THE IMPACT OF COMPUTER HARDWARE THEFT ON ICT INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH AFRICAN RURAL COMMUNITIES: AN INTERPRETIVE ASSESSMENT THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS AND MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS WITHIN A PROCESS-BASED RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

摘要

Bringing the focus groups together and discussing the theft trend, has been an exercise in raising awareness of the problem. The communities' assessment of the impact of computer hardware theft were obtained and summarised in terms of themes. These themes seem to suggest that one of two development possibilities exist: 1. The community can adopt an indifferent stance of acquired helplessness, which may induce inaction, resulting in delayed introduction of ICTs and reluctance of donors to become involved. 2. Alternatively the community could channel the energy released through their anger and disappointment into taking preventative measures, such as becoming involved in the security management of ICT equipment and co-operating with the police. The theft trend for this study has been considered within the context of rural ICT development. A consideration of worldwide trends in computer theft shows that the problem could be considered within a considerably expanded system. The threat to our research in ICT introduction at SEIDET became an opportunity for a better understanding of the surrounding community. With this trend in computer theft, the question arises whether the goals of the Universal Service Agency will be realised, and if they are realised, how the theft problem can be effectively dealt with. The impact this theft trend could have on community development related to ICT introduction, as perceived by the focus groups, remains a challenge to the country as a whole and the international development community.