WG 9.4: Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries

13^th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries

                Track 3: Open Innovation: Governance Models, Implementation Tools,

                                                               Strategies and Outcomes

Chairs: Mira Slavova (Mobile Empowerment Africa, Pretoria, South Africa)

              Stan Karanasios (University of Leeds, Leeds, UK)

Open ICT innovation has become a popular theme in the management literature, as an emergent model of innovation in which firms

draw upon external expertise in order to derive improved value from the innovation process (Chesbrough, 2003). However, openness

in the development context goes beyond the product proposition and focuses on different models of openness enabled by advances

in ICT. This track is interested in considering new models, tools and strategies for openness in the process of creation of ICT4D

innovations.  We aim to explore scholarly research on the emerging open innovation paradigms and their governance.

The notion of openness in ICT4D has expanded from participatory approaches and open-source practices, to contain

inclusivity/participatory aspects which are enabled by emerging trends in information sharing and communication such as

social-media, open-data and crowdsourcing. By means of such innovations, populations often contribute and participate in

open-information ecologies, knowingly or unknowingly. In a comprehensive review of published research on crowdsourcing,

Tarrell et al., (2013) note governance of the innovation process as a persistent topic of interest. However, due the emergent nature of the

topic the academic literature has yet to explore this theme in detail. ICT4D research has investigated e-government as a policy strategy for

good governance (Ciborra & Navarra, 2005); digital inclusion (Madon, Reinhard, Roode, & Walsham, 2009) and to a lesser extent, effective

governance and management approaches (Reinhard & Anne Macadar, 2006). Invariably, strategies for organizational learning and

inclusion remain key for successful project delivery within the developing country context. Even though it remains very much within the

closed innovation paradigm, the development literature also highlights the benefits of local engagement and collaboration between

indigenous stakeholders and international innovators (MNEs, etc.). Yet, it clearly acknowledges the challenges in terms of governance

models and strategies (Fu, Pietrobelli, & Soete, 2011). Collaboration and open innovation are well recognized as governance forms for

successful public innovation  (Bommer, 2010) but coherent governance and accountability remain problematic.

In order to address this gap, this track draws attention to new models of openness in the ICT4D context; and investigates the outcomes of

openness initiatives vis-à-vis their overall objectives. Open innovation for ICT4D is typically achieved through participatory methods. While

open collaboration and participation are critical to the success of ICT4D projects, funding resources and accountability often remain locked

with external public/private sector and international development stakeholders. Therefore, initiatives and programmes are only as “open” as

far as they meet the objectives of funders whose interest is invariably focused on developing clear objectives, measurable outputs, outcomes

and impacts. Therefore, a tension between openness and accountability continues to exist within ICT4D. We are interested in exploring the

versatile dimensions of this tension and contributions pointing to new models of openness, new forms of governance for open innovation, or

workable strategies for their implementation. Studies drawing on theory, quantitative studies, novel methods and best practice reviews, are

encouraged.

Exemplar topics: Open innovation, accountability, transparency, public-private partnership, co-creation and co-innovation, techniques of

openness including, crowdsourcing, social-media etc., participatory methods and design, user-centred innovation and legitimacy of open

innovations.

For more information, please contact mira[at]mmd4d.org.