Social innovation with open source software: User engagement and development challenges in India

Bhatt, Punita; Ahmad, Ali J.; Roomi, Muhammad Azam

Abstract

A diverse range of innovative solutions based on Free-and-Open-Source Software (FOSS) have been developed for marginalized communities in developing countries. It has been suggested that such small-scale and home-grown solutions (e.g. smart phone apps), usually championed by social enterprises (SEs), are more likely to introduce pro-poor change than infrastructure heavy ICT initiatives designed by state and other international actors for meeting development targets. In the Indian context, FOSS-based social innovations (SIs) introduced by SEs are helping communities of the poor tackle previously thought-to-be unresolvable socio-economic problems. An interesting question, therefore, would be: in what ways is the SE model and approach uniquely equipped to develop FOSS-based SIs that deliver tangible results? The empirical component of the research attempts to shed light on this question by uncovering the nuts and bolts of the development methodology deployed by an SE during the coding and launch of an FOSS-based SI. Findings highlight the significant role of the founder’s social vision; the challenges of accurately capturing and translating to software developers the nature and nuance of social problems; and, the incumbent issues in putting together a methodology that creates active user engagement throughout the software development process, overcoming difficult barriers such as language and culture.

Citation

Bhatt, P., Ahmad, A. J., & Roomi, M. A. (2016). Social innovation with open source software: User engagement and development challenges in India. Technovation, 52-53, 28-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2016.01.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 6, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 14, 2020
• Journal: Technovation
• Print ISSN: 0166-4972
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-2383
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52-53
• Pages: 28-39
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2016.01.004
• Keywords: Management of Technology and Innovation; General Engineering
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4754140
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497216000055
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Social innovation with open source software: User engagement and development challenges in India; Journal Title: Technovation; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2016.01.004; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.