Technology for Growth: How Emerging-World Firms Use Technology
Dell and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) presented the following research September 23, 2008 at the Economist Emerging Markets Summit 2008 in London.
The research, commissioned by Dell and completed by the EIU in September, focused on four topics: the impact of ICT (information and communications technology), barriers to ICT use, skills and training, and policy factors.
Key Findings:
- Among firms who have been unable to obtain the technology they need, 41 percent of respondents say its high cost has been the primary obstacle;
- 45 percent cite insufficient national and local telecoms and Internet infrastructure as hindrances to better ICT use; and
- 36 percent state that a lack of adequate technology skills among employees prevents the effective use of ICT.
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Main Conclusions:
- ICT has been an important factor in helping emerging-world firms to grow, despite high technology costs and other impediments;
- However, policymakers and business leaders need to address deficiencies in technology skills training, especially in schools; and
- Governments should also do more to facilitate upgrading of telecoms and Internet infrastructure.
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Methodology:
- The study polled 537 senior-level executives and managers in the four BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries; the United Arab Emirates and five other Gulf nations; and Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam.
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Download the full EIU Research Results 
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download.)
And for more insight, read the press release and the blog post.
