How can information systems assist vulnerable communities in their transition toward viability?

Abstract

Information Systems (IS) have the potential to play a crucial role in addressing complex global challenges, from climate change and resource management to social inequality and food insecurity. Despite their widespread applications in numerous sectors, the use of IS to support the sustainability of small-scale fisheries (SSF) remains underexplored. SSF are critical to global food and nutrition security, particularly on islands, where they are essential for local economies and cultural identity. These communities face significant vulnerabilities due to their geographic position, environmental uncertainties, and socio-economic constraints. Existing systems for fisheries are often generic, insufficiently localized, or not tailored to the specific needs of these communities. These gaps limit the ability of the fishers to adapt to changing conditions, optimize resource use, and ensure long-term sustainability. There is a growing need to design and implement IS that are not only accessible but also relevant for SSF. Such systems are crucial for empowering fishing communities, helping them navigate their challenges and fostering a transition toward sustainability. To address the existing gaps, the main objective of this research is to identify the key principles for designing IS tailored to vulnerable small-scale fishers, supporting their transition toward viability and sustainability. The first part of the study examines SSFs’ food systems in island communities, identifying critical factors that influence their vulnerability and viability with regard to food and nutrition security. The second and third parts of the study focus on IS, specifically identifying the requirements of users within these communities and evaluating whether existing systems adequately address these requirements. Finally, the study proposes key design principles for developing IS that can effectively support the sustainability of SSF. The first part of this thesis focuses on fishers in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), identifying their vulnerabilities and potential viabilities concerning food and nutrition security. The second and third parts of the research focus on fishers in Kumirmari Island, India. Data for the latter sections are collected through surveys and interviews. Interviews are conducted with the members of the information system development team behind the Fisher Friend app. The study introduces the User-Requirements Hierarchy (URH), which is developed based on the Contextual Participatory Design approach. Then, it suggests PUCT Dimensions—including Polycentricity, User-Centricity, Contextuality, and Technicality— as key elements for Information System design for vulnerable communities. This study contributes to the information system field, particularly in its role in supporting vulnerable communities. It advances the discourse on context-driven design by highlighting the importance of considering both vulnerabilities and viabilities. The study underscores that vulnerability and viability exist on a continuum, and to help communities overcome their vulnerabilities, their long-term decisions as well as viabilities must be recognized and invested in. While community empowerment and agency have emerged in the literature as core principles of technologies for vulnerable populations, their practical application remains unclear. A gap exists between the theoretical understanding and the practical guidance needed to implement it effectively in real-world situations. This research aims to address this gap by introducing the URH and PUCT Dimensions. The study presents design principles that ensure IS align with fisheries' realities and requirements. Drawing from field-based evidence from Kumirmari, the research provides novel insights into designing digital tools, uncovering unrecognized challenges and barriers, and emphasizing the need for polycentric approaches in system development. Practically, this study informs the design of new technologies, ensuring that they are not imposed on communities but are instead developed collaboratively. The findings of this thesis aim to assist in developing IS that support vulnerable communities in moving toward viability, with a specific focus on food and nutrition security. The findings support creating systems that align with the complex contexts of these communities. The suggested approaches can set the stage for future data collection, knowledge creation, and information system design efforts; helping ensure that the delivered systems are equitable, sustainable, and contextually relevant for vulnerable communities. Ultimately, these systems transform information into actionable knowledge, empowering communities to make informed decisions that drive more sustainable practices.