Sustainable rural ICT project management practice for developing countries: investigating the Dwesa and RUMEP projects

Abstract

An analysis of rural information communication and technology (ICT) case studies suggests that there are a number of constraints which threaten the sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project. The categories of sustainability reveal critical success factors (CSFs) that need to be considered in the implementation and the management of rural ICT projects. The project management discipline recognizes the complexity of a project's environment and therefore suggests that projects be undertaken in phases comprising the project life cycle. Project management practice for rural ICT project sustainability is examined with the intent of adapting the traditional project life cycle to propose a rural ICT project life cycle (RICT-PLC) that is sensitive to the CSFs of sustainability. In order to further investigate the phases and the related practices throughout the life cycle of a rural ICT project, two case study investigations are explored in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: the Dwesa ICT project and the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project. Finally, an initially enhanced RICT-PLC model is developed, that sets sustainability guidelines for ICT project management in rural areas and identifies the people, environments, technologies, systems, and requirements for ICTs to support rural development activities.

Narcyz Roztocki and H. Roland Weistroffer are the accepting Guest Editors for this article.

Keywords:

• project management
• rural development
• information and communication technology
• sustainability

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all members of the Siyakhula living lab and RUMEP, for their support and participation in this research. Special thanks must also go to the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the industry sponsors within the Centre of Excellence at Rhodes University and Fort Hare University, for making this research possible.

Notes

Narcyz Roztocki and H. Roland Weistroffer are the accepting Guest Editors for this article.