IDPM Working papers
This Working Paper is part of the Development Informatics series
The Tyranny of Participation in Information Systems: Learning from Development Projects
Richard Heeks
Abstract
It often seems that use of participative approaches in the development of information systems (IS) has reached the status of a new orthodoxy: a 'magic bullet' technique that is always relevant, always beneficial in trying to overcome the high failure rate of information systems. Yet participation is clearly not so magical in practice and is often beset by problems. This paper sets out to investigate and understand some of these problems. It does so by recognising the parallels between debate on the role and value of participation in information systems development, and debate on the role and value of participation in development projects more generally. These projects aim to deliver development goals and they have frequently involved participation. They therefore provide fertile ground for learning about approaches to information systems development.
Participation is seen to fail in such projects because it ignores context; because it is itself ignored; because it ignores reality; and because it ignores other factors. Based on this analysis, a more critical approach to participation in IS projects is suggested, with three critical questions identified that must be answered before participation can be considered.
Educator's guide to student questions for this paper
View/Download options
You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat (downloadable from Adobe) to view PDF file(s). PDF files open in a new window.