Actualizing the affordances of seaport smart container terminal system in a developing country

ABSTRACT

Transportation by sea routes and seaport container terminals are critical infrastructure that facilitates global trade. Thus, the emerging information systems research on smart container systems is essential. However, these studies lack empirical insights, and there is little on developing country contexts. To address these knowledge gaps, this study employs qualitative interpretive case study approach and technology affordance and constraint theory to investigate how Ghana’s port authority replaced a predominantly paper-based container handling system with smart systems, as well as the consequences of doing so. The study’s findings show that technology affordances are actualized in a developing country seaport smart container system based on management’s perception of the system and the port’s situational context. The study’s findings show significant improvements over the manual paper processes, along with constraints including stakeholder digital unpreparedness, limited data storage capacity, unreliable internet and power supply disruptions, and equipment breakdowns. The findings have implications for research, practice, and policy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

Notes on contributors

Emmanuel Owusu-Oware

Emmanuel Owusu-Oware is a senior lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra. He holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Ghana, MBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Ghana, and Vrije Universitéit Brussels, and BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Telecommunications Major) from Kwame University of Science and Technology. His research interests are in digital innovations in organizations, with particular interest in public-sector biometric systems. He is also an information systems practitioner with many years of experience in IT management and consulting.

John Effah

John Effah is an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the University of Ghana. His research interests span areas of digital innovation in business, government, and society as well as biometric systems in developing countries. John holds a PhD in information systems from the University of Salford in Manchester, UK and MBA MIS and BSc in Business Administration (Accounting Option) with First Class honor’s both from University of Ghana. John serves on the editorial boards of Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries and African Journal of Information Systems as a Deputy Editor-in-Chief.

Ibrahim Osman Adam

Ibrahim Osman Adam is an associate professor of management information systems and holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Ghana Business School. He holds a double master’s degree; an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (UK) and an MSc in Applied Informatics from the Henley Business School, University of Reading (UK). His research interests are in digital technologies in business and society and Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) value chain areas, specifically e-commerce, e-government, social media, and other digital transformations.

Fred Amankwah-Sarfo

Fred Amankwah-Sarfo is a lecturer in Information Systems at the Ghana Communication Technology University, an adjunct lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Public Management and Public Administration. His research interests include organizational information systems, smart systems, digital transformation and ICT project management and port systems in developing countries. He holds a PhD in information systems, an MBA in MIS, and a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Ghana. Fred was the Business Development Manager at the Ghana India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT. He is an ICT consultant for public and private institutions.