E-government Implementation in Mozambique: Transferring Lessons across the Public Secto
South African Computer Journal · Volume 44, Issue 1 (2009)
Abstract
<jats:p>Although the implementation of computerized information systems in developing countries has been ongoing for decades, the
diffusion process has been slow to achieve a state of active use in organizational settings, and examples of cross-sector sharing
and learning remain very limited. This paper aims at demonstrating aspects that can be shared across sectors within the same
socio-economic and political implementation context, and the potential benefits that can be achieved. Empirically, the paper
draws upon experiences from the study of information systems implementation within the health and land management sectors
respectively in Mozambique. The concept of “translation” drawn from Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) is used as a lens to analyse
both experiences, and the similarities and differences are analyzed to draw specific inferences on potential domains of crosslearning.
Specific learning concerns the issues around managing the scalability and sustainability of the implementation of egovernment
initiatives. Four key areas of learning identified through this analysis are: use of participatory and action research
development; enrolment of the government; enrolment of local universities; and use of joined top-down and bottom-up
implementation approach.</jats:p>