Abstract
Through a case study of health information system in Zanzibar, Tanzania, the article discusses adoption of free and open source software (FOSS) through strategic transition from a free Microsoft based application to a full-fledged java based FOSS application. Throughout the article, the adoption challenges and opportunities are discussed. The article contributes to approaches to FOSS adoption. Three areas are identified: the technical capacity of the software surpassing licensing terms, the role of local champions in initiating changes, and the importance of user capacity building prior to project adoption especially for a transitional project.
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© 2012 ICST Institute for Computer Science, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
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Sheikh, Y.H., Bakar, A.D. (2012). Open Source Software Solution for Healthcare: The Case of Health Information System in Zanzibar. In: Popescu-Zeletin, R., Jonas, K., Rai, I.A., Glitho, R., Villafiorita, A. (eds) e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries. AFRICOMM 2011. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 92. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29093-0_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29093-0_14
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