Factors dealing with ICT in general
In some developing countries, the importance of ICT policies is understood at the highest political level. Many developing countries face similar constraints that need to be taken into account when ICT policies are formulated.
However, the effectiveness of an ICT policy in one country does not guarantee that the same recipe would work in another. The following has been adapted from article Information and Communication Technologies and Poverty.
ICT infrastructure is weak. The lack of computer and telecommunications infrastructure is a key problem in many developing countries. National ICT policies therefore need to be very strong in this regard. A master infrastructure development plan can be supported by detailed policies for administrative sectors, geographic areas, types of service, types of educational institute, etc. Government involvement remains essential in the construction of the infrastructure in the foreseeable future in rural areas and remote locations. At present, only large cities are sufficiently attractive for private developers such as mobile phone and Internet service providers.
ICT-related goods and services are made available on suppliers' terms and low per capita purchasing power does not allow markets to mature. The fact that low-cost computers - although technologically feasible - are not available is largely due to the rapid development of and trade in ICT components that are almost entirely supply-driven, taking into account the needs of only a minority of potential users.
Apart from the fact that the availability of more basic and therefore cheaper PCs would lead to more widespread access to ICT, "poor man's PCs" would be easier to use than those currently available; such PCs would have comparatively simple hardware and be equipped with reliable and small operating systems and software. Such a PC would be able to perform the most common tasks in the workplace, at school, and at home.
Basic information technology, such as personal computers, their peripherals and software are available in major cities of developing countries. However, low purchasing power keeps the number of vendors down. Government ICT policies can help the development of ICT markets by reducing red tape, reducing import taxes, and creating a favourable entrepreneurial environment.
Telecommunications monopolies still exist. Telecommunications sectors in developing countries in the Asian and Pacific region are typically characterised by government monopolies. However, a fair degree of liberalization has been achieved in several domestic telecommunications markets, and private ISPs have become commonplace. Consequently, more countries are succeeding in eradicating waiting lists for telephone services.
The liberalisation of international telecommunications, however, is taking place painstakingly slowly, and retail prices do not reflect transmission costs. Governments do not want to sacrifice revenue from monopolies, and attempts to change the international accounting rate settlement system (which is an additional reason for the high price of international telephone calls) have not succeeded. National ICT policies cannot afford to ignore the fact that the need for low-cost telecommunications services in developing countries is higher than ever.
ICT readiness varies significantly between government departments. Departments and agencies operating in a traditionally ICT-intensive field are likely to be more advanced than others. Governments can raise the overall standards by identifying a coordinating agency to maintain information about government ICT development ventures. Another way to benefit from the heterogeneity is to develop and test pilot applications in the more advanced departments before releasing them for wider use within the government.
The public sector is a significant employer. The computerization of routine functions allows governments to reduce staff and to improve the quality of their services at the same time. The effectiveness of such moves is often moderated by inflexibilities in employment contracts that limit the scope for staff retrenchments.
Management structures and styles are not conducive. Most failures in ICT application development are caused by poor planning and management and not by the lack of resources or wrong technology choices. Management of ICT projects is often made more difficult by overly hierarchical organisation structures that are not conducive to innovative ideas. This can create a problem if the management remains unaware of the benefits that could be achieved through the application of ICT. National policies should emphasise the importance of involving senior executives in ICT development and making them accountable for their organisation's ICT-related performance.
Governments are struggling to find money for basic public services. Government budgets tend to be tight, especially in developing countries; this can create problems for rational ICT development and hamper the ability to react quickly to new requirements or to buy the latest technology. In order to get value for money, ICT policies should require the specifications of systems developed or purchased to be reconfirmed by third-party experts before an order is placed.
The penetration and influence of the Internet are still minimal. The Internet is changing the way in which data and information are collected and disseminated and how services are provided to clients. Thus, new systems should be developed with either immediate or future Internet connectivity in mind.
Governments find it difficult to recruit and retain qualified ICT staff. A key constraint for the effective application of ICTs in developing countries is the shortage of human resources. Apart from a lack of qualified ICT-system personnel, there is often high turnover of such personnel which can seriously hamper systems development and daily operations. In general, the ICT skills of other related personnel are not very developed. These problems can lead to delayed and uncoordinated ICT development and contribute to inadequate data security. ICT policies need to address human resource development needs in a broad educational context.