ICT4D Research: The Lame Duck of the Brazilian Academy of Management

• Published in: Revista de administração contemporânea 2024, Vol.28 (1), p.e230187-e230187
• Main Author: Joia, Luiz Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: developing countries; development; emerging markets; ict4d; information and communication technology; MANAGEMENT
• ISSN: 1415-6555; 1982-7849; 1982-7849
• DOI: 10.1590/1982-7849rac2024230187.en

ABSTRACT Objectives: nearly 50% of people in developing countries suffer from extreme poverty. Consequently, a debate has emerged about the potential of ICT to improve socio-economic conditions prevailing in impoverished nations. This discussion has given rise to a burgeoning field of research known as ICT for development (ICT4D). However, most academics in the ICT4D arena do not come from developing countries, nor do they reside in these regions - the main beneficiaries of ICT4D initiatives. This is the case of Brazil, a country characterized by significant socioeconomic disparities, where this field of study has aroused little interest among the scientific community and thus continues to be largely under-researched. Thus, the objective of this paper is to make sense of that phenomenon. Provocations: as most of the ICT4D knowledge base has been generated either by academics who are not originally from developing countries or by academics native to developing countries who currently reside in developed countries, a provocation can be made, namely, considering that ICT4D initiatives can improve the quality of life of people, why haven’t Brazilian scholars prioritized research in this area? Conclusion: as a provocative paper, our main objective is to debate on the aforementioned issue. For this, we should listen to the Brazilian Academy of Management - mainly the academics of the ANPAD’s Information Management division - to address and solve this puzzle, so that ICT4D research in Brazil can be encouraged with a view to causing a real impact on our society. RESUMO Objetivos: quase 50% da população dos países em desenvolvimento sofre de pobreza extrema, enfrentando questões como acesso inadequado a água potável, habitações precárias e educação de má qualidade. Consequentemente, surgiu um debate sobre o potencial da TIC para melhorar as condições socioeconômicas prevalecentes em nações empobrecidas. Essa discussão deu origem a um campo florescente de investigação conhecido como TIC para o desenvolvimento (ICT4D). No entanto, a maioria dos acadêmicos da área de ICT4D não vem de países em desenvolvimento, nem residem nessas regiões - as principais beneficiárias das iniciativas de ITC4D. Este é o caso do Brasil, um país caracterizado por disparidades socioeconômicas significativas, onde esse campo de estudo tem despertado pouco interesse na comunidade acadêmica e, assim, permanece largamente subinvestigado. Assim, os objetivos deste artigo são entender esse fenôme