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ICT initiatives in Papua New Guinea – impact of mobile phones on socio-economic development

Joseph Kim SUWAMARUjsuwamaru@dwu.ac.pg

SSGM June 19, 2014

Presentation outline

• Aims of research

• Literature review

• Research questions

• Theoretical framework

• Methodology

• Data analyses

• Research findings

• Discussion through the theoretical framework

• Conclusions & take home message

• Aims of research

• Literature review

• Research questions

• Theoretical framework

• Methodology

• Data analyses

• Research findings

• Discussion through the theoretical framework

• Conclusions & take home message

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Aim of the research • Investigation of impact and influences of mobile

phones on socio-economic development in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

• Socio-economic development as: ‘the process of supporting healthcare and education access together with income earning opportunities for citizens in PNG while observing cultural integrity in the face of direct or indirect use of mobile phones’.

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Literature Review (over 480 literature consulted)

It is estimated that by 2014/2015 there will be more mobile phones than people on this planet.. 4

Literature review

• Mobile phones are bridging the digital divide and transforming many economic, social, and medical realities, particularly in developing countries… (Greengard, 2008).

• Increased connectivity between nations, communities and people through ICTs and mobile phones intensifying the flow of social, economic, cultural practices & ideas including goods and services…(Rangarajan, 2006).

• Accelerating interdependence, action at a distance, and compression of time and space, and compression of the world and intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole…(Ritzer & Malone, 2000).

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Research questions

How can mobile phones impact on and influence socio-economic development in Papua New Guinea?

1) What are the primary attitudes toward and uses of mobile phones?

2) What are the cultural aspects of mobile phone usage? 3) What are the aspects of mobile phone usage in healthcare?4) What are the aspects of mobile phone usage in schools? 5) What are the social aspects of mobile phone usage?6) What are the economic aspects of mobile phone usage?

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mobile phones

increased connectivity

Theoretical frameworkGlobalization of mobile

phones enabled by standardization and

shifts in ICT policy (Manivannan, 2008)

Integration of economies through mobile phones enables flows in information, ideas and practices (Rangarajan, 2006).

Communication of innovation through various channelsamong citizens over time (Rogers, 1983) .

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Bougainville130

East New Britain60

West New Britain145

MADANG106

Central Province81

Southern HighlandsProvince

80

Eastern Highlands125

© jks2012

Data collection sites across PNG

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Mixed methods: - convenience samplingMixed methods: - convenience sampling

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PCA No: Primary attitudes of mobile phone users Factor Loading Score

1 Changes English and tok pisin 0.82/0.78

2 Functions as personal friend and source of entertainment 0.66

3 Popularity across PNG communities 0.81

4 Adversely impacts (non-utilitarian aspects) 0.67

5 Supportive usage in schools 0.79

6 Supportive usage in trading 0.72

7 Building self esteem 0.67

8 Personal assistant 0.74

Primary attitudes of surveyed mobile phone users

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PCA No: Primary uses of mobile phones Factor Loading Score

1 Business use 0.74

2 Internet portal 0.78

3 Instantaneous contact 0.74

4 Contact with healthcare and school workers 0.72

5 Sending and exchanging of call credits 0.77

Primary uses of mobile phone

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Cultural aspects – thematic networks

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Uses in healthcare – thematic networks

13

Use in schools – thematic networks

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Social aspects – thematic networks

15

Business uses – thematic networks

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Changes English and Tok Pisin (A1)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

Mean o

f FA

C1_1

Mean plot of factor 1: Social and Community Welfare

Mobile phones improve English and tok pisin

Mea

n of

atti

tude

1

Regions where data were collected

17

Personal friend and source of entertainment (A2)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

Mean o

f FA

C2_1

Factor 2: Mobile Phone provides friendship and Entertainment

Mobile phones function as personal friend & source of entertainment

Mea

n of

atti

tude

2

Regions where data were collected

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Popularity across PNG (A3)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

Mean o

f FA

C3_1

Mean Plot of Factor 3: Mobile Phone is popular and beneficial to Business

Mobile phones are popular in communities across PNG

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

atti

tude

3

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Adverse impacts or non-utilitarian use (A4)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.60000

0.40000

0.20000

0.00000

-0.20000

-0.40000

Mean o

f FA

C4_1

Mean plot of Factor 4: Mobile phone is destructive to traditional Values

Adverse impacts on language and culture

Mea

n of

atti

tude

4

Regions where data were collected

20

Usefulness in Schools (A5)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.20000

0.00000

-0.20000

-0.40000

Mean o

f FA

C5_1

Mean Plot of Factor 5: Use of Mobile Phones in the School Value Chain

Mobile phones are useful in schools

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

atti

tude

5

No Province pair P-value

1 Central province and Bougainville 0.004

2 West New Britain and Bougainville 0.007

3 Bougainville and East New Britain 0.009

4 Bougainville and Southern Highlands 0.018

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Usefulness in trading (A6)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

-0.40000

Mean o

f FA

C6_1

Mean plot of Factor 6: Utility device for trading and emergency

Regions where data were collected

Mobile phones are used for trading

Mea

n of

atti

tude

6

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Building self esteem (A7)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.20000

0.00000

-0.20000

-0.40000

-0.60000

Mean o

f FA

C7_1

Mean plot of Factor 7: Ownership of Mobile phone leads to self esteem

Mobile phones lead to self esteem

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

atti

tude

7

No statistically significant difference was identified.

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Personal assistant (A8)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

Mean o

f FA

C8_1

Mean Plot of Factor 8: Mobile phone is a personal assistant

Regions where data were collected

Mobile phones function as personal friend

Mea

n of

atti

tude

8

No statistically significant difference was identified.

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Business use (U1)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

-0.40000

Mean o

f FA

C1_2

m-banking and information search

Business use of mobile phones

Regions where data were collected

Me

an o

f p

rim

ary

Use

1

No statistically significant difference was identified.

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Internet access (U2)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.20000

0.00000

-0.20000

-0.40000

Mean o

f FA

C2_2

Entertainment, Internet access and School work

Information search on the internet

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

pri

mar

y U

se 2

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Instantaneous contact (U3)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

Mean o

f FA

C3_2

Family contact and Working tool

Maintaining family & community cohesion

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

pri

mar

y U

se 3

No statistically significant difference was identified.

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Contacting healthcare & school workers (U4)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

Mean o

f FA

C4_2

Factor 4: Mobile use to contact education and health workers

Enabling contact with education & health workers

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

prim

ary

Use

4

No statistically significant difference was identified.

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Exchanging call credits (U5)

SouthernHighlands

IslandsRabaul

IslandsARoB

CoastalMadang

IslandsKimbe

CoastalGaire

EasternHighlands

Region where data was collected, i.e Highlands, Coastal & Islands

0.40000

0.30000

0.20000

0.10000

0.00000

-0.10000

-0.20000

-0.30000

Mean o

f FA

C5_2

Factor 5: Mobile use for reciprocal gift giving

Exchanging of call credits

Regions where data were collected

Mea

n of

prim

ary

Use

5

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Discussion through theoretical framework

Consistent with the DOI theory, widespread adoption and use of mobile phones within PNG communities occurred through various channels (interpersonal, newspapers, radios, billboards) among citizens over a relatively shorter time period.

The primary attitudes toward and uses of mobile phones are manifestations of the perceived attributes required to achieve critical mass to sustain mobile phone adoption and use.

The primary attitudes and uses encompass socio-economic development issues which are major determinants toward the adoption and use of mobile phones.

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Diffusion of innovation theory Consistent with DOI theory, manifestations of the relative

advantage over existing modes and compatibility with felt needs (antecedents) gave way to their adoption and use.

Mobile phones are easily observable and trial-able due to the culture of communal living and sharing across PNG communities, leading to their adoption and use.

ANOVA and MANOVA tests revealed what DOI theory calls homophilous and heterophilous attributes between end-users across PNG communities. i.e similarities/differences in culture based belief systems, education and social-economic status. 31

Globalization theory

• Influences of globalization led to the proliferation of mobile phones across PNG after a shift in government policy.

• High diffusion levels led to increased connectivity between end-users through which flow of ideas and practices encompassing cultural, social and economic activities are being enabled.

• Accessing, sharing and consuming music & images through Bluetooth are examples of flow of cultural ideas & content through increased connectivity. This has connotations with cultural hegemony.

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Globalization theory • Conducting business transactions enabled by increased

connectivity is also consistent with globalization theory.

• Take-up of m-banking involves undertaking transactions through mobile phones and is possible due to the near ubiquity of these devices.

• The perception that the use of mobile phones changes English and Tok pisin can be seen as a form of globalization of two languages that are not local.

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Consequences of innovation

According to the DOI theory there are direct and desirable (anticipated), & indirect, undesirable (unanticipated) consequences of diffusion of innovations.

The primary attitudes and uses can be viewed as direct desirable consequences.

The attitudes and themes relating to adverse impacts on culture and languages can be viewed as undesirable (unanticipated) consequences.

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Conclusions Diffusion levels of mobile phones are much higher than

other forms of ICTs in PNG, because of the easiness with which it meets communication needs.

The primary attitudes pertain to perceptions regarding the social, cultural and economic potential of mobile phones in PNG.

The primary uses reflect social and economic applications of mobile phones in PNG.

There were also adverse consequences on cultural and traditional values noted.

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Take-home message!

The influences of globalization, interpreted within the DOI theory has resulted in mobile phones finding a dominant place in the cultural, social and economic fabric of PNG society. These devices show potential to be harnessed for socio-economic development. The unanticipated, undesirable consequences of this implementation need be managed with maturity over time.

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Thank You

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