On the Appropriateness of Incident Management Systems in Developing Countries: A Case from the UAE

Authors

  • Faouzi Kamoun College of Information Technology University of Dubai
  • Naoufel Werghi Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR)
  • Mohamed Al Blushi UAE University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242010000400005

Keywords:

Incident Management System (IMS), technology adoption, Technology management, IT innovation and diffusion, E-collaboration, appropriateness, digital divide

Abstract

Road traffic incidents are eliciting growing public concerns due to their devastating social, economical, and environmental impacts. The severity of these random events is particularly alarming in developing countries, where the situation is just worsening. Recently, Incident Management Systems (IMSs) have been proposed as powerful tools to enhance the coordination and management of rescue operations during traffic accidents. However, most of the available commercial IMS solutions are designed for large metropolitan cities and within the contexts of developed nations. This paper explores the issues of appropriateness and customization of IMS solutions in developing countries through an exploratory inquiry consisting of a case study from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper also explores the important issues related to managing the organizational changes that an IMS introduces to the operations of the command and control room. This contribution calls for the development of more comprehensive theoretical frameworks that can guide towards the implementation of appropriate IMS solutions in developing countries. Our research highlights the need for developing countries to acquire appropriate IMS solutions that are tailored to the local organizational work context in which these systems will be used. The experience reported herein can also inspire other public safety agencies in developing countries to consider the option of developing customized IMS solutions that best suit their needs.

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Author Biographies

Faouzi Kamoun, College of Information Technology University of Dubai

Associate Prof & Dean.

College of Information Technology.

University of Dubai.

Naoufel Werghi, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR)

Assistant Professor

Computer Engineering Department,

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Published

2010-12-02

How to Cite

Kamoun, F., Werghi, N., & Al Blushi, M. (2010). On the Appropriateness of Incident Management Systems in Developing Countries: A Case from the UAE. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 5(4), 57–69. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242010000400005

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Research Articles