Information Technology Research And Development

A pioneering, concept-oriented research and development approach improves business results in technology-driven industries With contributions from IT, systems, and operations experts from around the globe, this book sets forth a tested and proven, concept-oriented R&D approach that far surpasses the results of conventional R&D. The authors explain how to create a clear concept, then build upon that concept by developing a chain of technologies and target markets in order to create, sustain, and grow successful business operations. Real-world examples and case studies from IBM and Hitachi illustrate how the concept-oriented approach can be applied to IT and other technology-driven industries anywhere in the world. Concept-Oriented Research and Development in Information Technology sheds new light on the complex relationships between concept, technology and market, explaining how all of these elements are enhanced with a concept-oriented R&D approach. Throughout the book, readers will learn a variety of innovative perspectives and methods for concept creation, technology innovation, and market cultivation. Part I, Introduction, makes the case for a paradigm shift in R&D from a conventional approach to a concept-oriented one. Part II, Concept Creation, liffers four perspectives on the application of the concept-oriented approach. Part III, Fusion of Technologies, illustrates the need to fuse technologies to accommodate rapidly changing and unpredictable demands on business infrastructure. Part IV, Glocalization of Technologies, explains why businesses need to diversify globally, yet remain in tune with local markets. Part V, Conclusions and Future Directions, explores the potential of the concept-oriented approach to evolve with the changing needs of business and R&D. Concept-Oriented Research and Development in Information Technology helps students and professionals in IT, engineering, systems, and operations approach R&D in new ways that lead to better technologies and better businesses.

The U.S. information technology (IT) research and development (R&D) ecosystem was the envy of the world in 1995. However, this position of leadership is not a birthright, and it is now under pressure. In recent years, the rapid globalization of markets, labor pools, and capital flows have encouraged many strong national competitors. During the same period, national policies have not sufficiently buttressed the ecosystem, or have generated side effects that have reduced its effectiveness. As a result, the U.S. position in IT leadership today has materially eroded compared with that of prior decades, and the nation risks ceding IT leadership to other nations within a generation. Assessing the Impacts of Changes in the Information Technology R&D Ecosystem calls for a recommitment to providing the resources needed to fuel U.S. IT innovation, to removing important roadblocks that reduce the ecosystem's effectiveness in generating innovation and the fruits of innovation, and to becoming a lead innovator and user of IT. The book examines these issues and makes recommendations to strengthen the U.S. IT R&D ecosystem.

The flood of information technology (I.T.) products and services entering the market place often obscures the need to nurture the research enterprise. But as I.T. becomes integrated into all aspects of society, the need for research is even greater. And the range of issues that need to be addressed is broader than ever. This new book highlights the fundamental importance of research to ensure that I.T. meets society's expanding needs. Against the background of dramatic change in the I.T. landscape, the committee examines four key questions: Is the scope of I.T. research broad enough-particularly in the arena of large-scale systems-to address government, business, and social applications? Are government and industrial sponsors providing sufficient funding for I.T. research? Is the research net big both big and diverse enough to capture sufficient financial and intellectual resources to advance the field? Are structures and mechanisms for funding and conducting research suited to the new sets of research challenges?

Information Technology Research and Development: Critical Trends and Issues is a report of the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Government on the research and development in the area of information technology. The report discusses information technology research and development - its goals, nature, issues, and strategies; environment and its changes; the roles of the participants; and the health of its field. The book then goes on to four selected case studies in information technology: advanced computer architecture; fiber optic communications; software engineering; and artificial intelligence. The text also talks about the effects of divestiture and deregulation on research; education and human resources for research and development; foreign information technology research and development; and technology and industry. The text is recommended for students and researchers of information technology who wish to know more about the state of research and development in this field and the applications of this research in different areas.

Governments have done much to leverage information technology to deploy e-government services, but much work remains before the vision of e-government can be fully realized. Information Technology Research, Innovation, and E-government examines the emerging visions for e-government, the technologies required to implement them, and approaches that can be taken to accelerate innovation and the transition of innovative information technologies from the laboratory to operational government systems. In many cases, government can follow the private sector in designing and implementing IT-based services. But there are a number of areas where government requirements differ from those in the commercial world, and in these areas government will need to act on its role as a "demand leader." Although researchers and government agencies may appear to by unlikely allies in this endeavor, both groups have a shared interest in innovation and meeting future needs. E-government innovation will require addressing a broad array of issues, including organization and policy as well as engineering practice and technology research and development, and each of these issues is considered in the book.

Over the past two decades, projects supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) have critically examined the ways in which information and communications technologies (ICTs) can be used to improve learning, empower the disenfranchised, generate income opportunities for the poor, and facilitate access to healthcare in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Considering that most development institutions and governments are currently attempting to integrate ICTs into their practices, it is an opportune time to reflect on the research findings that have emerged from IDRC’s work and research in this area. “Connecting ICTs to Development” discusses programmatic investments made by IDRC in a wide variety of areas related to ICTs, including infrastructure, access, regulations, health, governance, education, livelihoods, social inclusion, technical innovation, intellectual property rights and evaluation. Each chapter in this book analyzes the ways in which research findings from IDRC-supported projects have contributed to an evolution of thinking, and discusses successes and challenges in using ICTs as tools to address development issues. The volume also presents key lessons learned from ICT4D programming and recommendations for future work.