Choudrie, J., Zamani, E. orcid.org/0000-0003-3110-7495 and Al-Bulushi, A. (2017) Are online social networks, leading to a ‘better world in the Omani public sector? A qualitative study. In: Choudrie, J., Islam, M.S., Wahid, F., Bass, J.M. and Priyatma, J.E., (eds.) Information and Communication Technologies for Development. 14th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2017, 22-24 May 2017, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology (504). Springer , pp. 669-680. ISBN 9783319591100
Abstract
Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) penetration is growing at exponential rates and affecting societies, countries and organizations, which has led to a need for understanding whether they contribute to development. To ascertain whether ICT are contributing to development, the example of a current ICT, Twitter is used, along with the aim of this research: To understand and explain how public sector organizations are adopting and using online social networks; namely twitter, for the delivery of e-government services that will provide a better world to live in the Omani public sector. By considering this aim, we attempt to explain whether Twitter, contributes towards the creation of a ‘better world’ to live in, or leads to diverse outcomes in a developing country, Oman. To achieve the aim, we used two public sector organizations workforces’ experiences and applied the Choice Framework (CF) developed by Kleine [1]. For the research approach, we employed a qualitative approach and the data collection techniques, reference to archival documents, interviews, photographic evidence and observations. The analysis was completed using the lens of interpretivism, socio-materiality along with grounded theory concepts. The study reveals that ICT4D is providing a better world for most of the citizens, but for the providers of the improved e-government services, it implies aligning local practices to the technology, which affects their home/work life balance. The contributions of this research lie in emphasising largely how the use of Twitter in Oman will lead to development. The Choice Framework selected for our understanding was adapted and led to diverse results to those mentioned in previous ICT4D studies; therefore, our research makes a contribution of understanding ICT4D in an e-government context, which was amiss in the previous frameworks. For businesses, our findings inform practitioners on the ICT Technologies areas that need attention while implementing them within an environment similar to Oman’s public sector. For policymakers, this research informs of the areas that require policymakers’ attention when placing their efforts where they are best served.
Metadata
Item Type: | Proceedings Paper |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in ICT4D 2017 Proceedings. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Twitter; Online social networks; Public sector; Oman; The choice framework |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Information School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 24 Oct 2019 11:45 |
Last Modified: | 24 Oct 2019 13:09 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer |
Series Name: | IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_54 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:150488 |