An Alternative to Technology Transfer for Human Development: An Epistemic Shift

The techno-centric development narrative rooted in the Western orthodoxy, has dominated the discourse of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) since the early days and remains a point of critique. Through a hermeneutic review of the literature, we observe a persistent focus on technology transfer for socio-economic development in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) which often results in issues of abandonment and failure. In light of this, we propose an epistemic shift in ICT4D, arguing for a more contextualized approach to human development. We suggest decentering the mere transfer of technology through the translation of an Information Systems (IS) artifact comprising three interdependent components. This study explores opportunities within this reframing as an avenue for future IS research and practice.