Information systems as means of (dis)empowerment: The information society and decision support systems in local authorities in Egypt

I will start my description of possible applications of CRIS with a discussion of the use of ICT in development. The reason for this choice is that it renders the critical aspects of technology highly visible. International inequalities and injustices are hard to deny. ICT is frequently promoted as a means by which to address such problems. Governments and international agencies spend huge amounts of money on projects aimed at promoting the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in so-called developing countries (Mejias et al., 1999; Montealegre, 1998). The immediate aim of such investment is typically economic growth (Klenow and Rodríguez-Clare, 1997). It is usually recognised, however, that economic growth is no end in itself. Economic growth is meant to produce employment, create welfare and improve the lot of all members of society. Its purpose is to allow people to live a fulfilled life according to their own design. Briefly, the final aim of the promotion of ICT in developing countries is the empowerment of the members of society.