Technology Evaluation for Policy Decisions

1. Technology Evaluation for Policy Decisions Dr. Audrey M. Alvear Dr. Dundar F. Kocaoglu This presentation is based on the results of the doctoral dissertation of Dr. Alvear

2. Introduction • Proper methodologies for technology evaluation are critical in making policy decisions, especially in emerging economies that are facing a challenge to bridge their Digital Divide (DD). • Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be the engines of change for emerging economies to bridge the Digital Divide • The need for a systematic approach for technology evaluation increases.

3. Introduction • Most studies seeking to bridge this divide offer only recommendations at the policy level but not methodologies to evaluate technologies and their impact.

4. Internal Digital Divide - Definition The gap between people who can access, interact and benefit from the use of ICTs and those who can not

5. Research Objectives • To identify ICTs and their applications in key sectors that affect the Digital Divide • To evaluate the impacts of technologies (ICTs) & applications in key sectors on the DD • To operationalize the report, “Creating a Development Dynamic: Final Report of the Digital Opportunity”

6. Research Methodology • Expert panel • Interviews and web-based questionnaires • Pair-wise comparisons instruments • AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)

7. STRUCTURE A total of 15 Decision-makers or advising experts in Costa Rica Representation of industry, government or academic institutions in a balanced mix Expertise in at least one of the sectors considered in the study INPUTS Reviewed and modified the model in several iterations Provided quantified values for their subjective judgments about the impact of each decision element on the next level of the decision hierarchy Provided assistance in evaluating, validating and interpreting the results Expert Panel

8. The Model Objective Sectors ICTApplications ICTs Note – the model is based on the UNDP report “Creating a development Dynamic: Final Report of the Digital Opportunity”, additional literature and comments from the expert panel

9. Evaluation of impacts for 2003 & 2010 Objective Sectors ICTApplications ICTs

10. ICT APPLICATIONS

11. Information Communication Technologies

12. The results

13. +2% +1% +1% -3% -1% Impact of DD Reduction in Sectors on the Overall Reduction of the DD for Years 2003/2010

14. 1st Ranked Sector - Education Education

15. 2nd Ranked Sector - Economic Economic

16. 3rd Ranked Sectors – Health & Gov. Health Government

17. 5th Ranked Sector - Environment Environment

18. ICTs’ relative impacts Digital Divide Reduction T1 General Purpose Software T2 Mobile devices & infrastructure T3 Internet content & infrastructure T4 Collaborative Tools T5 Land–based devices & infrastructure T6 Country specific software T7 Mass Communication Systems 2003 0.16 0.14 0.16 0.12 0.16 0.13 0.12 2010 0.14 0.15 0.17 0.17 0.14 0.14 0.10

19. Relative Impacts of ICTs on the Reduction of the Digital Divide

20. Conclusions • AHP is a method that can be applied in technology evaluation for policy issues • T3: Internet content & infrastructure, and T4:collaborative tools are the key technologies for the future reduction of the internal Digital Divide in Costa Rica • Reduction of the Digital Divide in the education sector will have the highest impact in Costa Rica • ICT applications in government and education sectors with highest impacts on the reduction of the overall Digital Divide are • Improving public administration • Fostering innovation and creativity

21. Questions ? Dr. Audrey Alvear: alveara@etm.pdx.edu Dr. Dundar F. Kocaoglu kocaoglu@etm.pdx.edu