Experiences of internationalizing Information Systems: The challenge of standardization

1. Experiences of internationalizing Information Systems: The challenge of standardization José Leopoldo Nhampossa Petter Nielsen

2. Agenda • Internationalization, standardization and flexibility • Experiences from CPA case • Experiences from HISP case • Summary Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

3. Motivation • Two different cases • Internationalization of a health IS for and in developing countries • Internationalization of a IS for mobile telecommunication services for the subsidiaries of a Norwegian telecommunication operator • Why two cases? • Concerning internationalization of IS • Facing challenges related to standardization • Different in context, scale and what is standardized • Our aim is to • Bring forward the challenges of standardization in our cases by a comparative analysis Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

4. IIS LIS LIS Localizing LIS Internationalization of IS • From a software engineering perspective (for example O’Donnell et al 1994 and Kuada and Sørensen 2000): A two-step process: • Internationalizing: Designing, enabling and coding a IS [product or/and process] accounting for cultural, environmental and individual differences (Coronado and Livermore, 2001) • Followed by localizing in a different national context: Translation of an IS to meet a specific/local context (Russo and Boor, 1993) • Internationalization of a system/product or a process of implementing a system Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

5. Models of internationalization of IS • Different models • Internationalizing existing IS • Localizing IS • Multi-directional and cluster-based internationalization • The applied model may change over time LIS IIS LIS IS LIS Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

6. stnd Context dependent flex Context free stnd flex Internationalization builds on standards • To what extent to standardize? • Flexibility in the sense of context sensitivity • What is the benefits and costs of standardization? • Reuse and complexity control • Limited flexibility • For whom (the tension between the local and the global)? Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

7. “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton 9to5 to 1985 NOK 10 Subscriber SMSC CPA Mobile Network Operator SMSC CPA Content provider Mobile Network Operator 2 and 6 Billing system Billing system The Content Provider Access (CPA) platform • Introduced in the Norwegian market in 1999 by MobiNor • Developed bottom-up, few resources but champions, side-stepping the structured IT-department • A platform: • Enabling premium charged SMS services • Content Providers selling content in the operators network • Open garden approach: Access to whole market for content providers • Transparent access to services for subscribers • Branded by Content Providers Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

8. Internationalizing the CPA platform • 2001: Process initiated by the international division of the MobiNor to pursue the implementation of the platform in its internationally dispersed affiliates • Bangladesh, Denmark, Hungary, Malaysia, Russia, Sweden, Thailand and Ukraine • Today CPA is implemented in all of them • The only standard: “12 guidelines for best practice”: • The need for an open garden approach to create a functional market • The need for a symbiotic relationship between network operators and content providers • The requirements for ease of use • No link back, some clustering Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

9. The results of the internationalization attempts • A variety of different technical platforms and constellations between actors • Contextual explanations – context sensitive approach, but too much flexibility, or too little power? • Process explanations: Centrally driven internationalization process • MobiNor would have preferred: • Common technical platform, or least standardized interface and constellation between actors Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

10. The case of HISP Mozambique • Genesis, aims: • HISP: Action research initiative aim to improve the HIS to: • Better inform the planning and decision making processes • Support the decentralization & health reforms ongoing in developing countries • Enable local control of IS and thus empowerment through South-South-North collaborations • Key actors: • Locals, senior IS researchers and managers • Organization: Academic institutions and health departments Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

11. Two perspectives for internationalization internationalization of DHIS: as a product (DHIS/Frame) • User-interface: Translation of the visible, FRONTEND • Business logic: • Functions • Outputs (indicators, reports) for local/global use • Data Base: Development of the Backend • Organizational structure • Documentation: Translation or compile/edit Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

12. Entity relationships: Standard Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

13. Two perspectives for internationalization of DHIS: As a process • Implementation strategy in the diffrent contexts: Different context sensitive approaches • Approaches for IS research and development: Action research, cultivation • Approaches to IS reform: • WHO's decentralization declaration • WHO's "the district model" Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

14. Background • Internationalized programs are easy to localize to the customs and languages of end users around the world • The result of software product development is a master set of disks from which we can manufacture individual copies for sale, distribution or licensing (its use) • Distribution takes place in the target country but where and how should development, I18N, L10N and manufacturing take place? Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

15. Issues to consider when making the decision: variables • Time (delays due to phisical separation: office hours overlap): not applicable • Organization (minimize costs & production time while meeting the quality standards): setting up long-standing (business) relationships with a worldwide network: collaboration initiative, HISP • Availability of resources (difficulties in finding a translator at the exact time): L10N in MZ, help from RSA • Accuracy (there is no guarantee that translation done in the context is more accurate than the one done at the developer’s headquarters): Meanings rather than concepts • Geography (Hybrid situations where I18N & L10N processes can be done partially at developer’s side and partially in the context) Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

16. Issues to consider when making the decision: Models Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

17. Summary Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004

18. References • Coronado and Livermore (2001) • Kuada, J. and Sørensen, O. J. (2000) Internationalization of companies from developing countries, International Business Press, New York • O´Donnell, S. M. (1994) Programming for the World. A guide to internationalization, PTR Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey • Russo and Boor (1993) Nhampossa & Nielsen - Cambridge - 2004