Title
An Extended Conceptual Framework To Understand Information And Communication Technology-Enabled Socio-Economic Development At Community Level In Bangladesh
Abstract
Purpose - Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have received much attention as a tool for development for several decades. One way in which ICTs were introduced in developing countries, particularly prior to the advent of smartphones, was through shared access and information centres. Many of these were established as pilots, but were unable to operate without external funding and were often declared failures. And some of them probably were, particularly those that focussed exclusively on ICT as a technology, rather than on how the centres could contribute to improving livelihoods. The purpose of this paper is to explore how some centres, namely "Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) Gonokendra" in three villages of Bangladesh, influenced socio-economic development.Design/methodology/approach - This study was informed by the Heeks and Molla's extended information chain model and Sen's "development as freedom". The field study was undertaken in three BRAC Gonokendras located in different villages in rural Bangladesh.Findings - While the authors found that the centres contributed to socio-economic development, this contribution was limited by social constraints, hindering the well-being of individuals and families. Addressing social constraints thus remains a challenge in order for ICTs to contribute to development.Originality/value - The extended framework to investigate ICT-led socio-economic development implies that ICT as a catalyst can promote development at micro/community level only by simultaneously addressing social constraints.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.1108/ITP-03-2016-0067
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE
Keywords
Field
DocType
Digital divide, Community, Developing countries, Information
Economic growth,Digital divide,ICTS,Socioeconomic development,Developing country,Originality,Livelihood,Information and Communications Technology,Engineering,Conceptual framework
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
30
4
0959-3845
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
13
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Mahfuz Ashraf111.42
Helena Grunfeld271.59
Md. Rakibul Hoque3379.44
Khorshed Alam412.03