Decision-making about the adoption of information technology in social welfare agencies: some key considerations

ABSTRACT

Government and non-government social welfare agencies have invested heavily in information technology, such as electronic information systems (IS) but evaluations have shown that they may undermine rather than support frontline practice. In this article, the findings of research in which senior managers and information technology managers were asked to reflect on why a particular application failed to achieve its aims are presented. The insights they provide can be used to guide future decision-making about the adoption of information technology.

KEYWORDS:

• Technology adoption
• information systems
• social welfare agencies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Philip Gillingham is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Director for Research Higher Degrees in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Queensland. His research interests focus on how the tools that are provided to frontline practitioners, such as risk assessment tools, practice frameworks and information systems, can be best designed and used to support practice. Before becoming an academic in 2004, Dr Gillingham practised in Australia and Great Britain in child and family welfare, mental health and disability.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australian Research Council [grant number DE13010004].