research-article

Impacts of Telecentre on Users: the Experience of the Union Digital Centre in Bangladesh

Authors:

Md Gofran Faroqi,

Noore Alam SiddiqueeAuthors Info & Claims

ICEGOV '17: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance

Pages 149 - 156

https://doi.org/10.1145/3047273.3047346

Published: 07 March 2017 Publication History

Abstract

This paper examines a Bangladeshi telecentre initiative, the Union Digital Centre (UDC), in terms of its benefits to users. It uses 'the diffusion of innovation theory' as an analytical framework and draws on data collected from a survey of 154 users and 41 interviews with management stakeholders. The study shows that the UDC has generally succeeded in providing users with easy and convenient access to information and services. The UDC has relative advantages over alternative service delivery arrangements, and that it has produced positive impacts on bridging the digital divide in the Bangladesh society. Notwithstanding, the overall impact has remained modest as the range of services currently available is quite limited; given its present handicaps the UDC is yet to have significant impacts on broader developmental goals and objectives.

References

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A2I. (2015). Union Digital Centre. Retrieved 24/04/2015, 2015, from http://www.a2i.pmo.gov.bd/content/union-digital-center

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BBS. (2014). Census Report on Union Information and Service Centres (UISCs). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Ministry of Planning.

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Digital Library

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Sarker, A. K. (2013). Digital Bangladesh: Swapna Puroner Ovijatra (A Journey to fulfil Dreams). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Tothyaseba Barta Songstha (TSB).

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Cited By

Kapondera SBernardi RPanteli N(2019)A Framework for Understanding the Empowerment Effects of Telecentres on Rural Communities in Developing CountriesInformation and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_9(104-115)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_9

Recommendations

Sustainability of telecentres in developing countries: Lessons from Union Digital Centre in Bangladesh
Highlights
- The study has identified major partners in the UDC eco-system and their respective contributions.
Abstract
This study examines operational sustainability of a major telecentre initiative - the Union Digital Centre (UDC) in Bangladesh - from the perspective of public-private-people’s partnership (PPPP). Given the rising incidence of dropout ...
Domestication of Telecentres by Malawian Rural Women

The potential of telecentres to bridge the digital divide can only be realised when their services are appropriated by all groups in the community. Previous studies show that in Malawi only a few women use telecentres. This article used Domestication ...
Telecentre Replication Initiative in Borneo Malaysia: The CoERI Experience
Abstract
There are many bridging‐the‐digital‐divide initiatives implemented by various government agencies and non‐governmental organisations throughout the world. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the critical success factors in providing ...

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ICEGOV '17: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance

March 2017

657 pages

ISBN:9781450348256

DOI:10.1145/3047273

Copyright © 2017 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 07 March 2017

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ICEGOV '17

ICEGOV '17: 10th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance

March 7 - 9, 2017

New Delhi AA, India

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Cited By

Kapondera SBernardi RPanteli N(2019)A Framework for Understanding the Empowerment Effects of Telecentres on Rural Communities in Developing CountriesInformation and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_9(104-115)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_9

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