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Introduction
The extensive use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the field of development in recent times has evoked mixed response in the IS literature. While there are some who look at ICT usage as an answer to many development problems ([25] Kodakanchi et al. , 2006; [35] Ngwenyama et al. , 2006), others are not so enthusiastic ([15] Ciborra and Navarra, 2005). Research under ICT for development (ICT4D) has focused on studying the use of ICTs for various development objectives - income growth, health, education, government service delivery, micro-finance, etc. in many countries, primarily the low-income countries, of the world. It is felt that the initial debate as to whether ICTs are relevant for these countries has already been resolved with a clear yes answer and the challenge now is to find how ICTs can be beneficial ([53] Sein and Harindranath, 2004; [60] Walsham and Sahay, 2006). This challenge is especially relevant with estimates showing a significant proportion of ICT4D implementations ending up as failures in achieving the objectives of most of the stakeholders ([21] Heeks, 2004).
In this paper, we build a case for the importance of development context[1] in ICT4D projects. We feel that the current thrust of ICT4D project design is guided by a restricted conception of both development and technology use, which limits the nature of usage and potential of ICTs. A broadening of perspective would entail acknowledging variations in what different people in different places understand as development and how technology fits into their overall scheme of things. This would require attending more closely to the contextual dimensions of development while designing ICT4D projects. A recent survey of the literature by [60] Walsham and Sahay (2006) also notes that there are very few papers which explicitly look at the precise notion of what development means and how ICTs can promote it.
Researchers studying ICT4D realize that "IT implementation projects are not episodes disconnected from historical, organizational and economic circumstances from which they emerge" ([27] Krishna and Walsham, 2005). The overall context in which a development is being sought that is manifested through various structures and institutions has a bearing on the nature and choice of technology usage, and, studying it can offer rich insights in understanding the meaning...