Impact of ICT applications in performance: Search for evidence

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications in the western world are well established. This is shown by extensive use of ICT based services such as e-commerce, e-governance, etc. as well as many businesses operating through dot coms. There were lot of controversies as to ICT impact on performance. Nobel Peace Prize winner economist Robert Solow is one of those who echoed lack of impact. He called it the computer productivity paradox. The issue is re-visited to look for possible answers as to how this controversial topic has been tackled and whether it still exists. The effects of internet growth will also be investigated. A lot of previous research concentrated on improving technology to have features that can support performance as well as how organisations must re-align themselves to take advantage of ICT opportunities. There has been little research done to cover developing countries. However, unlike previous technological developments, which excluded developing countries, e.g. industrial revolutions, ICT applications have penetrated even the poorest countries. This paper is part of a broader research, which looks at the development of a framework for proper exploitation of ICT in Botswana. The paper will highlight Botswana's investment in developing ICT infrastructure. It is shown that ICT applications are not leading to improved performance; hence this research aims to establish why it is not delivering to the expectation.