National Information Technology Policy and Governance Issues, Challenges and Solutions: From a Global Perspective to Named Policies of Nigeria and South Korea

Abstract

The pervasive use of ICT has made it an indispensable growth enabler and a critical ingredient in nations socio-economic valuation and competitiveness. This multidisciplinary application in all sectors has come with many issues and challenges particularly in the subdomains of national IT policy outcomes and public sector IT governance, with comparatively few solutions. Founded on a strong theoretical background, and using qualitative and quantitative analysis, this research proposed two frameworks that contribute to the theoretical understanding of the concepts and serve to overcome challenges of practice. ICTs have tremendous impact on society, businesses and governments. Realizing its strategic importance, national governments have utilized policies as instruments for engagement in this multi-billion dollar industry with varying degrees of success. Policies are well-articulated abstract action plans that prescribe mechanisms by which intended objectives can be achieved. The implementation component of the policy life cycle is very crucial because it embraces all the activity of executing the plan, with many subtle factors swinging it between success and failure. The fast pace of technology development and societal influences are additional challenges for IT policies. Also, country dependent issues have limited the effectiveness of learning from frontier nations. The literature is rife with theories and frameworks proposed to guide policy implementations, albeit many IT policy implementation failures and very few specific researches on IT policy implementations. Establishing its conceptual foundation on Theory of Structuration, Policy Implementation Framework and organizational concepts, global trend on structural issues of IT policy implementation were analyzed to propose the Framework for IT Policy Implementation Structures (FIPIS). Operationalizing it on named IT policies of Nigeria and South Korea identified profound strategies for overcoming IT policy implementation challenges in all nations. Findings from the quantitative analysis support previous research as all variables are positive and significant

but in contrast, human resources are the most important factor. The study contributes to theoretical efforts at identifying indicators that explain policy effectiveness, and aids practice. The second part of the research is on issues, challenges and solutions of Information Technology Governance (ITG) adoption and implementation. ITG entails the systemic utilization of IT for realizing corporate business objectives with strategic decision making bestowed on top management. There is a vibrant stream of extant literature on inhibitors to successful ITG implementation with very few solutions proffered, particularly for public sector organizations. The public service is differentiated by its statutory functions of improving the socio-economic wellbeing of citizenry, which comes with performance demands from society. With well-publicized information on performance and sustainable growth accruing from ITG implementations as control structures that oversee prudent and strategic investment in information technologies, especially in the private sector, the public sector is wooed to uptake ITG strategies. Drawing from theories of technology diffusion and organizational behavior, as well as juxtaposing inhibitors from extant literature, this research develops the Committees, Operations, Knowledge and Environmental (COKE) framework for potential adopters in the public sector using results from a qualitative case study on government agencies in Nigeria. The framework prescribed instruments requiring national and organizational action that are articulate, yet abstract for the peculiar circumstances of all strata of potential adopters in the public sector. The study, which revealed additional issues as well as solutions, holds great implications for academics, policy makers and ITG practitioners. Keywords: IT policy implementation, FIPIS, structure of implementation, IT governance, corporate governance, COKE, public service, SEM. Student Number: 2012-30754