Information Systems for Development Planning: Managing the Process of Organisational Change

Abstract

Recent years have seen many developing countries taking initiatives aimed at promoting decentralized planning through the application of computer-based information systems. However, with all these experiments, the major objective of improving the effectiveness of development planning remains unfulfilled. This has been due in part to the lack of adequate infrastructure and resources to operate the machines - an issue which has been widely discussed in the literature. In addition, the problem stems from inadequate attention paid to the process of managing organisational change through computerisation. However, there exists a chronic paucity of literature which aims to improve understanding of this process.

To rectify this, we present a case study of the application of computers for development planning in India. We identify seven major barriers which have hampered the process of organisational change through computerisation. This leads to a discussion of issues relevant to the management of change through computerization and leads to some guidelines for more effective deployment of technology for development planning.