| dc.description.abstract | This thesis investigates which technical and organizational factors that enable or constrain user participation in design when implementing a generic health information software. More specifically, it focuses on user participation during the design of a data entry interface for health commodity ordering using the generic software DHIS2 in Uganda. User participation in design can be a measure of ensuring interfaces that suit the established knowledge and practices of the end-users. However, generic software packages are often used in health information systems, and their generic nature poses a challenge to the development of interfaces that are sensitive to local particularities. To enable local user participation when implementing such systems, existing literature argues that software and projects need to provide ‘space’ for participation. In a two-year Action Research project, the implementation in Uganda was investigated and further strengthened by developing a prototype for a new data entry interface through a participatory approach with health workers and managers. The empirical findings of this thesis indicate that a set of interdependent socio-technical factors interact to enable or constrain the potential, as well as the utilized level of user involvement in the implementation of generic software. Central are technical flexibility provided by customization capabilities in the software, and the organizational capability for utilization of this flexibility, which is formed by factors such as levels of project autonomy, motivation, time and financial resources, competence and the participatory culture of the involved actors. Together, these factors shape the actual space for local customization and user participation. Moreover, four potential positive outcomes of user participation in the design of data entry interfaces have been identified from the empirical case. These include increased fit between technology and work, increased user acceptance and work satisfaction, increased data quality, and promotion for integration with other health programs. The contribution of this thesis is twofold: practically, the prototype produced during the project can further help strengthening the commodity ordering system used throughout the public health system in Uganda. Moreover, learnings from the participatory process analyzed in light of existing literature form the theoretical contribution. These are outlined and discussed as concrete enabling and constraining factors, and indications of how participation in data entry interface design can be relevant to health information systems strengthening. | eng |