Power Tensions in Health Information System Integration in Developing Countries: The Need for Distributed Control

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dc.contributor.authorNyella, Edwin E.
dc.contributor.authorMndeme, Mathew
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-14T17:05:50Z
dc.date.available2016-09-14T17:05:50Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractAs part of health sector reform, most developing countries are in the process of restructuring the Health Information Systems (HIS) by way of standardizing and integrating various vertical reporting systems. Nevertheless, the pressure resulting from the vertical systems supported by donors renders the integration goal challenging and unachievable. While many studies have argued for the heterogeneity of interests and multiple data needs of the donors as the major cause of the problem, this paper argue for more detailed and critical analysis of the problem. To contribute to this, the paper emphasize the need to understand the main actors involved in the process in terms of the resources and rules available to them; and their implication in the HIS integration venture. By drawing on an empirical case study and Structuration Theory concepts, the paper identified the dialectic power relations between the actors resulting from the asymmetric ownership and control of resources and rules. To alleviate the power tensions, the paper proposed i) the need to build shared meaning of the integration process through communication approaches ii) and the need to distribute the control of the integrated HIS using modularization approach facilitating ‘the tapping on’ of the resources available to each group of actors.en_US
dc.identifier.citationNyella, E.E. and Mndeme, M., 2010. Power Tensions in Health Information System Integration in Developing Countries: The Need for Distributed Control. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 43.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3706
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectStandardizationen_US
dc.subjectHealth Information Systemsen_US
dc.subjectIntegrationen_US
dc.subjectVertical Programsen_US
dc.subjectStructuration Theoryen_US
dc.titlePower Tensions in Health Information System Integration in Developing Countries: The Need for Distributed Controlen_US
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Revieweden_US
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