Critical Success Factors in Implementing E-Rural Development Projects: A Case Study Kegalle, Sri Lanka

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Critical Success Factors in Implementing E-Rural Development Projects: A Case Study Kegalle, Sri Lanka

H. A. Seneviratne¹, W.M.G.K. Wijerathne², M. Thenabadu^3
1Department of Multimedia and Web Technology, Faculty of Information Technology, University of Vocational Technology, Sri Lanka
²TECH- CERT, Pvt Ltd.,1st Floor Bernard Business Park, N0106, Dutugemunu St, Dehiwala Sri Lanka.
³Department of Agriculture and Food Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, University of Vocational Technology, Sri Lanka
Correspoding author

Abstract: Well-adapted information and communication technologies (ICTs) help rural communities improve their standard of living and increase their income levels, facilitating the abolition of poverty. The study was conducted to investigate the factors influencing the success of the implementation of an e-rural development project in the Kegalle district of Sri Lanka.
The population consists of project implementation team members who have worked full-time in Kegalle District as project managers, technical leads, project team members, or consultants on at least one e-rural development project implementation. The total population was 38 people. Questionnaires for interviews were distributed to all members and there were 22 responses received.
The relevance of critical success factors (CSF) identified in the literature survey was validated through personal interviews with selected 22 project implementation team members who work in rural e-projects. The top ten critical success factors identified in the investigation were: clear project goals/objectives, top management support, end user commitment, involvement & training, and selecting appropriate technology. Effective communication and information sharing, vendor support and commitment, leadership style (effective decision making), and a focus on demand-driven needs, technological infrastructure and realistic Schedule
The study’s significance would be to identify the factors that could affect the successful implementation of e-rural development projects in Sri Lanka in order to reduce project failure, allowing for the development of strategies to ensure the success of e-rural development projects in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: e-rural development, ICT for Development, Critical Success Factors (CSF)

I.INTRODUCTION

Rural areas are home to more than 70% of the Sri Lankan population. (Dep of Census & Statistics, 2019) Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play an important role in rural development. Many ICT-based rural development projects are being implemented in order to connect the rural population, thereby improving the rural people’s quality of life by providing access to better public services, learning opportunities, and information. (Kumar, A. and Singh, K.M., 2012) Most government bodies, private organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka are currently working to introduce or improve ICT-based rural development initiatives. [1]
The ICT sector has become strategically important by determining a social and economic change in developing countries. There has been a significant improvement in the last few years in terms of access to telephony, the internet and web based technologies, in both urban and rural areas. The internet can open new communication channels that bring new knowledge and information resources to rural communities. New ICTs are becoming more accessible and it has enabled users to obtain information from various sources. Today ICT has become a powerful tool for providing farmers with the required knowledge and innovative agricultural and socio-economic opportunities. It also helps overcoming the problems such as rural poverty, inequality and environmental deficiency [5]

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