Developing Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: The Flexible Standards Strategy1

Jørn Braa; Ole Hanseth; Arthur Heywood; Woinshet Mohammed; Vincent Shaw

doi:10.2307/25148796

journal article Jun 01, 2007

Developing Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: The Flexible Standards Strategy1

Jørn Braa Ole Hanseth Arthur Heywood Woinshet Mohammed Vincent Shaw

MIS Quarterly Vol. 31 No. 2 pp. 381-402 · MIS Quarterly

View at Publisher Save 10.2307/25148796

Abstract

The development of appropriate integrated and scalable information systems in the health sector in developing countries has been difficult to achieve, and is likely to remain elusive in the face of continued fragmented funding of health programs, particularly related to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In this article, we propose a strategy for developing information infrastructures in general and in particular for the health care sector in developing countries. We use complexity science to explain the challenges that need to be addressed, in particular the need for standards that can adapt to a changing health care environment, and propose the concept of flexible standards as a key element in a sustainable infrastructure development strategy. Drawing on case material from a number of developing countries, a case is built around the use of flexible standards as attractors, arguing that if they are well defined and simple, they will be able to adapt to the frequent changes that are experienced in the complex health environment. A number of paradoxes are highlighted as useful strategies, integrated independence being one that encourages experimentation and heterogeneity to develop and share innovative solutions while still conforming to simple standards. The article provides theoretical concepts to support standardization processes in complex systems, and to suggest an approach to implement health standards in developing country settings that is sensitive to the local context, allows change to occur through small steps, and provides a mechanism for scaling information systems.

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Details

Published: Jun 01, 2007
Vol/Issue: 31(2)
Pages: 381-402

Authors

J

Jørn Braa

Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Post-box 1080 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

O

Ole Hanseth

Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Post-box 1080 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

A

Arthur Heywood

School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Diemaaar Way Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa

W

Woinshet Mohammed

Department of Informatics, University of Oslo and Addis Ababa University, Post-box 1080 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

V

Vincent Shaw

Department of Informatics, University of Oslo and University of Western Cape, Post-box 1080 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

Cite This Article

Jørn Braa, Ole Hanseth, Arthur Heywood, et al. (2007). Developing Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: The Flexible Standards Strategy1. MIS Quarterly, 31(2), 381-402. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148796

Developing Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: The Flexible Standards Strategy1

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