Special Issue Editor's Introduction

Welcome to this EJISDC special issue co-edited with Devinder Thapa and Robert Davison. The special issue comprises seven selected papers from the IFIP Working Group 9.4 12 th International Conference on the Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica during May 2013. The selected papers have been extended, independently reviewed and represent insights and agendas for ICT4D, including cloud computing, ethics, mobile payment systems, mobile health information systems, and cybersecurity. The papers demonstrate geographical diversity across sub-Saharan Africa (notably, Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa), South America (Brazil) and the Caribbean (Jamaica). The research approaches used in the papers include grounded theory, actor network theory, design science and a case study. The first paper " Cloud Computing: Adoption Issues for Sub-Saharan Africa SMEs " discusses the opportunities and challenges of using cloud-hosted software services and is from the socio-technical systems research group at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK. A grounded theory research approach was used to explore data from ten SMEs in Nigeria that have adopted cloud computing as an IT strategy. The study companies are from the finance, information and communication technology (ICT), and manufacturing sectors. These SMEs are less concerned with challenges like security, privacy and data loss compared with findings from research literature on cloud adoption in the global north. Rather, the study companies show optimism in using the potential opportunities presented by cloud computing. It is recognised elsewhere in research literature that cloud computing is expensive for those with their own existing IT infrastructure. But for those without existing IT infrastructures, which includes many organisations in sub-Saharan Africa, cloud computing avoids the need for capital expenditure. The authors' research tests assumptions that cloud computing will create important opportunities for organisations in sub-Saharan Africa. The second paper " Exploring Information Ethics for Inclusive Open Development " by Bentley, investigates open development in terms of its potential to influence intentional and existing development aid practices. The paper offers insight into how open development practices within relationships between donors and civil society organisations could be guided by an underlying information ethics. Bentley argues that open development concepts and practices can help connect disjointed activities in a way that is inclusive, i.e. in a way that supports local participation, whilst enabling synthesis and learning across cases. It is suggested that concentrating on connections between humans and digital objects and processes, and also built environments, would …