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TopBackground
The developing world started to use and produce software in the 1950s and 1960s (Heeks, 1998). During the 1960s computing was introduced to Egypt. At that time, its primary use and applications were limited to the government and the public sector with some modest use within the private sector. During the 1980s, the diffusion of computing gained momentum and was widespread following the global personal computer (PC) evolution. Personal computers affected organizational development, restructuring and growth due to the continuous developments that were taking place and continue to reflect regular transformation in the information technology (IT) industry and caused by increasing hardware penetration, software innovations, and the build-up of the telecommunications and information infrastructures.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Informatics Projects: The projects that involve in any way possible the use, design, delivery, implementation and management of information technology irrespective of the elements involved including software, hardware, telecommunications and others.
Information Technology Outsourcing: Reflects the outsourcing of computer or Internet related work, such as programming to other individuals or companies.
Smart Village: THe concept reflects a model technology park represented by a landscape comprising office space designed for different development and service-oriented offerings of information and communication technology companies; thereby giving each the benefit of economies of scale; usually located outside the city.
Incubator Programs: A form of collaboration between industry, corporations, the business community and the educational sector through the availability of “space” that is used to formulate solutions that meet market needs and consequently help create employment opportunities especially among the youth.
Tailored-Applications: Applications based on industry or organizational needs to complement the off-shelf software applications available in the marketplace.
Building Blocks: Reflects all the critical success factors of the information and communication technology industry and that include: hardware, software, human resources “humanware,” networking and information “infostructure.”