Subjective Factors in ICT4D Deployment

Catholic Relief Services ICT4D 2010

El Salvador VietnamBangladesh HaitiGuatemala Mali Bolivia Guinea

Tajikistan Armenia

Philippines MalawiEgypt MyanmarUganda Jordan

Pakistan YemenSudan West Bank

Where I Have worked

Each deployment has unique

characteristics and logistic needs.

ICT4D Deployments

We used to bring our work to the computer…

Now, we take computing to our work

Centralized Information Management

Survey Coordinator – Bolivia (Save the Children USA)

Microfinance Registries – Myanmar (Save UK)

Awaiting Data Input – Haiti (Save the Children USA)

Increasingly, technology is becoming easy.

Technical problems can be solved…since they

are technical by nature.

There are many device tools….

Cell PhonesPDA

NetbookLaptop

The Tools

There are many fine software solutions…

Solution Providers

Tool Name Developed By Runs On Service Model

Data

Transfer

Method

Souktel Souktel

SMS-enabled

phone web server SMS

FrontlineSMS Kiwanja.net

SMS and Java-

enabled phone free SMS

RapidResponse UNICEF

SMS-enabled

phone enterprise - server SMS

JavaRosa OSC

Java-enabled

phone free (open source) GPRS only

Mobile Researcher Clyral

Java-enabled

phone pay-per-survey

SMS or

GPRS

EpiSurveyor Datadyne Palm O/S only free (open source)

USB or

GPRS

Nokia Data Gathering Nokia Nokia O/S only free for NGO's

SMS or

GPRS

Open Data Kit Google

Android O/S

only free (open source)

But, there are other factors to consider…

User Acceptance

Curious, but Skeptical…

I am Curious….

Let Me Try That!

Trust

What is that?

Interesting….

What Device?

Cultural Context

Cultural

Cultural

Gender

Listen to the Users

“If it doesn’t work in the field…

…then it doesn’t work”.

First Things First…

So….which mobile solution should I use?

The “What” determines the “How”

The technology “tool” comes Last - Always

Don’t try to force the solution to the need

“Tool” Determinants

Do the hard work (requirements) first,

or else you will have to do the hard work later…

If you decide to choose the tool first, then:

Best scenario: added cost, delay and poor program quality.

Worst scenario: resulting failure possibly costing lives.

“Tool” Determinants

Connectivity: not available available

Power availability: low (car battery/solar) high

Data transfer method: USB SMS GPRS VPN

Data quality: not important important

Survey structure: simple complex (branching)

Information complexity: text-only data/spatial/image

Data security: low high

Environmental: mild severe

Technical Support: low risk high risk

Tool” Determinants - continued

Risk Mitigation

Fearlessly face what could go wrong….

Develop a plan for when it does go wrong!

(something will happen unexpectedly)

Recommended Best Practices

• Use technology that is simple, relevant, local.

• Build on what is already working.

• Assess and mitigate risks

• Engage Stakeholders

• Build local capacity to develop and maintain the solution.

• More is learned from what fails, than from what succeeds…

Questions….?