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#140Friday talking point: How important is the human factor in IT System implementation?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

#140friday <http://140friday.com> » How important is the human factor in IT system implementation? March 18, 2013 How important is the human factor in IT system implementation? In #140Friday over the past several days we have been discussing issues and challenges that face the implementation of IT systems, with special focus on “Public Service” IT systems. This attention has largely been triggered by the failure of Kenya’s Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Results Transmission System (RTS). Last week #140Friday had a face-to-face meeting at the Nailab which brought together a diverse group of professionals from various backgrounds to discuss the subject. As the group talked about “what went wrong” and “what could have been done better” with regards to various Public IT systems one key point that consistently came up was the importance of the human factor. [image: godfinger]<http://140friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/godfinger.jpg>Most IT system implementations apply project management techniques in order to have a higher success rate, better performance management, efficient management of time and resources and better communication amongst key stakeholders. But research and experience have shown that tools, processes and analytics only show about half of the picture, the most critical (and least obvious) is what we can call the “human factor”. All projects consist of people with needs, wants, desires, issues and time constraints. This “human factor” must be addressed in order to ensure higher levels of project success. As more details emerge about the IEBC RTS project it becomes evident that the human factor probably contribute to most, if not all of the problems that led to the projects failure. There appear to have been a number of blunders, both big as well as small which affected the entire process from beginning to end. Ranging from personal pride (or should we call it obstinacy?) amongst key members of IEBC top management, who turned away advice and offers of assistance to address problems that became evident weeks and months prior to the election. The lack of electricity at tallying and polling stations and the failure to take appropriate measures to ensure that electronics being used had stable power supply points to poor planning and preparation. The locations where tallying and polling stations would be located were known many months prior to the elections. It would have been a simple task to allocate a team the task of ensuring that there was reliable power in each and every room that would be used for the election, unfortunately this issue was never addressed or came to the fore too late for anything meaningful to be done about it. This is a perfect example of an oversight that comes as a result of the human factor. It has been humorously stated that all project failures have 6 phases: 1. Enthusiasm 2. Disillusionment 3. Panic 4. Search for the guilty 5. Punishment of the innocent 6. Praise and honors for the non-participants Interestingly enough, the IEBC RTS projects seems to be going through these phases with the entire country acting as judge, jury and executioner. While all the details are still not in the public domain, it is safe to say that this particular project shall go down in the annals of Kenyan ICT history as a classic example of how *NOT* to do things. Some recommendations on how to address human factor challenges (from Kim Resch “Using The Human Factor To Launch Products”) *Management Buy-In* 1. The larger the project the more management support is needed 2. Get and keep management involved in the right projects at the right time – don’t wear out your welcome 3. First thing, gain the clear understanding of the manager’s highest level goals and desires 4. On a regular basis meet one-on-one with management to up-date and ask for support 5. Meet with, face-to-face, each manager of each person assigned to the project – gain commitment 6. When priorities shift re-commit with all levels of management 7. Gain outward signs of approval & support from management *Team Dynamics* 1. Get to know each person on your team, including personal likes, interests, etc. & share about yourself too 2. Get buy-in – sell hard when necessary 3. Trust the people on your team and show them you trust them 4. Give them a chance to shine and get recognition – ‘relinquishing power’ 5. Define their strengths & weaknesses 6. Spend time explaining the importance of the project – to the bigger picture 7. Write thank-you notes and take time to have a snack/lunch with the team 8. Go out of your way to care and be personal 9. Never let family or the individual come second 10. And at the same time, push them through example and challenge them beyond what they think they can do *Essential Communications* 1. After leadership the second most important role you will play 2. Watch for issues, build-up and possible explosions – only way to know is via talking, seeing and sharing 3. E-mail is the scourge of proper and effective communications – great for documentation, horrible for getting the right out-come 4. Communicate often with the key team members and (on larger or fast projects, do so every day), with the larger circle of members at minimum weekly 5. Utilize all forms of communications 6. Involve upper management in formal & relaxed moments 7. Restate the mission, goals, business impact, etc. 8. At start of program develop a scope document that includes the business value and the ‘why it is important’ 9. Handwrite thank-you notes along the way *Convert Mountains into Molehills* 1. Obstacle remover 2. Work the team to bring expectations into alignment 3. Shut down gossip and trash-talk 4. Address problems head on – first to the immediate person then go up the chain 5. Clarify, define and bring into prospective 6. Feel the pain, but move beyond to the result – generate a positive outcome 7. When a person is blocking the project’s success, after attempts to correct the behavior, have them removed – nothing and no one is untouchable 8. Keep the mission visible and the end result alive 9. Don’t let scope creep & ‘fix all the ills of the business’, change the project’s desired result *Keep spirits up* 1. Utilize recognition & incentives 2. Non-cash rewards are better 3. Both team and individual rewards & recognition 4. Reward for each milestone or important result 5. Say thank you, in writing and in group settings 6. Hold up performers 7. Hold a kick-off meeting followed up with an activity 8. Reward positive behaviors openly, handle poor behaviors privately and one-on-one (use as a learning experience) 9. Get management to ‘stop by’ performing individuals’ cubes/offices or meetings to say ‘I heard and wanted to say…’ 10. Create performance legends & stories 11. The positive spirit begins with you *Velocity & Vision* 1. Determine upfront how much or little the specific project requires – the tools, tracking and formal processes 2. Create a vision the team can believe in, including how fast and why 3. Create a sense of urgency and action (if it can be done now then do it) 4. Important means speed – velocity only comes with a clear understanding of where you started and where you are going 5. Make it real, make it tangible 6. The pace of the leader sets the pace of the pack!

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Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
by Edith Adera 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Listers, For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence. In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back - deep and hard - it occurred to me that the over-rated, over-hyped, over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and voiceless....you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to question, to freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the going ons. You were promptly slapped with the "peace call" which immediately silenced you! Why should I feel silenced by "a call for peace"? Our national anthem talks of "peace and liberty", what happened to "liberty" during this period? Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool". In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God's birth of a NEW KENYA. It is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me wrong - I don't mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially during this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as we enter into the next 50 years - the next Jubilee). >From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will truly be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of TRUTH (righteousness) and JUSTICE. Reflective Edith Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice (Albert Camus)

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Fwd: KEPSA ROLE OF BMO DEVELOPMENT (Kenya ICT Federation)
by Ali Hussein 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

> Dear listers > > As a member of KEPSA (Kenya Private Sector Alliance) I receive regular email updates on its activities. So it was with interest (and a sense of disconnect?) that I received this morning an email update on strengthening of BMOs (I think that stands for Business Membership Organizations). > > It seems like that KEPSA recognizes an organization called the Kenya ICT Federation (KIF) and gives it support as a stakeholder within KEPSA as a BMO. Please see attachment. > > The list has had some very heated and interesting discussions about an association that represents the ICT Sector from #140Friday discussions to how we can improve the Computer Society of Kenya to KITOS etc etc. > > How can we engage with KIF in a more substantive way? Who are the key stakeholders? Office Bearers etc. Anyone on the list with information on this please share. > > Thanks > > Ali Hussein > CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd > Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd > > +254 773/713 601113 > > "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb > > Sent from my iPad > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: "KEPSA CEO" <ceo(a)kepsa.or.ke> >> Date: March 18, 2013, 8:09:37 AM GMT+03:00 >> Cc: <pkagunda(a)kepsa.or.ke> >> Subject: KEPSA ROLE OF BMO DEVELOPMENT >> >> Dear Valuable Members, >> >> From 2005, KEPSA embarked on implementation of one of its key mandate of BMO development. We are pleased to share with you attached report giving an update on the engagement so far. >> >> Best regards. >> >> >> Carole Kariuki, HSC, MBS >> Chief Executive Officer >> Kenya Private Sector Alliance | 5th Flr, Shelter Afrique Building, Mamlaka Rd >> P.O Box 3556 - 00100 Nairobi >> Office: +254 20 2730371/2/2727936 | Fax: +254 20 2730374 >> Cell: 0720-340949, 0735-999979 >> Emaill: ceo(a)kepsa.or.ke >> www.kepsa.or.ke | In Pursuit of an Enabling Business Environment >> >> >> >>

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Internet Governance Forum Preliminary workshop proposal submission form is now online
by Alice Munyua 17 Mar '13

17 Mar '13

Dear All, The preliminary workshop proposal submission form is now online. Please visit: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/proposals Best Alice

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Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
by meshack emakunat 16 Mar '13

16 Mar '13

------------------------------ On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 6:23 AM PDT Edith Adera wrote: >Bwana Ndemo, > >Why do you say " The problem therefore is not the government. The problem is US (sisi)." I did not talk about government. I talked about the media. why are you afraid? > >My argument was about OVER self-regulation of the media that they seem to operate at two different EXTREME ends in two different elections. You refer to it as "Freedom...................vs.................Suppression". This time the Kenyan media struggled, really struggled, to maintain a balance between these two extreme ends. > >We must maintain a balance and not "silence" people with false peace calls. > >Bwana Ndemo, where do you place your current campaign to fight cyber haters - who have gone overboard (and it needs to be tamed) and to crack down on international press along the continuum you used "Freedom...................vs.................Suppression"? > >Edith > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: March 11, 2013 7:08 PM >To: Edith Adera >Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections > >Edith, >Answers to your questions lie in the Communications Amendment Act 2009 and the Media Act 2007. The two legal instruments were meant to streamline the Broadcast sector in this country and enable self-regulation of Media, diversity of opinion and a pluralist broadcast regime. Nowhere in these legislations that you find government curtailing freedom of speech. Many people including David were opposed to the implementation of these laws. >The subsidiary legislation supporting these laws were borrowed from The UK's communications regulator as well as from the Federal Communications Commission in the US word for word. > >The problem therefore is not the government. The problem is US (sisi). >Like you put it for Ghana we speak not with facts but opinion. Rumour spreads faster than anything in Africa simply because we do not have the culture of verifying things. There is nothing wrong in promoting peace if everybody seeks to understand the balance between freedom (liberty) and supression. In Britain for example, News of The World was closed down by the government. Was this suppression of speech? Every British citizens understood that the News Corp had become irresiponsible. > >For sure I know the Government wants to know (and I have been asked as to what may have gone wrong) exactly what went wrong with the IEBC systems. >The Ghanaian and Nigerian ones too had problems. If you recall, the systems were procured at the last minute even when IEBC had expressed desire to go manual due to lengthy procurement processes. The manufacturer hurriedly tried to meet the short deadlines. > >Even in this forum we are making opinions as if they are facts. It would help if we have some analyst give us the facts upon which we can advance our opinions. If you watched the US elections carefully, they were more into analytics and building trajectories that helped citizens understand. >Take for example four constituencies say, Kilome, Rarieda, Mathioya and Konoin. Knowing the trend in these constituencies, we could have very easily built a trajectory for all neighbouring constituencies using average turnout and registered voters. This will give you better insight to ask intelligent questions that will make great news than the way we handle such issues to the extent media would think it is propaganda. > >My point is that we had far too much data to make great stories that do not point to violence or hate message. No mews media that can dismiss a good argument and especially when it is different fresh and logical. In essence convert data into information. > > >Regards > > >Ndemo. > > > > >> Listers, >> >> For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) >> condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence. >> >> In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back - >> deep and hard - it occurred to me that the over-rated, over-hyped, >> over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! >> >> Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and >> voiceless....you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to >> question, to freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the >> going ons. You were promptly slapped with the "peace call" which >> immediately silenced you! Why should I feel silenced by "a call for >> peace"? Our national anthem talks of "peace and liberty", what >> happened to "liberty" during this period? >> >> Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the >> unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool". >> >> In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God's birth of a NEW KENYA. >> It is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT >> get me wrong >> - I don't mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for >> Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially >> during this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as >> we enter into the next 50 years - the next Jubilee). >> >> From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will >> truly be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. >> >> Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of >> TRUTH >> (righteousness) and JUSTICE. >> >> Reflective Edith >> >> Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love >> justice (Albert Camus) _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mai > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com > >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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....Back to 1963
by bantu wachanga 16 Mar '13

16 Mar '13

wazalendo Allow me to share with you a piece of history...Kenya's first cabinet under founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta President.........................Mzee Jomo Kenyatta Vice-President................... J. Oginga Odinga Finance...........................James Gichuru External affairs..................Joseph Murumbi Economic Planning..................Tom J. Mboya Internal security, defence.........D.Njoroge Mungai Agriculture&Animal husbandry.......Bruce R. Mackenzie Education..........................Mbiyu Koinange Health&Housing.....................J.D. Otiende Local Government...................Lawrence G.H.Sagini Commerce&Industry..................Dr. Julius G. Kiano Labour&Social Services.............E.N. Mwendwa Information,Broadcasting&Tourism...Ramogi A. Oneko Lands&Settlement...................Jackson H. Angaine Natural resources&Wildlife.........S.O. Ayodo Home Affairs.......................Daniel T. arap Moi Co-operative&Marketing..............Paul J. Ngei Attorney Genaral...................Charles M. Njonjo Cabinet Secretary..................Duncan N. Ndegwa Deputy Cabinet Sec.................William Wamalwa At that time, both women and black people in the US had no voting rights. Which perhaps explains why in Kenya, the core of governemnt was purely a ...meeting for men...affair. While there will be gender spicing in the next government, as someone has correctly pointed out here, what will matter when it comes to appointments is numbers in the House. Key dockets requiring technical skills will go to the right people...as for the rest, descendants of the above will be spiced with those who formed the second layer of governemnt in 1963. Some loyalists will benefit also. I could be wrong but... Remember, politicians think about the next election(2017) its only statesmen who think about the next generation.

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Re: [kictanet] Is Public Vetting Of Cabinet Secretaries (ICT) Possible? rumour mill
by ICT Researcher 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

Amongst one of Kenya‘s many tribes is a saying which states, “ as you point a finger at others always remember that four other of your own point back right at you.“ Very humbling in deed. ------------------------------ On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 11:22 AM MSK Edith Adera wrote: >Anyone with profile and performance record of Information - Eng. Johnson ole Nchoe (Chief Manager, CIO - KPLC). Not heard of him. > >For « Transport - Dr. Titus Naikuni (current MD KQ) », what happened to the KQ court cases? > >Edithi

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Lego or Microsoft for Konza
by robert yawe 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

Hi, Might it be that we are targeting the wrong companies to come and setup in Konza http://bloom.bg/ZOxGkl? Lego is older than Microsoft and will likely out live it, they sell very basic product, they are able to provide us with the opportunity to commercialize those games we played as children such a muringari. Regards PS. I developed by creativity on Lego and so have my children, the madness is of my own doing Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Technical Maverick Moments
by Andrea Bohnstedt 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

'Countries that have achieved the phase-shift (like Japan and Singapore) have diverse institutional characters, with highly differing levels of unfinished business where institutional reform is concerned, but they all share high levels of tolerance for fast-paced technical change, technology adoption and, above all, a strong culture of punishing technical failure. The meritocracy of these nations hinges on one’s conformity to new technical values.' From http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2013/03/14/guest-post-africa-stop-catching…

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Fwd: Informatics (IS/ICT) Masters Scholarship from Manchester University
by Alice Munyua 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

The 2013 Development Leaders Scholarship - worth £15,200 - is available for developing country applicants to the _one-year MSc ICT4D programme_ <http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/06237/?code=062…>; creating ICT4D champions. It is also tenable on the _MSc Management and Information Systems programme_ <http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/01388/index.asp…>; which develops "hybrid" information systems professionals. Applicants apply first for the programme. On receipt of an offer, send a scholarship application statement by June 2013. Scholarship covers all tuition fees. Details at: _http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/postgraduate/taught/funding/_ If you know someone interested in studying either ICT4D or M&IS at MSc level, could you please let them know about this? They are welcome to contact me with questions. Thanks Richard ------------------------------------------------------------ Prof. Richard Heeks Director Centre for Development Informatics IDPM, SED, University of Manchester Arthur Lewis Building Manchester M13 9PL U.K. Phone: +44-161-275-2870 Fax: +44-161-275-2898 Email: richard.heeks(a)manchester.ac.uk Web: _http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/richard.heeks/_ Centre Web: _http://www.manchester.ac.uk/cdi_ Our new one-year Masters in ICTs for Development: _http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/06237/index.asp_ Blog: _http://ict4dblog.wordpress.com_ <http://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/> Twitter: _http://twitter.com/CDIManchester_ _Publications list on Google Scholar_ <http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=Iazl9wYAAAAJ>

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