innovation spirals in cross-cultural collaboration: a case of software localization in africa (pacis...

8/9/2019 Innovation Spirals in Cross-Cultural Collaboration: A Case of Software Localization in Africa (PACIS 2010)

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Information Technology Innovation Spirals

in Cross-Cultural Collaboration:A Case of Software Localization in Africa

Carl Lawrence and Max Erik Rohde

Department of Information Systems and Operations Management

The University of Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand

14th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, July 9-12, Taipei, Taiwan


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Outline

Introduction

IT innovation and Development

Innovation Barriers

Methodology

A Case of Software localization in Ethiopia

Analysis

Cross-Cultural Innovation Spirals

Conclusion


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Introduction

Research shows that culture and its value

embeddedness affects technology is adoptedand

used. (Kaptelinin & Nardi, 2006).

IT adoption in developing countries require

innovations that can make IT more appropriate

and thus more effective

Traditional perspectives promote a unidirectionalflow of innovations and knowledge (capacity

building; technology adoption)


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IT Innovation

IT applications new to an organization, i.e., theapplication of IT innovations in novel ways (Swanson2004)

Organizations must make full use of existinginnovations and also seek new innovations to continueto be competitive

Exploitative innovation takes advantage of existingknowledge and competencies. This is achieved throughincremental innovations

Exploratory innovations are more radical in nature andseek new markets, products, services and clients forthe organization (Jansen et al., 2006).


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IT Innovation and Development

Innovation has been embedded in the majority oftheories of economic prosperity

This has spurred the use of technologies like IT for

economic development (Fagerberg et al., 2004; Shaneet al., 2004)

The diffusion of innovation has be seen as the root ofthe success of western economies

This has been prescribed as a solution for developingnations (ICT4D, convergence theory).

However, enabling this diffusion of innovation is oftenmore complex than portrayed in some theories.


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Innovation Barriers

Different Rationalities McCoy (2007) illustrated this with a study that showed

that TAM, a widely used model in IS, does not hold trueacross cultures

Lack of Resources Lack of financing is a major obstacle to investment in

education and technology infrastructure to promoteinnovation (Furman et al., 2002).

Cultural Diversity Walsham and Sahay (2006) state that IT innovations should

play a central role in creating common practices andstandards, but local uniqueness also matters


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Methodology

Interpretative Case Study Study of contemporary context-

embedded, social phenomena

Data Collection Tape recorder semi-structured

interviews, field notes, documents

Narratives Story telling is in line with the

dialectical nature of many African

cultures

Thematic Analysis Aligns with the contextual structure of

narratives


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A Case of Software Localization In Ethiopia

An Oromo government organization, began

several IT projects to better service their regional

offices and constituents

Acting strategically the organization initiated a

project to acquire and localize an open source

office suite openoffice.org in favour of the more

expensive option Microsoft Office The project took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

between August and November of 2009


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Oromo can be written in Geez

Sample text in Ge'ez

Translation

Word of blessing of Henok, wherewith he blessedthe chosen and righteous who would be alive inthe day of tribulation for the removal of allwrongdoers and backsliders.(The first sentence of the Book of Enoch)

Source: www.omniglot.com/writing/oromo.htm


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Oromo in Latin Characters

Afaan Oromo alphabet (QubeAfaan Oromo)

Sample text in Afaan Oromo

Namootihundinuubirmaduuta'aniimirgaafiulfinaaniswal-qixxeeta'aniidhalatan.Sammuufiqalbiiittiinyaadanwaanuumamaankennameef,hafuuraobbolummaatiinwalii-wajjinjiraachuuqabu.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity andrights. They are endowed with reason and conscience andshould act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Source: www.omniglot.com/writing/oromo.htm


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Analysis

Contrast between the local and global context

Contextual distance of technology

I will rather call a local person to help me then try

to contact Microsoft

Implications of innovation and knowledge push

Continuous dependence on external knowledgeand resources

If it comes with the $ $ no go (Developer)


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Analysis

Challenges in knowledge acquisition andcollaboration

Knowledge gap between local and global context

Syntax of local language (Comma) / Ability tocustomize software

Issues of localization and ownership

Improved usability, higher perceived value, lowerlong-term cost of ownership

proud of local initiative and development


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Collaborative Innovation Spirals

Innovation Barriers

IT Innovation barriers cannot be overcome

through external innovation but through local

context-driven incremental innovation

Knowledge Push and Pull

Initiating collaboration from local need and notone assumed by external parties (Pull) but

leveraging external resources


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Conclusion

Further research aims to move beyond the

passive approach of localization towards

culture centric innovation

Another iteration of data collection is planned

The issue of appropriateness with experiences

garnered in the field direct the research to

mobile technologies.

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