Trial lecture
"The Societal Impact of IS Research, How can information systems research address global societal problems?"
Time and place: March 15, 2024 10:15 AM, Kristen Nygaards sal (5370), Ole-Johan Dahls hus
Main research findings
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Affordance theory has gained increased traction since its development by James Gibson in the seventies. The Information Systems (IS) research field has adopted the theory and developed it further. However, the theory is not uniformly understood among IS researchers, and the application of it varies a lot. Through an extensive review of prior studies and field work in the educational sector in The Gambia, this thesis develops two models to help IS scholars effectively reduce complexity while applying the affordance lens in IS research. The two models were used to analyse data from my study of the implementation process of the Gambian education management information system. The findings suggest that basic technology use can lead to societal-level changes. However, to motivate effective technology use, the end users should be explained the consequences of their technology use. For instance, if data is reported in a timely manner, better decisions are made at regional and national levels, in turn affecting the schools and the educational sector at large. The contributions from this thesis extend beyond the educational sector in The Gambia and are valuable for a broader understanding of how technology use can cause societal-level effects, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Adjudication committee:
- Professor II Maung Kyaw Sein, USN School of Business, Hønefoss, Norway
- Dr. Roberta Bernardi, University of Bristol, UK
- Associate Professor Sune Dueholm Müller, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway
Supervisors
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Associate Professor Terje Aksel Sanner, Department of Informatics, UIO
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Associate Professor Silvia Masiero, Department of Informatics, UIO
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Professor Kristin Braa, Department of Informatics, UIO
Chair of defence:
Professor Dag Langmyhr
Candidate contact information:
Contact information at Department: Mozhdeh Sheibani Harat