geographical Information Systems enables spatial distribution of asthma hospitalization data to be correlated with socio-economic features. This research provides insight into the extent to which a Geographical Information Systems can be used to target socio-economic factors effecting health. The third paper suggests that there is a need for integrating disparate knowledge based systems around Geographical Information Systems applications to prevent land degradation. The final paper takes the concept of participation a step further and examines the role of Group Support Systems for development.

The primary goal of this project is to examine the opportunities regarding healthcare accessibility across Nebraska. We use GIScience to examine the socio-economic status of communities throughout Nebraska along with the accessibility of internet access at home for the use of mHealth technology. GIScience analyses provide a spatial understanding of mHealth logistics and reveal the potential for its increased application in the state. This project brings together the concepts of socio-economic development and population density along with the goal of examining healthcare accessibility through mHealth adoption. As a result, new knowledge on sustainable adoption of mHealth to provide equitable access to healthcare options is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Ojelanki Ngwenyama and Olga Morawczynski on the factors that affect the expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) in emerging economies, one by Rahul De' and Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan on structuration theory, and one by Thomas Molony on ICT, social capital, and trust.