Information Systems Innovation in the Humanitarian Sector

Abstract

With the increase in humanitarian crises and consequent aid, there is greater demand for evidence of the effectiveness and accountability of aid. Information Systems (ISs) are critical for emergency response and humanitarian operations in fulfilling these demands, but also because the consequences of having or not having timely and accurate data are usually life and death. IS innovation in the context of the humanitarian sector highlights the need for context-based approaches to innovation. In this article, we explore the process of the improvement, development, and implementation of an international development organization’s logistics and supply chain system in Chad. Actor-network theory provides the framework for making sense of this IS.