The influence of stakeholder relations on the implementation of information systems strategy in public hospitals in South Africa: an activity theory perspective

Literature reveals that there exists a research gap between the development of information systems (IS) strategy and the implementation thereof. There is also a need for further research regarding the implementation of IS strategy in public hospitals in South Africa. The exploration of implementation in the context of public hospitals in South Africa, a country with many good policies and strategies that have been developed but that are not always implemented, is highly relevant. In this study we undertook to explore the intricacies of stakeholder relations and the implications of these relations on the implementation of IS strategy in public hospitals in South Africa. This research was interpretive following a case study approach. Two provinces of South Africa were selected as cases: the Western Cape province and the Kwazulu Natal province. The Activity Analysis and Development (ActAD) framework, an enhanced form of activity theory, was used as the theoretical framework. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, meetings, documents analysis and physical artefacts observation. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study reveal that factors related to stakeholder relations include the situational stakeholder relations dynamics and the level and motive of involvement in IS strategic activities and IS strategy operationalization processes at the different hierarchical levels. These factors affect the implementation of the IS strategy in public hospitals in South Africa by influencing different elements of the IS strategy implementation activity system. In the end we developed a framework, the stakeholder relations’ influence (SRI) framework which depicts the influence of stakeholder relations on the implementation of IS strategy in public hospitals in South Africa.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Information Systems

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Hwabamungu, Boroto

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Brown, Irwin
• Chigona, Wallace

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12949

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12949