TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the socio-cultural factors in the implementation of public financial management information system in Ghana
AU - Simpson, Samuel Nana Yaw
AU - Tetteh, Lexis Alexander
AU - Agyenim-Boateng, Cletus
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.
PY - 2020/10/18
Y1 - 2020/10/18
N2 - Purpose: This paper aims to explore the socio-cultural factors that emerge in the implementation of integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS) in Ghana, a developing country. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach was used with a case study design. The data were collected from archival documents and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with participants who played a significant role in the implementation of IFMIS in the Ghanaian public sector. Findings: The findings show that although IFMIS was considered by the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID), European Union and Danish International Development Agency to be rational, technical, universal and unproblematic, the use of the system in the Ghanaian public institutions was constrained by socio-cultural factors. These factors included power struggles between various technocrats; and negative attitudes such as opportunism and rent-seeking interest towards the IFMIS. Research limitations/implications: The research is grounded in a single case study, but the findings can be theoretically generalised to information technology (IT)-based financial management system exhibiting the same characteristics. Practical implications: This study offers a practical implication for governments, consultants and donor agencies. Originality/value: This study provides additional insight through the application of the sociology and duality of information technology theory to study a particular IT-based public financial management initiative.
AB - Purpose: This paper aims to explore the socio-cultural factors that emerge in the implementation of integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS) in Ghana, a developing country. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach was used with a case study design. The data were collected from archival documents and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with participants who played a significant role in the implementation of IFMIS in the Ghanaian public sector. Findings: The findings show that although IFMIS was considered by the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID), European Union and Danish International Development Agency to be rational, technical, universal and unproblematic, the use of the system in the Ghanaian public institutions was constrained by socio-cultural factors. These factors included power struggles between various technocrats; and negative attitudes such as opportunism and rent-seeking interest towards the IFMIS. Research limitations/implications: The research is grounded in a single case study, but the findings can be theoretically generalised to information technology (IT)-based financial management system exhibiting the same characteristics. Practical implications: This study offers a practical implication for governments, consultants and donor agencies. Originality/value: This study provides additional insight through the application of the sociology and duality of information technology theory to study a particular IT-based public financial management initiative.
KW - Duality of information technologies theory
KW - GIFMIS
KW - Ghana
KW - IFMIS
KW - Opportunism and social
KW - Power struggle
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089153244&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/JAOC-10-2018-0100
DO - 10.1108/JAOC-10-2018-0100
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85089153244
SN - 1832-5912
VL - 16
SP - 349
EP - 368
JO - Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change
JF - Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change
IS - 3
ER -