Social Ties, Literacy, Location and the Perception of Economic Opportunity: Factors Influencing Telecentre Success in a Development Context

Abstract

Telecentres have been established in many countries as a means of providing access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in order to enhance community development. This paper examines the characteristics of telecentre initiatives in Jamaica and proposes a conceptual framework for the assessment of the role of social ties in telecentre success. Social capital and social network theories provide the underpinnings of the theoretical framework for this research, and the empirical analysis draws on interviews with telecentre managers. This paper contributes to the development of theory and guidelines for successful telecentres thereby advancing research and practice in the field of community informatics.