Activators of Information in the Peruvian Rural Andes

Over the last few years, governments and development
agencies have provided access to information and
communication technology (ICT) with the intention to
improve living conditions in underserved communities
around the world. Unfortunately, how the ICT tools
are used and the information they convey is
exploited have not received enough attention.
Through a holistic-multiple case study design, this
book describes how individuals living in six rural
communities in the northern Peruvian Andes use (or
not) computers. An interpretive analysis informed by
grounded theory reveals the mechanisms by which
computer-mediated information is obtained and
disseminated by those who use computers. These
social actors are named here as activators of
information and their role in disseminating fresh
and valuable information is thoroughly explained.
This book will be a valuable addition to government
officials, donors and professionals working in the
ICT for development field. Likewise, researchers
interested in the application of grounded theory
will benefit from the systematic application of the
method for the data analysis in an inductive fashion.

Autorentext

Antonio is a Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. He holds a PhD in Management Science and Information Systems from The University of Auckland, a MBA with major in Information Systems from Universidad ESAN (Peru) and a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering from Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico (Argentina).

Klappentext

Over the last few years, governments and development agencies have provided access to information and communication technology (ICT) with the intention to improve living conditions in underserved communities around the world. Unfortunately, how the ICT tools are used and the information they convey is exploited have not received enough attention. Through a holistic-multiple case study design, this book describes how individuals living in six rural communities in the northern Peruvian Andes use (or not) computers. An interpretive analysis informed by grounded theory reveals the mechanisms by which computer-mediated information is obtained and disseminated by those who use computers. These social actors are named here as 'activators of information' and their role in disseminating fresh and valuable information is thoroughly explained. This book will be a valuable addition to government officials, donors and professionals working in the ICT for development field. Likewise, researchers interested in the application of grounded theory will benefit from the systematic application of the method for the data analysis in an inductive fashion.