Abstract
This thesis explores frugal digital innovation potentials for addressing health information systems challenges in resource-constrained settings. The main aim is to understand the technological, institutional, and social factors contributing to local innovation efficiency and solution effectiveness. Through action research, health information systems innovation interventions are pursued in the public health sector in Sierra Leone. The findings suggest that positioning frugality as the core guiding principle in digital health information systems innovations can enhance efficiency, viability and long-term sustainability. For this a mutually constitutive and dynamic relationship involving innovation processes and outcomes seen as continuous, overlapping, and iterative is necessary. A frugal digital innovation strategy is proposed to build on existing systems and resources focusing on; prevailing user needs and contextual challenges, reusing established technological systems and social and institutional structures. Leveraging, embedding, scaling, and scoping existing capabilities are presented as implementation options. In conclusion, frugal digital innovation can be seen as a pragmatic lens for studying health information systems innovation projects with ICT4D goals and aspirations.
List of papers
Paper I. Proceedings of the 17th Scandinavian Conference on Health Informatics, 12 -13 Nov 2019, Oslo Norway. The Dynamics of a Global Health Information Systems Research and Implementation Project. Eric Adu-Gyamfi, Petter Nielsen and Johan Ivar Sæbø. ISBN: 978-91-7929-957-6.The article is included in the thesis. |
Paper II. Adu-Gyamfi, E., Nielsen, P. (2017). Leveraging Software Platform Capabilities to Support HIV (ART) Treatment Adherence Management: A Case from Sierra Leone. In: Choudrie, J., Islam, M., Wahid, F., Bass, J., Priyatma, J. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies for Development. ICT4D 2017. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 504. Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_4. The article is included in the thesis. Also available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_4 |
Paper III. Adu-Gyamfi, E., Nielsen, P., Sæbø, J.I., Saugene, Z. (2019). Scaling Across Functional Domains: A Case of Implementing an Electronic HIV Patient Information System in Sierra Leone. In: Nielsen, P., Kimaro, H.C. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. ICT4D 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 551. Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_27. The article is included in the thesis. Also available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_27 |
Paper IV. Merging with Installed Base Infrastructure for Information System Continuity: A Case of Resource-challenged mHealth Project in Sierra Leone. Submitted: The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. To be published. The paper is not available in DUO awaiting publishing. |
Paper V. Information System Reuse: Case of Frugal Digital Innovation in the Public Health Sector in Sierra Leone. Submitted: Information Systems Journal. To be published. The paper is not available in DUO awaiting publishing. |