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This paper describes our attempt to build a tool that allows African small and medium-sized Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to self-assess their ICT- and e-readiness. The aim is to raise the effective use of ICTs in NGOs by letting them help themselves. The tool is based on a series of simple questions for nine critical readiness areas, each sub-divided into one of four maturity levels. Pointers are also given as to how NGOs can move from one maturity level to the next. The purpose of this paper is to share the tool with fellow researchers to solicit their critical contribution in improving it but also to allow them to adapt and use the instrument within their own communities.
The benefits which ICTs can bring to SMMEs and NGOs in developing world contexts have been well-documented in both anecdotal as statistical evidence. However, much of the ICT4D (ICT for Development) research has taken place at an aggregate level. This resulted typically in recommendations for national or local governments, policy bodies and similar institutions. Much less has materialized in direct suggestions or concrete roadmaps for individual organisations.
The overarching objective of this research is to promote the effective adoption of appropriate and relevant ICTs by NGOs operating in a developing world context. Our belief is that the appropriate use of ICTs can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of NGOs (= ICT as an enabler). But ICTs can also help NGOs to bridge the digital divide (= ICT as an equalizer) and act as a springboard to enable them to do things which would be impossible without technology (= ICT as strategic tool used  to leapfrog into the future). In order for ICTs to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of NGO operations and improve their internal and external communications, it must take into account their individual and contextual constraints and capabilities. In the longer run, specific recommendations for the successful ICT adoption by NGOs could be achieved by mapping the results of an ICT status/readiness assessment against a practical, real-world decision framework which would generate architecturally sound, sustainable ICT platform options. This paper reports on a first step in this process, namely the development of a easy-to-use ICT- and e-readiness Instrument which NGOs can self-administer.
A number of research instruments have been developed to measure organisational ICT- as well as e-readiness. A number of these are specific to SMMEs whilst others are more general. However, much of the ‘readiness’ research has focused on assessing the overall e-readiness of entire countries or regions. These typically focus on the overall telecommunications infrastructure and conclude with some high-level recommendations such as proposed local or national government interventions. By contrast, the focus here was to create an assessment which would lead to a specific organisational ICT gap and opportunity analysis. In future iterations, it will likely be complemented with criteria from more practical assessment instruments such as those used by practitioners e.g. IT consultants or vendors.