Different spaces for e-development: What can we learn from the capability approach?

Abstract

"e-Development" is often pursued with a lot of thinking on the 'e' and little on the 'development,' rendering the link between them ambiguous and fragile. It is important to explicate what kind of "development" is being pursued, and how information and communication technology (ICT) can contribute to this goal. This article draws on Amartya Sen's capability approach to provide some theoretical reflections on e-development. It is argued that the capability approach, being a normative and evaluative approach, provides us with a different "space" to assess e-development and allows us to sensitize and take into account a variety of important issues surrounding ICT adoption for development. This article first provides an introduction to key concepts of the capability approach, which are then drawn on to generate implications for e-development research. C 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Information literacy training for teachers in a developing South African context: suggestions for a multi-disciplinary planning approach

“…Sorensen et al 2007;Teale et al 2002;Açikalin 2009). In the extensive literature review (not reflected here) no evidence could be found of acknowledging input from ICT for Development and Information Systems theories -two fields that address, among other things, the successful adoption of ICT and related skills in developing communities (Chigona and Chigona 2010;Krishna and Madon 2003;Zheng 2009). Future literature reviews might also cover Information Behaviour and Adult Learning (Andragogy).…”

Actor-Networks and “Practices” of Development: Impact of a Weather Information System in West Bengal

“…In conceptualising what constitutes development, we align ourselves with the capabilities approach [14][15][16]. We draw on existing research on capabilities and ICTD [17][18][19] to position our findings from the ANT framework within the broader discourse of development.…”

Exploring the Link between ICT and Development in the Context of Developing Countries: A Literature Review

“…The CA suggests that impact evaluation may focus on the influence on people's capabilities to do and to be, on the quality of human life, and on the potential decrease in the obstacles in people's lives, to maximize everyone's freedom to live and choose the kind of life that they have reason to value (Sen, 2000). Therefore, the CA places the emphasis on the contribution that technologies may have to increase the capabilities (freedoms and opportunities) of individuals to function in their societies (Zheng, 2009). In this article, we present Sen's CA as one of the guiding frameworks through which to understand the complex link between ICT and Development.…”

“…For example, in addition to providing ICT services, there is a need to create a social and institutional environment so that the poor and needy can access and assess information, build knowledge, and take decisions; in other words, enhance their basic capabilities. The CA calls for an alternative e-development beyond the space that centers on economic growth or modernization (Zheng, 2009). Alternative e-development should focus on the space of substantive freedom where ICT may add to development by influencing a change in the quality of life through the innovation and diffusion of human-oriented technologies.…”

“…Alternative e-development should focus on the space of substantive freedom where ICT may add to development by influencing a change in the quality of life through the innovation and diffusion of human-oriented technologies. Thus, there is a need to add knowledge from other research disciplines besides welfare economics and development studies, such as from the information systems area, to understand how ICT relates to development through CA (Zheng, 2009). This paper utilized Sen's CA framework to analyze the selected articles and to understand the link between ICT and Development.…”