An assessment of open source promotion in addressing ICT acceptance challenges in Tanzania

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is regarded as an enabler of social and economic development. Due to various challenges, ICT has not been accepted and used effectively to assist with the socio-economic development in Tanzania. Worldwide Open Source (OS) is regarded as a technology that could foster and support ICT development, due to various factors such as cost of adoption. Several OS communities have been formed to create awareness of OS and the potential OS has to address ICT challenges. This study is an assessment of such OS promotion efforts in addressing ICT acceptance challenges in Tanzania specifically. The research design includes case studies done on four OS communities using document analysis, a questionnaire, interviews and participant observation during online discussions. In addition, interviews were conducted with OS end users and practitioners to evaluate the success of the OS promotion efforts. As contribution this study provides insight into the current situation in Tanzania with regards to ICT, as well as identify specific ICT acceptance challenges in Tanzania. Furthermore, the study assessed whether OS promotion efforts address the identified ICT acceptance challenges. The findings should be of interest to managers, researchers and practitioners interested in the current state of ICT acceptance in Tanzania, ICT acceptance challenges, as well as the current OC communities and whether OS could be used as an ICT mechanism to enable socio-economic development in Tanzania.