Abstract

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT 2019, VOL. 25, NO. 1, 1–6 https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2019.1582153 EDITORIAL Contextual reflections on innovations in an interconnected world: theoretical lenses and practical considerations in ICT4D – Part 2 Introduction An increasingly interconnected world provides a platform and opportunities for information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support the sustainable attainment of economic, social and environmental development. These interconnections can also pose challenges to be navigated on the path to sustainable development. This editorial highlights the challenges and offers papers that move the field forward in investigating some of these challenges. As highlighted in Part 1 of this Special Issue (3, 2018), ‘Key elements in the ongoing work towards sustainable development, will be the ability of stakeholders in development initiatives to collabora- tively and effectively design, implement and evaluate innovations that will be adopted and utilized within specific development contexts and environments.’ A whole-of-society approach is useful in recognizing the importance of and encouraging co-operation in responding to development chal- lenges (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2015). Part 2 of this Special Issue includes papers related to com- munity contexts, and also includes business-related contexts for development, reflecting aspects of the whole-of-society approach. In addition, theories, methods and praxis that influence development