Petter Nielsen

• Davison, Robert M.; Andrade, Antonio Eduardo Diaz; Eckhardt, Andreas; Offenbeek, Marjolein van; Techatassanasoontorn, Angsana A. & Marabelli, Marco [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Research Integrity Matters, But It Is Undermined by Generative AI. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. 36(6), p. 817–822. doi: 10.1111/isj.70055. Full text in Research Archive
• Utvik, Vetle Alvenes; Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Amarakoon, Pamod Madusanka & Nielsen, Petter (2025). Digital public goods: understanding the role of generativity in fostering digital innovation for development. Information Technology for Development. ISSN 0268-1102. 31(4), p. 1791–1809. doi: 10.1080/02681102.2025.2531494. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper examines how digital public goods foster digital innovation. DPGs are understood as open digital technologies designed to contribute to sustainable development goals, which indicates a potential for enabling resource-scarce countries to innovate without the constraints of proprietary technologies. However, little is known about how DPGs foster innovation. We draw on a case study of digital innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic with the software platform, District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), considered a DPG. We use the concept of generativity to examine how DHIS2’s architecture, governance, and community shaped the case. We found that DHIS2 fostered innovation in a distributed and recursive way. This insight implies that DPGs with generative capacities realize their value through recurring sharing of benefits from their distributed utilization. This research contributes to the ICT4D literature on DPGs by conceptualizing the generativity of DPGs and positioning the study in a digital-for-development paradigm.

• Negussie, Melaeke Serawit; Gizaw, Abyot Asalefew & Nielsen, Petter (2025). On the Generativity of Digital Public Goods: DHIS2 and OpenMRS in Ethiopia, IST-Africa 2025 Conference Proceedings. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781905824755. doi: 10.23919/IST-Africa67297.2025.11060469. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Digital Public Goods (DPG) is an emerging concept gaining traction in the global development sector, promoting the discovery and deployment of opensource technologies for low and middle-income countries (LMIC) in particular. DPG owners develop these solutions to fit everyone’s needs globally, yet they are expected to be implemented locally. Because local contexts differ in various ways, a mismatch between the global expectation and the local reality challenges implementation and may lead to sub-optimal use. To understand this global-local challenge, this study examines implementations of DHIS2 and OpenMRS in the healthcare context of Ethiopia through the lens of generativity. By comparing the implementations of these systems, we aim to draw practical lessons for both DPG owners and implementing countries. Theoretically, we contribute to the DPG discussion by bringing generative architecture, governance, and community as implementation mechanisms of DPG platforms.

• Munyambabazi, Eric; Nielsen, Petter; Amuha, Monica Grace; Kusiima, Daisy; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Behumbiize, Prosper (2025). Scaling of Health Information Systems in Education: A Case of Cross-Sectoral Collaboration, IST-Africa 2025 Conference Proceedings. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781905824755. doi: 10.23919/IST-Africa67297.2025.11060529. Full text in Research Archive
• Mahundi, Masoud; Kimaro, Honest & Nielsen, Petter (2024). Involving Heterogeneous User Groups in Developing Innovations on Digital Platforms in Healthcare. In Chigona, Wallace; Kabanda, Salah & Seymour, Lisa F. (Ed.), Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development - ICT4D 2024. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783031669811. p. 76–90. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-66982-8_6. Full text in Research Archive
• Munyambabazi, Eric; Gizaw, Abyot Asalefew; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2024). Digitalizing Monitoring of National Development Plans: A Case Study from Uganda. In Chigona, Wallace; Kabanda, Salah & Seymour, Lisa F. (Ed.), Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development - ICT4D 2024. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783031669811. p. 33–47. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-66982-8_3. Full text in Research Archive
• Nguyen, Thanh Ngoc & Nielsen, Petter (2023). The dynamics of information system development in developing countries: From mutual exclusion to hybrid vigor. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. 89(4). doi: 10.1002/isd2.12266. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The integration of isolated software components into large-scale and complex information systems is a topic that attracts the interest of many information systems practitioners and researchers. However, less attention is given to the intricate processes by which these infrastructures are built using multiple independent software components. Different actors introduce these components, which can lead to a “battleground of functional roles” where components are replacing and blocking each other. To better understand this phenomenon, we conducted multiple case studies involving the development of a large-scale information system for communicable disease detection, prevention, and control in Vietnam. We collected empirical data through various methods, including interviews, focus groups, and participation observation. We identified different strategies employed by actors to block, remove, or replace other software components, protect their position, and find a way to join the existing and established systems. This paper contributes to this topic by theorizing a strategy called “hybrid vigor,” which allows for the combination of the strengths of individual software components and enables sustainable evolution.

• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Nicholson, Brian; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2023). The Interplay Between Communitas and Anti-structure in Liminal Innovation, Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems ECIS 2023. Association for Information Systems (AIS). ISSN 9781958200087. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sahay, Sundeep (2022). A critical review of the role of technology and context in digital health research. Digital Health. 8, p. 1–10. doi: 10.1177/20552076221109554. Full text in Research Archive
• Nicholson, Brian; Nielsen, Petter; Sahay, Sundeep & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2022). Digital public goods platforms for development: The challenge of scaling. The Information Society. ISSN 0197-2243. 38(5), p. 364–376. doi: 10.1080/01972243.2022.2105999. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this article we consider the notion of digital global public good and articulate our understanding of it. Against this conceptual foil, we examine the development of DHIS2, a global health platform inspired by public goods, focusing on the paradoxes that arise in the scaling process. We find that the scaling dynamics played out differently at the macro and micro levels, giving rise to the following paradoxes: addition of new functionalities to cater to the universe of users across the world (macro level) works counter to the needs of users in particular locations (micro level); responsiveness to the requests of the donors with a global view (macro level) distorts the production process, as the voices of users, situated in remote locations in developing countries, are not adequately heard; the system needs to be simultaneously relevant across the global (macro level) and the local (micro level), when the former calls for decontextualization and the later (re)contextualization. We then discuss challenges these paradoxes create with regard to attaining non-rivalry and non-exclusion, the defining characteristics of a public good.

• Nicholson, Brian; Nielsen, Petter; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Tavares, Ana Paula (2022). Digital Public Goods for Development: A Conspectus and Research Agenda. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-19429-0_27. Full text in Research Archive
• Asah, Flora Nah; Kaasbøll, Jens Johan; Nielsen, Petter & Seukap, Roger (2021). Organizations failing to learn: Roadblocks to the Implementation of Standardized Information Systems. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries. 15(1), p. 1–31. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose: Implementing standard health indicators aims at harmonizing fragmented information systems. However, they have not always met this expectation. This article argues that standard information systems fail because organizations fail to learn effective ways of solving problems. Design: Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, we draw examples from the implementation of standard health indicators in Cameroon to explore why organizations fail to learn. We collected data from April and September 2017 from 25 staff in healthcare facilities and district offices. Findings: Staff at the peripheral level encountered multiple levels of organizational challenges. We argue that these challenges are deeply rooted in the organizational structure. Using organizational learning as a lens, we theorize the factors (i.e., a disincentive for learning, educational barriers, and organizational culture) that hinder learning. Then identify three beliefs (i.e., technological fix, silver bullet, and emperors of the same empire) embedded in organizational structure that hinder organizational learning. Finally, we propose practical measures to mitigate the challenges that impede the implementation of standard health indicators in Cameroon and beyond. Conclusion: Organizations often misplace their attention on what and how they should learn. While they are fast to learn from external sources and are often eager to accommodate information systems, they fail to provide a conducive atmosphere where local experiences thrive, do not value learning from experiences, and adopt few processes to promote learning. Originality: Linking the challenges encountered by staff at the peripheral level after implementing standard health indicators to poor organizational learning opportunities offers a novel perspective to conceptualize the challenges of implementing information systems in low and middle-income countries.

• Bengtsson, Anastasia; Nielsen, Petter & Li, Magnus (2021). Component trustworthiness in an enterprise software platform ecosystem. NOKOBIT: Norsk konferanse for organisasjoners bruk av informasjonsteknologi. ISSN 1892-0748. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Enterprise software packages are increasingly designed as extensible software platforms. These platforms are characterised by modular architecture that allows third parties to innovate and create value through the development of complementary applications. The development process of complementary applications from scratch is resource-intensive. One way of optimising the development process is by using the component-based software engineering (CBSE) approach that focuses on software reuse and suggests building applications with reusable components. There is a considerable amount of literature on CBSE; however, there has been little discussion on how component-based software engineering can strengthen third-party application development in the context of an enterprise software platform ecosystem. Specifically, it is unclear how the challenge of component trustworthiness can be addressed in this context. To explore this, we conducted a design science research(DSR) study to answer the following question: What are design principles pertaining to component trustworthiness for implementing a component repository that facilitates component reuse in an enterprise software platform ecosystem? In our study, we have explored the potential for component reuse in the ecosystem of the global health software platform DHIS2 by designing and developing a prototype component repository. During the design and development process, two design principles were identified: Principle of component trustworthiness and Principle of balanced certification. These principles are to guide researchers and practitioners on how a component repository can be implemented in the context of an enterprise software platform ecosystem.

• Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Nicholsan, Brian; Nielsen, Petter & Sahay, Sundeep (2021). Digital Public Goods Platforms for Development: The Challenge of Scaling. UiO web. Full text in Research Archive
• Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Nicholson, Brian; Nielsen, Petter & Sahay, Sundeep (2021). DIGITAL GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS. In Masiero, Silvia & Nielsen, Petter (Ed.), IFIP 9.4 2021 – 1st Virtual Conference Conference Theme: Resilient ICT4D. Proceedings. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788273684622. p. 890–900. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Utvik, Vetle Alvenes; Thorseng, Anne Asmyr; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2021). AN INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL TRANSFOR-MATION OF COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING DURING A PANDEMIC. IRIS Selected Papers of the Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia. ISSN 1891-9863. 12(4). Full text in Research Archive
• Collinson, Nilza; Mahundi, Masoud & Nielsen, Petter (2020). Different Approaches to Complementing Software Platforms: A Case Study of Digital Innovation Across 10 Developing Countries. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 587, p. 14–25. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-65828-1_2. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Dynestøl, Emilie Bauck; Nielsen, Petter; Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Thorseng, Anne Asmyr & Ulshagen, Andrea [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Digital Transformation under a pandemic: A case study of Covid-19 contact tracing in Norway. NOKOBIT: Norsk konferanse for organisasjoners bruk av informasjonsteknologi. ISSN 1892-0748. 28(1). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In March 2020 the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Norway increased rapidly, and the efforts to trace contacts of positive cases were under severe pressure. Contact tracing in Norway is the responsibility of the municipalities, and no standardized or coordinated contact tracing practices were at the time in place on the national level. The afflicted municipalities did their best to cope with the chaotic situation and did contact tracing using excel spreadsheets or pen and paper. These approaches have their flaws, and in particular, failed to scale in several municipalities. In this paper, we report from a case study of collaborative efforts made to address this challenging situation by the University of Oslo (UiO), the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), the Norwegian Public Health Institute (NPHI), and several municipalities. The DHIS2 software platform and experiences implementing DHIS2 for contact tracing in other countries were the basis for these efforts. We describe the process of designing and implementing DHIS2 to date and the experiences so far. We pay particular attention to the potential long-term implications of this process, which we see as a digital transformation of contact tracing in particular and disease surveillance in general in Norway. Our contribution is a rich case description as well as the identification of themes relevant to the further development of DHIS2 for contact tracing as well as other systems in a similar context. These themes include cross-municipal collaboration and information sharing across judicial/legal boundaries, standardisation and centralization of support structures, and potentially transformation of contact tracing practices.

• Mahundi, Masoud; Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest (2019). The social and technical conditions enabling innovations in information infrastructures: A case study from public health in Tanzania. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development (AJSTID). ISSN 2042-1338. 11(7), p. 795–805. doi: 10.1080/20421338.2019.1594557. Full text in Research Archive
• Sahay, Sundeep; Nielsen, Petter & Aanestad, Margunn (2019). Institutionalizing Information Systems for Universal Health Coverage in Primary Health Care and the Need for New Forms of Institutional Work. Communications of the Association for Information Systems. 44(1), p. 62–80. doi: 10.17705/1CAIS.04403. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Today, many countries around the world focus on ensuring that all people can access health services of sufficient quality without experiencing financial hardship (i.e., universal health coverage). To measure progress towards this goal, countries need to build robust health information systems. Because countries need to root universal health coverage in primary healthcare, they also needs to sensitively anchor health information systems that support universal health coverage in existing routine health information systems. However, doing so involves significant challenges, which we study via empirically analyzing an Indian state's effort to implement a universal health coverage health information system in primary healthcare. Using a theoretical lens informed by institutional theory, we seek to answer the question: “What is required to develop institutions that support the use of new technologies and associated work processes that universal health coverage entails?”. We identify the contradictions that emerge when new systems clash with existing ones, and we discuss what implications such contradictions have in terms of system design, work processes, and institutions. We contribute to the literature by explaining inherent complexities in universal health coverage health information system design and implementation and providing system design guidelines.

• Nguyen, Simon Pettersen; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2019). Global Standards and Local Development. Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS). ISSN 1865-0929. 933, p. 141–155. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-11235-6_10. Full text in Research Archive
• Adu-Gyamfi, Eric; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2019). The dynamics of a global health information systems research and implementation project. Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings. ISSN 1650-3686. p. 73–79. Full text in Research Archive
• Li, Magnus & Nielsen, Petter (2019). Making Usable Generic Software. A Matter of Global or Local Design? In Pekkola, Samuli; Pirkkalainen, Henri; Hellsten, Pasi & Ilvonen, Ilona (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th Scandinavian Conference on Information Systems (SCIS2019). Association for Information Systems (AIS). ISSN 9780578532127. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Usability is widely acknowledged as a desirable trait of software, referring to how usable it is to a specific set of users. However, when software is developed as generic packages, aimed at supporting variety, designing user interfaces with sufficient sensitivity to use-contexts is a challenge. Extant literature has documented this challenge and established that solving usability-related problems are difficult, both during software development and implementation. Adding to this discussion, this paper contributes by developing a framework to analyze what characterizes usability-related design of generic software. This includes two levels of design; generic-level and implementation-level, and two types of design; design for use and design for design. We apply this conceptual framework on an empirical case based on an ongoing action research project where a global generic health software is implemented in a large state in India. From the analysis we argue that attempts to strengthen usability of generic software require a holistic intervention, considering design on both ‘global’ and ‘local’ level. Of particular importance is how usable the generic software and other design-resources are when implementers are customizing the software. We coin this aspect of design as meta-usability, which represent what we see as an avenue for further research.

• Nicholson, Brian; Nielsen, Petter; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Sahay, Sundeep (2019). Exploring Tensions of Global Public Good Platforms for Development: The Case of DHIS2. In Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (Ed.), Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part I. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783030183998. p. 207–217. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_17. Full text in Research Archive
• Sanner, Terje Aksel & Nielsen, Petter (2019). Software Platforms for Inclusive Innovation. In Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (Ed.), Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part I. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783030183998. p. 218–230. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_18. Full text in Research Archive
• Adu-Gyamfi, Eric; Nielsen, Petter; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Saugene, Zeferino (2019). Scaling Across Functional Domains: A Case of Implementing an Electronic HIV Patient Information System in Sierra Leone. In Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (Ed.), Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part I. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783030183998. p. 331–342. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_27. Full text in Research Archive
• Msiska, Brown Chawanangwa; Nielsen, Petter & Kaasbøll, Jens Johan (2019). Leveraging Digital Health Platforms in Developing Countries: The Role of Boundary Resources. In Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (Ed.), Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part I. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783030183998. p. 116–126. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_10. Full text in Research Archive
• Msiska, Brown Chawanangwa & Nielsen, Petter (2018). Innovation in the fringes of software ecosystems: the role of socio-technical generativity. Information Technology for Development. ISSN 0268-1102. 24(2), p. 398–421. doi: 10.1080/02681102.2017.1400939. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Understanding the way information systems grow and change over time and the role of different contributors in these processes is central to current research on software development and innovation. In relation to this, there is an ongoing discourse on how the attributes of software platforms influence who can innovate on top of them and the kind of innovations possible within the larger ecosystem of technologies and people these platforms are part of. This discourse has paid limited attention to innovation unfolding in the fringes of the ecosystems peripheral to and disconnected from where the central software components are developed and where the resources necessary for digital innovation are scarce. Drawing upon Zittrain’s characteristics of generativity and Lane’s concept of generative relationships, the key contribution of this paper is a socio-technical perspective on innovation and generativity in this setting. We build this perspective of socio-technical generativity based on a case study of software innovation activities in Malawi on top of the health information system software platform DHIS2 developed in Norway. This case illustrates how the technical attributes of the platform played a key role in concert with human relationships in shaping innovation activities in Malawi.

• Sahay, Sundeep; Nielsen, Petter & Latifov, Murodillo Abdusamadovich (2018). Grand challenges of public health: How can health information systems support facing them? Health Policy and Technology. ISSN 2211-8837. 7(1), p. 81–87. doi: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2018.01.009. Full text in Research Archive
• Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Moyo, Christon M. & Nielsen, Petter (2018). Promoting transparency and accountability with district league tables in Sierra Leone and Malawi. Health Policy and Technology. ISSN 2211-8837. 7(1), p. 35–43. doi: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2018.01.003. Full text in Research Archive
• Bergum, Bjørn-Ingar; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2017). Patchworks of Logistics Management Information Systems: Challenges or Solutions for Developing Countries? IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 47–58. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_5. Full text in Research Archive
• Nguyen, Simon Pettersen; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2017). The Role of Global Standardization Communities in Shaping National Health Information Architectures. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 93–103. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_9. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter (2017). Digital Innovation: A Research Agenda for Information Systems Research in Developing Countries. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 269–279. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_23. Full text in Research Archive
• Msiska, Brown Chawanangwa & Nielsen, Petter (2017). A Framework to Assess and Address Human Capacities Needed to Leverage Open Source Software Platforms in Developing Countries. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 81–92. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_8. Full text in Research Archive
• Asah, Flora Nah; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2017). Challenges for Health Indicators in Developing Countries: Misconceptions and Lack of Population Data. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 593–604. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_48. Full text in Research Archive
• Poppe, Olav; Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Nielsen, Petter & Sanner, Terje Aksel (2017). Standardising Through Software. IRIS Selected Papers of the Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia. ISSN 1891-9863. 8, p. 111–119. Full text in Research Archive
• Nguyen, Thanh Ngoc; Nielsen, Petter & Braa, Jørn (2017). Scaling Information Infrastructures: The Case of the Medical Licensing System in a Southeast Asian Country. AJIS. Australasian Journal of Information Systems. ISSN 1449-8618. 21. doi: 10.3127/ajis.v21i0.1518. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Scaling health information systems from small-scale pilots to national systems in developing countries poses a key challenge to systems designers and health managers. Consequently, many projects dissolve and die before they reach the scale where they are useful for information management. The concept of bootstrapping, from the information infrastructure literature, has proven useful for discussing and understanding how to initiate and grow largescale, complex and networked information systems from scratch. We use the concept of bootstrapping to analyze and discuss an empirical case of building a large-scale medical licensing system in a Southeast Asian country. Beyond describing the process leading up to the success of the licensing system, we contribute to the literature by identifying a range of factors influencing the bootstrapping process, and we suggest methods of making the bootstrapping strategy relevant in this context.

• Nguyen, Thanh Ngoc & Nielsen, Petter (2017). From routine to revolt: Improving routine health data quality and relevance by making them public. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 548–558. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_45. Full text in Research Archive
• Adu-Gyamfi, Eric & Nielsen, Petter (2017). Leveraging software platform capabilities to support HIV (ART) treatment adherence management: A case from sierra leone. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 504, p. 35–46. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_4. Full text in Research Archive
• Manya, Ayub Shisia & Nielsen, Petter (2016). Reporting Practices and Data Quality in Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: An Exploratory Case Study in Kenya. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries. 10(1), p. 114–126. Full text in Research Archive
• Gizaw, Abyot Asalefew; Bygstad, Bendik & Nielsen, Petter (2016). Open generification. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. 27(5), p. 619–642. doi: 10.1111/isj.12112. Full text in Research Archive
• Moyo, Christon M.; Kaasbøll, Jens Johan; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2016). The information transparency effects of introducing league tables in the health system in Malawi. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. 75:2, p. 1–16. doi: 10.1002/j.1681-4835.2016.tb00544.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2015). Three Strategies for Functional Architecting: Cases from the Health Systems of Developing Countries. Information Technology for Development. ISSN 0268-1102. 22(1), p. 134–151. doi: 10.1080/02681102.2015.1026304. Full text in Research Archive
• Poppe, Olav; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2014). Architecting in large and complex information infrastructures. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing. ISSN 1865-1348. 186, p. 90–104. Full text in Research Archive
• Braa, Kristin; Nielsen, Petter & Titlestad, Ola Hodne (2014). Innovation for Health in Developing Countries, Medical Technology - Meeting Tomorrow's Health Care Challenges. Novus Forlag. ISSN 9788270997916. p. 21–37. Full text in Research Archive
• Poppe, Olav; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2014). Architecting in Large and Complex Information Infrastructures. In Commisso, Trine Hald; Nørbjerg, Jacob & Pries-Heje, Jan (Ed.), Nordic Contributions in IS Research : 5th Scandinavian Conference on Information Systems, SCIS 2014, Ringsted, Denmark, August 10-13, 2014 : Proceedings. Springer. ISSN 9783319095455. p. 90–104. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-09546-2_7. Full text in Research Archive
• Sanner, Terje Aksel; Manda, Tiwonge Davis & Nielsen, Petter (2014). Grafting: Balancing Control and Cultivation in Information Infrastructure Innovation. Journal of the AIS. 15(4), p. 220–243. doi: 10.17705/1jais.00356. Full text in Research Archive
• Braa, Kristin & Nielsen, Petter (2014). Kapasitetsbygging og innovasjon i helsesystemer i sør. Arr - Idéhistorisk tidsskrift. ISSN 0802-7005. p. 53–60. Full text in Research Archive
• Hanseth, Ole & Nielsen, Petter (2013). Infrastructural Innovation: Flexibility, Generativity and the Mobile Internet. International Journal of IT Standards and Standardization Research. ISSN 1539-3062. 11(1), p. 27–45. doi: 10.4018/jitsr.2013010102. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Fjuk, Annita (2010). The Reality beyond the Hype: Mobile Internet is Primarily an Extension of PC-Based Internet. The Information Society. ISSN 0197-2243. 26(5), p. 375–382. doi: 10.1080/01972243.2010.511561. Full text in Research Archive
• Aanestad, Margunn; Monteiro, Eric & Nielsen, Petter (2007). Information Infrastructures and Public Goods: Analytical and Practical Implications for SDI. Information Technology for Development. ISSN 0268-1102. 13(1), p. 7–25. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Aanestad, Margunn (2006). Control devolution as information infrastructure design strategy: A case study of a content service platform for mobile phones in Norway. Journal of Information Technology. ISSN 0268-3962. 21, p. 185–194. Full text in Research Archive
• Kristoffersen, Steinar; Nielsen, Petter; Blechar, Jennifer & Hanseth, Ole (2005). ‘Ordinary Innovation' of Mobile Services. In Sørensen, Carsten; Yoo, Youngjin & DeGross, Janice (Ed.), Designing Ubiquitous Information Environments: Socio-Technical Issues and Challenges. Springer Publishing Company. ISSN 9780387275604. p. 305–320. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Aanestad, Margunn (2005). Infrastructuralization as design strategy: A case study of a content service platform for mobile phones in Norway. In Hustad, Eli; Munkvold, B.E.; Rolland, Knut-Helge Ronæs & Flak, L.S. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 28th Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia. Universitetet i Agder. ISSN 9788271175542. Full text in Research Archive
• Jansen, Arild Johan & Nielsen, Petter (2005). Theorizing convergence co-evolution of information infrastructures. Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems (SJIS). ISSN 0905-0167. p. 67–100. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper engages in a study of the conditions for convergence between information infrastructures. Inspired by the visions of convergence as on of the essential building blocks to achieve the goals of the Information Society and eEurope as well as the observation that no model has been proposed to address how and why convergence develops, we aim at providing a theoretical framework for studying such phenomena. To analyze the interrelatedness of the parallel evolution of information infrastructures, we introduce a concept of co-evolution and apply it to a study of the ongoing development of the two wireless communication platforms Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) in Norway. We emphasize the importance of an adequate understanding of the infrastructures involved, including the installed bases and their intra- and inter-linkages, to anticipate possible trajectories of co-evolution. Focusing on the network dimension of the communication platforms, we show how the various technologies, politics, interests and user preferences linked to the installed bases of each of the platforms may strongly influence the direction and speed of their co-evolution.

• Nielsen, Petter & Mosse, Emilio (2004). Communication Practices as Functions, Rituals and Symbols: Challenges for Computerization of Paper-Based Information Systems. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. 18(3), p. 1–17. Full text in Research Archive

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• Masiero, Silvia & Nielsen, Petter (2021). IFIP 9.4 2021 – 1st Virtual Conference Conference Theme: Resilient ICT4D. Proceedings. Universitetet i Oslo. ISBN 9788273684622. 1018 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (2019). Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part I. Springer Nature. ISBN 9783030183998. 789 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest C. (2019). Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. 15th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, ICT4D 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 1–3, 2019, Proceedings, Part II. Springer Nature. ISBN 9783030191146. 447 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter (2015). Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries (IFIP 9.4). Universitetet i Oslo. ISBN 9788273684653. 794 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter (2015). Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries. Universitetet i Oslo. ISBN 9788273684653. 794 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Tan, Barney & Nielsen, Petter (2024). Information systems and sustainable development: From conceptual underpinnings to empirical insights. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. doi: 10.1111/isj.12543. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Nicholson, Brian; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2024). The Social Dynamics of Liminal Innovation. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2023). The Interplay Between Communitas and Anti-structure in Liminal Innovation. Full text in Research Archive
• Nicholson, Brian; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2021). Digital platforms for development. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. doi: 10.1111/isj.12364. Full text in Research Archive
• Masiero, Silvia & Nielsen, Petter (2021). Resilient ICT4D: Building and Sustaining Our Community in Pandemic Times. In Masiero, Silvia & Nielsen, Petter (Ed.), IFIP 9.4 2021 – 1st Virtual Conference Conference Theme: Resilient ICT4D. Proceedings. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788273684622. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundersen, Ragnhild Bassøe; Utvik, Vetle Alvenes; Thorseng, Anne Asmyr; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2021). AN INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL TRANSFOR-MATION OF COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING DURING A PANDEMIC. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Davison, Robert (2020). Predatory journals: A sign of an unhealthy publish or perish game? Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. doi: 10.1111/isj.12289. Full text in Research Archive
• Sæbø, Johan Ivar; Nielsen, Petter & Braa, Kristin (2020). Norsk teknologi kan overvåke og begrense korona-utbruddet. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sahay, Sundeep (2019). Critically studying openness: A way forward. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. 29(4), p. 763–767. doi: 10.1111/isj.12236. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Kimaro, Honest (2019). Preface. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. ISSN 1868-4238. 552, p. v–vi. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sahay, Sundeep (2019). Critically studying openness: A way forward. Information Systems Journal. ISSN 1350-1917. 29(4), p. 763–767. doi: 10.1111/isj.12236. Full text in Research Archive
• Li, Magnus & Nielsen, Petter (2019). Design Infrastructures in Global Software Platform Ecosystems. Full text in Research Archive
• Adu-Gyamfi, Eric; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2019). The Dynamics of a Global Health Information Systems Research and Implementation Project. Full text in Research Archive
• Saunders-Hastings, Patrick; Perrin, Maureen; Nielsen, Petter; Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Uggowitzer, Steven (2018). DHIS2 as a tool for health impact assessment in low-resource settings: examining opportunities for expanding use of routine health data. Full text in Research Archive
• Li, Magnus; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2018). Mediators to Advocate and Facilitate End-User Participation in Digital Innovation. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sanner, Terje Aksel (2018). Digital Innovation and the Dynamics of ICT4D Projects. Full text in Research Archive
• Sahay, Sundeep; Nielsen, Petter; Faujdar, Dharamjeet; Kumar, Rajesh & Mukherjee, Arunima Sehgal (2018). Frugal Digital Innovation and Living Labs: A Case Study of Innovation in Public Health in India. Full text in Research Archive
• Nguyen, Simon Pettersen; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2018). Global Standards and Local Development. Full text in Research Archive
• Manya, Ayub Shisia; Nielsen, Petter & Pundo, Raphael (2016). Cloud Computing as a Catalyst for Integrated Health Information Systems in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges. Full text in Research Archive
• Asah, Flora Nah & Nielsen, Petter (2016). The Fundamental Role of Health Information Systems for Universal Health Coverage: The Case of Cameroon. Full text in Research Archive
• Manya, Ayub Shisia; Braa, Jørn; Nielsen, Petter & Wasunna, Owino (2015). Utilization of routine health information system to monitor the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) for 2015 in South Sudan. Full text in Research Archive
• Moyo, Christon M.; Manda, Tiwonge Davis & Nielsen, Petter (2015). Peer based reviews as a strategy for strengthening the health information systems: a case study from Malawi. Full text in Research Archive
• Sæbø, Johan Ivar & Nielsen, Petter (2015). Usynlige mennesker, usynlige sykdommer. p. 74–77. Full text in Research Archive
• Braa, Kristin & Nielsen, Petter (2015). Sustainable Action Research: The Networks of Actions Approach. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter; Sahay, Sundeep & Latifov, Murodillo Abdusamadovich (2015). Civil Registration and Vital Statistics: A Neglected area in Information Systems Research. Full text in Research Archive
• Manya, Ayub Shisia & Nielsen, Petter (2015). The Use of Social Learning Sysetms in Implementing a Web-Based Routine Health Information System in Kenya. Full text in Research Archive
• Hanseth, Ole & Nielsen, Petter (2014). Infrastructural Innovation and Generative Information Infrastructures. In Kai, Jakobs (Eds.), Modern Trends Surrounding Information Technology Standards and Standardization within Organizations. IGI Global. ISSN 9781466663336. p. 1–23. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2014). Ebolas ofre. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter (2014). Building a Global Network of Capacity: Lessons from HISP. Full text in Research Archive
• Braa, Kristin & Nielsen, Petter (2013). Leveraging the potential of mobiles in developing country health initiatives: From ICT4D to information infrastructures 4D. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Mørk, Bjørn Erik (2013). Dataprogram som ikke snakker samme språk. Aftenposten Viten. ISSN 2464-3033. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Hanseth, Ole (2010). TOWARDS A DESIGN THEORY OF USABILITY AND GENERATIVITY. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter & Aanestad, Margunn (2005). Infrastructuralization as design strategy: A case study of a content service platform for mobile phones in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Kristoffersen, Steinar; Nielsen, Petter; Blechar, Jennifer & Hanseth, Ole (2005). ‘Ordinary Innovation' of Mobile Services. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Petter (2004). Implementing public platforms for mobile phone content services: Standardization in era of convergence. Full text in Research Archive
• Utvik, Vetle Alvenes; Nielsen, Petter & Sæbø, Johan Ivar (2026). Digital Platform Ecosystems as Innovation Commons. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  How can digital platform ecosystems be governed to facilitate cooperative digital innovation for public value? Digital platforms are often understood as technologies for business in how they can be used to orchestrate markets for production of apps. However, not all digital platforms are business oriented. Some digital platforms aim for public value creation through digital innovation. However, we currently have a limited understanding of their nature and how they are governed. This doctoral dissertation outlines an understanding of digital platform ecosystems as innovation commons. Specifically, I develop the concept of platform-based innovation commons and explain how digital innovation unfolds through iterations of use, contribution, and reuse of shared resources. I further explain how platform governance can sustain collective action by widening participation, enabling diverse forms of contributions, and aligning actors around common good goals. By reframing digital platform ecosystems beyond market-centric assumptions, I contribute with a novel theoretical perspective on how digital platforms can organize distributed and cooperative digital innovation for societal benefit across organizational and national contexts.

• Poppe, Olav; Nielsen, Petter & Braa, Jørn Anders (2021). Digital Platforms for Standardisation in Global Health: The Case of the Digital Health Packages. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This thesis is a study of standardisation within the global health field, investigating the potential role of digital platforms in facilitating such standardisation. It describes and analyses an e$ort of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to disseminate its standards and guidelines on health information to countries by embedding them in digital health packages, which can be implemented in a widely used digital platform. Part of the mandate of WHO is to provide standards and guidance on health information management and use for its 194 member states. However, disseminating these standards and guidance to countries and ensuring their implementation in national health information systems has proven challenging in practice. This points to broader themes discussed in the literature on standards and standardisation, such as barriers to the adoption of standards, tensions arising when implementing global, universal standards in diverse local contexts, and the #exibility of standards. Using the WHO-led digital health packages initiative as a case, the thesis discusses these challenges guided by the research question: What is the potential of digital platforms to support standardisation in global health? The empirical data presented in this thesis was collected through an action research approach. This included involvement in activities related to the implementation of health information systems based on digital platform technolo!y in several countries in West Africa, and in the WHO-led standardisation initiative at the global level. This two-levelled research design allowed a study of the standardisation initiative from the perspective of both standards developers and standards adopters. Analysis of the empirical data is guided by organising vision theory, developed originally to explain the adoption of IT innovations in organisations. Organising vision theory provides concepts that help analyse how di$erent stakeholders, with a shared vision of disseminating global health standards, could be coordinated and mobilised in support of the digital health packages initiative. The findings in this thesis indicate that characteristics of digital platforms can facilitate and support standardisation in global health. These digital platform characteristics include a modular architecture that can be extended with platform complements, the ability to facilitate transactions between groups of users, and an ecosystem of actors around the platform. The thesis, in itself and through the six research papers that constitute a major component of it, includes theoretical, methodological, empirical and practical contributions. Theoretically, it makes the potentially fruitful connection between digital platforms and standardisation, and discusses how di$erent digital platform characteristics can serve to support standardisation in global health. Methodologically, the thesis presents a novel research design for studying large-scale digital phenomenon, based on doing in-depth, qualitative research at two levels, e.g. the national and the global. Empirically, it constitutes a longitudinal digital platform study, of which there are relatively few. Finally, for practitioners, it o$ers concrete advice on how digital platforms can be leveraged in support of standardisation within global health.

• Msiska, Brown Chawanangwa & Nielsen, Petter (2019). Leveraging Open Source Software Platforms towards HIS Implementation in Developing Countries: The Case of DHIS2 in Malawi. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Lately, there has been a convergence between open source and software platform approaches in the implementation of health information system solutions for developing countries. Open source software, comprise all software distributed together with its source code under a license that permits the end user to study, modify and redistribute the software. Software platforms, on the other hand, comprise of software artefacts that have an extensible codebase that provides core functionality shared by applications associated with it and an interface through which it interoperates with such applications. The convergence of these two approaches in implementing health information system solutions has given rise to what can be termed as open source health information software platforms. DHIS2 is an example of such open source health information software platforms. For developing countries, leveraging an existing open source health information software platform and its complementary applications can be less-risky, less-time consuming, and more cost-effective than starting from scratch. However, software platforms come with implicit human capacity requirements necessary to turn them into working solutions within context of use. However, research on open source software and health information systems in developing countries reports of failures attributed to deficiencies in requisite human capacities. Lack of requisite human capacity, if it exists, can constrain efforts by developing countries to leverage open source health information software platforms despite the promises they hold. Against this background, the main objective of this study is contributing towards a practical and conceptual understanding of developing countries can effectively leverage open source health information software platforms against a backdrop of reported human capacity challenges. For this purpose, a case study involving efforts leveraging the DHIS2 software platform in Malawi, a developing country in southeast Africa, was carried out. Findings from the study relate leveraging open source health information software platforms in developing countries to a range of requisite human capacities, boundary resources and socio-technical generativity in relation to the platform itself, social relationships and generative capacity of actors involved. With these findings, the study contributes theoretically by advancing socio-technical generativity as a concept to provide a holistic account for generativity exhibited by open source software platforms within their context of use. In addition, drawing on the boundary resources model, the study proposes an extended model to bring to the foreground external generative capacity and capacity building boundary resources as co-factors with software development boundary resources in shaping third-party development. Practically, the study contributes by itemizing and describing requisite human capacities for leveraging open source health information software platforms in developing countries that should guide efforts auditing and building requisite human capacities for open source software platforms in developing countries.

• Nielsen, Petter & Moyo, Christon Mesheck (2017). Transformational Feedback: Breaking the vicious cycle of information use in Health Information Systems-A case from Malawi. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The thesis has been motivated by the weak and inconsistent feedback practices and strategies in health information systems in developing countries. This affects the quality of reporting by those that gather the data and the use of information by policy makers and health managers. A circular relationship exists between fostering data use and increased data quality. Limited information use is thus both a cause and a result of poor data quality, a vicious cycle that is hard to break. The vicious cycle concept can be used to understand the circular relationships between the data collection and reporting routines on the one hand and the information use routines on the other. The thesis introduces the concept of transformational feedback with its related dimensions of information transparency, two-way dialogue and networks for learning to help in breaking the vicious cycle of information use. This study was conducted in Malawi within the context of Health Information Systems Programme (HISP), a global research and development initiative on health information systems in developing countries. The initiative, which is in more than 50 countries, is aimed at contributing to the generation of knowledge as well as implementation of interventions to solve problems in health information systems in developing countries. The study was guided by two research questions: (i) how can transformational feedback be conceptualized in the context of HMIS in developing countries? and (ii) what approaches can be used to implement transformational feedback to break the vicious cycle of information use in the context of HMIS in developing countries? The thesis adopted primarily an interpretive and critical tradition in order to increase the understanding of feedback practices and at the same time implemented change in feedback practices and processes. It used a pluralist action research approach involving the mixing of action research with other research methods. The multi-method approaches to research adopted action research as the dominant approach and was supported by case study and field experiment research methods. A multiplicity of methods for data collection was used including semi-structured and in depth interviews using open-ended questions and focused group discussions targeting district health managers and district data officers; participant observations; and document analysis. Findings were presented in five conference and journal papers. The thesis primarily contributes to practice by developing guidelines on how transformational feedback can be implemented to influence information use. Based on insights from Malawi, it proposes three promising implementation approaches to transformational feedback: league tables, peer based reviews and mobile reporting. The thesis also contributes to theory through the development of the concept of transformational feedback.

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