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Introducing administrative reform through the application of computer‐based information systems: A case study in India
Author(s) -
Madon Shirin
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/pad.4230130104
Subject(s) - decentralization , flexibility (engineering) , context (archaeology) , bureaucracy , information technology , process (computing) , information system , process management , business , knowledge management , computer science , economics , engineering , political science , management , politics , paleontology , law , biology , operating system , electrical engineering , market economy
Administrative reform in a number of developing countries has recently been directed at achieving decentralization through the diffusion of information technology to local areas. However, despite these efforts, the main objective of improving the effectiveness of development planning and monitoring systems remains unfulfilled because of poor integration between the process of technology adoption and the context within which the technology is implemented. There is a paucity of literature that aims to make explicit the nature of this integration. This paper aims to offer a contribution in this direction by describing the case of the computerized rural information systems project (CRISP) in India. The results show that during the first few years of implementation information technology served to reinforce existing inefficiencies within the bureaucracy. Information technology was later used as a vehicle for promoting change within the administration as local administrators acquired the flexibility to direct the technology towards their own requirements.