CHAPTER ONE

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA (A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT) CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The factors influencing information systems failures in Nasarawa state, Nigeria is an important research situation based on the fact that Information systems when successful exhibit their full positive potentials which are: increased efficiency and high quality service (Sadoughi, et. al., 2013) to mention a few. Therefore when failures are experienced in relation to Information Systems, it means then that: Information systems are likely to be seen as negative impacting tools to growth and development where huge amounts of investment end up wasted on inefficiencies, unsatisfactory and misdirected perceptions (Sadoughi, et. al., 2013). The gaps that have been created by information systems failures have put the positive effects of information systems at high risk of total rejection however the positive effects far outweigh the negative ones. Investigating the failure factors of Information Systems is key and has been an ongoing process globally (Heeks, 2002), however generalizations from researches on information systems has not really fully helped in curbing failures, especially for developing countries where researches need digging deeper into specifics in order to explore such failure factors (Avgerou, 2019). This research takes a deeper contextual look into factors influencing information systems failures in Nasarawa state with an expectation to creating valuable patterns that can advance practice; especially for developing countries who have struggled through the years around the concept of creating positively impacting information systems and failing because of a simple unknown factor. 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY There are quite a number of factors to be considered given the occurrence and intensity of research/debate in this given area especially for developing countries (Samuel, 2020). Understanding the nature of Information Systems researches in a developing country like Nigeria, with Nasarawa State in the research lens is of essential importance (Avgerou, 2008). This is because even from a general Information Systems perspective, there is the important need to connect peculiarities in the subfields with that which is commonly obtainable in the Information Systems research field as a whole (Avgerou, 2008). The concept suggested by Avgerou (2008) has the intrinsic capability of expanding general global perspectives significantly, where Information Systems failures are concerned (Samuel, 2020). Therefore, in relation to this the research aims at unveiling

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA (A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT)

the peculiarities of Information Systems failures that exist in Nasarawa State, Nigeria and to accomplish this; according to Samuel (2020), the researcher intends to: 1. Elucidate the chief features influencing Information Systems failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria on the basis of generalized categorizations. 2. Examine the Digital Technological Innovation element. 3. Determine: a. The mindset/involvement/understanding of public sector workers vis-à-vis the nature and significance of Information Systems in the State. b. The role/participation/understanding of the rural poor in Information Systems undertakings by the State. 4. Present recommendations that will enable the government of Nasarawa state create avenues where the next frontier is one that unites and collaborates with key stakeholders to create and appropriately utilize IS value chain links with the global economy. 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS In relation to finding out the factors influencing Information Systems failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria; the researcher will attempt answering the following research questions: 1. What are the unusual elements connected to Information Systems failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria? 2. Do the: a. Mechanisms of the Digital component in variation impact Information Systems failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria? b. Mechanisms of the Social context in variation with relation to the mindset/involvement/understanding of the state’s public sector have any impact on Information Systems in terms of failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria? c. Mechanisms of the Social context in variation in relation to the role/participation/understanding of the rural poor impact Information Systems in terms of failures in Nasarawa State, Nigeria?

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA (A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT)

3. Are the factors responsible for Information Systems failures in Nasarawa State aligning with generalized categorizations such as process, people, product and technology, or are there more or less categories? 1.4 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM The creation of a network that solves complex challenges across social and technological spheres is not out of place for Nasarawa State, with serious considerations of political, socio-cultural, historical, structural and functional environments (Malby and AndersonWallace, 2016). However, a holistic investigation is incumbent. Information Technology in Nigeria since the revolutionary period in the early 21

st

century where mobile phones and computers became the buzz word has shown beyond doubt the fundamental nature of IT in relation to digital concepts especially where Information Systems endeavors are concerned (Park and Mithas, 2020). Given the span of time, Nasarawa State falls short of an Information Systems revolutionary success story. However, one cannot out rule the fact that much effort has been put in by government –nevertheless the level at which digital concepts have penetrated Nasarawa State and effectuated Smart City concepts must be ascertained and examined (Samuel, 2020). This can help greatly in improving how: vital information is shared and communicated, conflicts are managed, relationships are built and maintained and how making Nasarawa State Smarter can be precipitated (Goodstein, 1998) especially in such times as the COVID-19 Pandemic situations (Samuel, 2020). An issue of major concern especially with regard Information/data collection, dissemination and utilization in Nasarawa State is alarming (Bello and Obinne, 2012), because without this data or information it is difficult to transform the state into that ideological Smart City state; at the same time efforts of government are seen to be futile indicating Information System inadequacies or failures socially, technologically or both (Samuel, 2020). What then are the underlying factors of Information Systems failures or inadequacies in Nasarawa State? Already there are suggestive indicators from enormous researches, however; it is important and necessary to undertake a holistic study that will help in better understanding the factors in the context of Nasarawa State, Nigeria (Samuel, 2020). This is in accordance with the submissions of Sadoughi, et. al. (2013) in which systematic methods of Information Systems appraisals is highly dependent on being able to identify its underlying success and failure factors. In as much as the success factors are important, this research work will focus 90% on the failure factors and 10%

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA (A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT)

on the success factors in an attempt to identify strategic measures of diminishing any failure factors associated with Information Systems in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Hence, the need to perform this research studies. In an era where information is a key resource to be harnessed for economical, societal and organizational efficiency, effectiveness and vitality; efforts must be put together to properly harness such resources appropriately (Marion, 1998). Even as strategy has been identified as the best approach towards completely utilizing information as a resource for societal well-being, strategy must be adopted from a systems view approach (Luciano, 1998). The Nasarawa State Government of Nigeria has not been left out in the Nigerian Government’s quest to utilize information resources for the betterment of its citizenry. Recently, there has been an effort by the Nasarawa State Government to improve on security (Punchng.com, 2019; Business Day, 2020), digitization of communication (BICT Nasarawa State, 2020), the environment (Daniel and Obadiah, 2015), governance (Tribune on-line, 2019), education (Vanguard, 2020), standard of living (Umaru and Tende, 2013), e-commerce (in exploring the digital economy for revenue generation in terms of online stalls and market places) and the archiving of important and relevant data (HFGProject, 2018) for developmental planning efficacy and development of policies including the policy of urbanization and rural development (Joss, Mathew and Dayot, 2017). This is a global trend, where growing interests are high in relation to concepts of the Smart City (Joss, Mathew and Dayot, 2017), in which e-libraries, ICT hubs, drones, CCTVs, Data/Information Centers, Geographic Positioning Systems and other crucial automated processes are the constituent elements of such a setting (Bello and Obinne, 2012). These exemplify advanced practices in Information Communication Technology and goes further to show the essentiality of Information Communication from a global and continental perspective (Bello and Obinne, 2012). As our environment rapidly changes the world over, it is important to note that those who continue to do things the old fashioned way are in the danger of being left behind (Goodstein, 1998). An example of such is the way in which COVID-19 has brought about a sharp change in global trends and world events. Today, it is obvious that flexibility, initiative and individual responsibility are imperatives for a better society (Goodstein, 1998), being smart and working smart are dependent on how new technological opportunities are used to increase efficiency and productivity (Goodstein, 1998). According to Goodstein (1998), being smart entails focusing time, energy and

FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA (A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT)

human/material/financial resources on productive endeavors and putting them into good use. It is evident then that a Smart City revolves around technology, digitization, Information Systems and the inclusive or exclusive social construct of a given community of people (Joss, Mathew and Dayot, 2017). Backing this up, Malby and AndersonWallace (2016) identify 3 crucial success elements: technology enhanced sharing; connections; and simplified sharing, validation and distillation, which support the argument of investing time and energy in technological processes. It all boils down to the ability of all stakeholders to interpret practicable knowledge into codified information via robust technological and informational architectures that can be accessed and inquired in multiple spheres evocatively and in locally significant ways (Malby and Anderson-Wallace, 2016). 1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY There are so many outstanding opportunities that can be benefitted from using Information Technology, for example in the form of Geographic Information Systems, Agricultural, Health, Housing, Commerce and Financial Information Systems etc. as mentioned earlier (Sadoughi, et. al., 2013). According to Sadoughi, et. al. (2013), these outstanding opportunities are meant to diminish errors and support specialists in all ramifications, thereby increasing efficiency and quality in all spheres. However, there are certain scope based issues that often times are associated with Information Technology related systems that create gaps against the positive potentiality of the systems (Sadoughi, et. al., 2013). This study will focus on the public sector of the Nasarawa State Capital, Lafia LGA as the epicenter of development for the state as a whole. 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study intends to disclose those key factors that are responsible for Information Systems failure experiences in Nasarawa State (Samuel, 2020). This can go a long way in establishing better resource investment by the state government against the backdrop of wasted huge resources that are relatively scarce; also it is believed the system will serve as a template that can be keyed into for advancing the practice both globally and continentally (Samuel, 2020).

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 A DIGEST OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS FAILURES