A research team consisting of Dr M (based in North America) and 2 PhD students has been working for 2 years investigating mobile technologies to support work with a school district in the North of a West African republic. Extensive participatory design activities have been conducted, and a prototype software system is being developed. Trials for the new system are being planned, and will require some investment of time and money by the school district. Discussions with the director of the school district have been positive, and the project expects the district to agree to provide the necessary resources. However, three months before the trials are to begin, the director, who is the key champion for the project, leaves to take up a new post in the education headquarters of a district capital in the South West. During the interim period, the deputy director appears to be reluctant to progress the project, and the person appointed to the post does not seem particularly interested in supporting ICT initiatives.
- What should Dr M do?
- How might this affect the students’ PhD studies?
- What might the team have done differently to avoid this situation?
- What are the ethics, roles & relationships relevant to this situation?
- What other questions do we need to ask about this scenario?
