Diffusing information technology in Botswana: a framework for vision 2016

Abstract

Presents the findings of a questionnaire survey carried out to determine the scope of IT diffusion in Botswana in the context of the National Vision 2016. The study was aimed at establishing the extent of IT use in the country; identifying the constraints and opportunities of IT diffusion and recommending the way forward. The target population comprised of IT-related government departments, IT training institutions, IT vendors and IT-oriented parastatals. The survey was confined to the capital, Gaborone and produced a response rate of 90 percent. The results showed that 98 percent of participants believed that the scope for IT diffusion in the country was good. However, several constraints were identified, including lack of skilled manpower, lack of IT policy, inadequate IT infrastructure, inadequate private sector participation, tendering procedures that favour foreign companies more than local companies, absence of clear mission statements for IT diffusion within organizations, lack of understanding of the use of IT by management and fear of retrenchment by staff.