Challenges in Implementing Patient‐centred Information Systems in Tanzania: An Activity Theory Perspective

Shidende, Nima Herman

doi:10.1002/j.1681-4835.2014.tb00455.x

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The study has generated a number of immediate design insights in terms of functionality needed to cater for these practices that are not addressed in the official tools or policy provided by the Ministry of Health. For example, design insights for the need to develop guidelines and tools to facilitate the defaulter tracing practices within maternal and child health in Tanzania were formulated (Shidende, 2014). The design implications from the study has also been fed into the ongoing design process of the DHIS Tracker module (Shidende et al , 2014; Shidende and Mörtberg, 2014), so that the software can now offer assistance with detection of overdue clients, give flexibility to record the appropriate contact information and can generate defaulter lists for printout.…”

Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of context in the co-evolution of work and tools

Shidende

Aanestad

Igira

2016

ITP

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Purpose This paper presents a work-centred study of how information systems practices and tools become shaped by their context. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how practices and tools co-evolve, with a specific focus on the role of context, and based on this to offer relevant design implications. The empirical motivation comes from attempts to utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) in resource-constrained settings. Design/methodology/approach Empirical work was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania that offer Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission services. Four health facilities with different organizational and socio-economic characteristics were studied using ethnographic methods (participant observation, interviews and document analysis). The authors have employed activity theory as the theoretical framework, since it explicitly places human activity within a cultural, social and temporal (developmental) context. Specifically, the concept of mediation breakdown was used for data analysis at activity, action and operation levels. Findings By focussing analytically on situations of mediation breakdown in the situation of use, at both an activity, action and operation level, the authors have achieved an understanding of how information tools are being adapted to both their contextual conditions and the information needs of the community of users. Research limitations/implications The study illustrates the decisive role that context may play in shaping the actual usage of information technology. While the detailed findings were specific to the concrete domain, time and place, in general, an increased awareness of the role of context may lead to more robust approaches to the introduction of ICT solutions. Originality/value While activity theory literature offers insight on how to analyse context, the discussion is limited to the understanding of how context can be modelled into artefacts. The paper suggests that the contradiction concept is useful for studying the role of context and its impact in co-evolution of work and information tools. The study also contributes to the discourse in health information systems in developing countries by emphasizing the crucial role of the front line health workers’ own problem solving, invention and adaptation of information tools.

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Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of context in the co-evolution of work and tools

Shidende

Aanestad

Igira

2016

ITP

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“…Village Information System which is built in villages brings hope for the vilages in front area to get wide access and give qualified services for the public (Shidende, 2014). One of the villages which implemented Village Information System in front area of Bengkalis is Teluk Lecah Village, district Rupat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Villagers’ Satisfaction Indicators on Village Information System in The Front Region

Tua

Syofian

2019

Niaga & Negara

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This research aims at describing the process of services implementation through village information system based web and the villagers’ satisfaction from the aspects of satisfaction standardization. The method of the research was qualitative with hermeneutic phenomenology approach. It would see the texts of villagers’ life and experiences in using Village Information System Services. The data were analyzed by using van kaam model. It was found that service satisfaction of village information system in the context of individual experience identified from the staffs’ attitude, information, delivery, internal manager’s role, and time service accuracy. Based on the finding, it is recommended for the further researcher to conduct a study about the service implementation as well as e-government. The weakness of this research is that researcher conducted it in short time asking the individual’s experiences about the village service information system implementation

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“…Activity theory is a theoretical framework for understanding human interaction through the use of tools and artefacts (Engeström, 1987a, b; Hashim and Jones, 2007; Leont’ev, 1974; Vygotsky, 1978). A number of studies have looked at the social, historical and contextual influences on how systems are developed (Chen et al , 2013; Luukkonen et al , 2013; Singh, 2014) and implemented (Hughes, 2005; Romeo and Walker, 2002; Shidende, 2014), and how technologies can be key mediators in the process. Agency theory, on the other hand, examines the relationship in which one party (the principal) delegates work or aspects of it to another party (the agent) (Jensen and Meckling, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtualisation of an administrative work environment in higher education

Adam

Effah

Boateng

2017

JEIM

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries can migrate their physical administrative work environment to a virtual platform to improve information management. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs an interpretive case study approach and a combined lens of activity and agency theories to understand how a developing country HEI attempted to improve its information management by migrating from a physical to a virtual administrative work environment. Findings The findings show how contradictions caused by role conflicts, administrative staff’s fear of elimination and external consultants’ limited understanding of administrative rules and procedures can hamper work environment virtualisation. Such challenges should be resolved in order to achieve a successful virtual work environment that supports timely and accurate information management. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its single case perspective in one developing country. However, future studies can compare the experiences of HEIs from developed and developing countries in order to account for contextual differences. Practical implications The study provides practitioners with insight into how to address conflicts between employees (as potential users) and external consultants during virtual system development and implementation. In particular, role conflict, fear of eliminating some administrative staff and consultants’ limited understanding of administrative work procedures should be resolved for successful work environment virtualisation. Originality/value The study is the first attempt to offer rich insight into the challenges associated with administrative work environment virtualisation for improved information management in HEIs, through the principal-agent relationship.

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Challenges in Implementing Patient‐centred Information Systems in Tanzania: An Activity Theory Perspective

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

The role of context in the co-evolution of work and tools

The role of context in the co-evolution of work and tools

Villagers’ Satisfaction Indicators on Village Information System in The Front Region

Virtualisation of an administrative work environment in higher education

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