Key Features of Effective I.T. Applications for the New Economies

Roger Clarke

Principal, Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, Canberra

Visiting Fellow, Department of Computer Science, Australian National University

Version of 18 September 2002

Keynote Address to the Hong Kong International Computer Conference, Hong Kong Convention Centre, 20 September 2002

© Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 2002

This document is at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/EC/HKICC020920.html

The PowerPoint Slide-Set is at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/EC/HKICC020920.ppt

Abstract

In our enthusiasm to apply new technologies, we are often guilty of imposing solutions that turn out to be a poor fit to the problem. An effective I.T. investment needs to reflect the specific context in which it is being applied. This is not always achieved even with custom-built applications. It is a far greater challenge for designers of standard and customisable packages. They need to appreciate the enormous diversity of the contexts in which their products may be applied.

This presentation draws attention to the diversity inherent in the new economies. Some differences arise from the characteristics of the terminal devices that are used, and of the supporting infrastructure. A great deal of differentiation exists in the B2C, C2C, G2C and C2G segments. Designers ignore consumers' and citizens' differences at their peril. For example, it is essential to appreciate the distinction between profit-motivated 'portals' and government and community 'entry-points'.

In the B2B, B2G and G2B segments, an important example of diversity is in the structures and patterns of industrial markets. There have to be doubts about the promise of web-services to deliver large numbers of common services. On the other hand, there can be no doubt about the importance of participating in standards processes, of applying standards, and of exploiting and contributing to open source software and content.

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Created: 18 September 2002

Last Amended: 18 September 2002

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