Soumitra Dutta, dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and co-author of the Global Information Technology Report, calls for greater urgency in bringing the benefits of information technology to more economies and citizens around the world.

Dutta

The transformative power of information and communications technologies (ICT) is happening in relatively few countries, creating widespread digital poverty and a stubborn digital divide across and within nations, according to the Global Information Technology Report 2015.

The annual ranking of 143 world economies on their network readiness is the result of a partnership between the World Economic Forum, INSEAD and Johnson. Dutta is co-author of the report, now in its 15th year.

“A decade ago, there was tremendous excitement around the spread and diffusion of technology. There was a sense of hope that by increasing access, countries would reap the benefits of technology penetration,” Dutta said. “This year’s results are giving us a compelling message about the limits of the ICT revolution. Most important is that we have to start working on the digital dividend. How do we see that countries and individuals get the benefit of the digital revolution?”

Some 2.5 billion people have access to mobile phone technology, creating the perception that much of the world’s population benefits from ICTs for economic and social advancement, said Thierry Geiger, economist with the World Economic Forum and report co-author. Yet 60 percent of the world’s population has never gone online.

“We need to step up efforts to bring fast, reliable, universal Internet to the world,” Geiger said. “Only then will transformation happen.”

An example of technology-enabled transformation is underway in New York City due to an initiative by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He understood that the economy of New York City needed a dose of technology entrepreneurship to renew its competitiveness, and invited universities to submit proposals for a technology and innovation campus. Cornell was awarded the contract and is building the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.

“This is a fantastic example of how a major global city is trying to renew its competitiveness and economy by forming a collaborative partnership across government, education, the private sector and civil society,” said Dutta. “It is a wonderful reminder of how even the most advanced cities and economies need to continually renew their leadership, using technology as a key enabler – but it all depends on an effective partnership.”

The report was supported by Cisco and Strategy&, a global management consulting firm.

Shannon Dortch is associate director of public and media relations for Johnson.