Lessons learned
As seen by DOI’s observations in the field, ICT development seems to present itself as a beneficial factor to social prosperity if implemented correctly and with sufficient resources. Some lessons to be learned from DOI’s report center on the breakdown of ICT efficiency in its implementation.
1. Initiatives should be explicit about their development goals and how they will directly impact the target population. Otherwise, unforeseen logistic problems will arise.
2. Initiatives should be driven by user demands, identified and realized through direct participation and ownership since it is the users who have to manipulate the technology. If their concerns are not addressed, Information and Communication Technologies will fail to deliver their potential advantages.
3. Initiatives should also be sensitive to local conditions and limitations; otherwise, they will be ill-received and possibly rejected.
4. The interests of key stakeholders must be broadly aligned with each other and with the goals of the intervention or miscommunication with deteriorate the relationship among interested parties.
5. It should be noted that initiatives with the most impact have approached development problems in a holistic and coordinated way, not only through the provision of ICT.
Information and Communication Technologies exist only as limited solution to development issues. Better results are observed when ICTs are coordinated with other improvement methods. In order to bridge the digital divide within, countries must adopt unique techniques as each situation demand.
Figure D: DOI's Strategy Pictograph