Information Technology Policy Trends in the World
Technology in Society, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 125-132, 2009
10 Pages Posted: 13 Dec 2012
Date Written: December 12, 2012
Abstract
This paper analyzes worldwide information technology (IT) policy trends development using technology-diffusion, policy-making models. After reviewing various types of technology transfer, the authors identified a framework based on the approach of 'Hanna'. The policy trends of 55 IT programs in 11 countries were positioned in the framework using a bottom-up approach. The authors analyzed IT policy-making initiative trends, and our findings show a sharp increase in the number of hands-off programs in the past ten years and a considerable increase in the number of bridging programs since 1990. It also shows that before 1990, IT was not yet considered an independent program in the policy-making arena. Programs that use a hands-on method prefer the 'generation' policy group rather than the 'diffusion' policy group, but hands-off methods are neutral. The authors make recommendations and offer guidelines for IT policy makers. The study opens up new lines of research possibilities for IT researchers. '
Keywords: information technology, IT policy, Information society, diffusion policy, generation policy, Iran
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