Information and Communication Technologies For Development - Values Framework

Values Framework

It is unusual for an objective endeavor, a research, to have corresponding values. However, since ICT4D is foremost an initiative as well as an advocacy, it can be that development itself opts for a certain ideal or state. As such, values in developmental research can be included. The Kuo Model of Informatization has three dimensions, namely: infrastructure, economy and people. These dimensions correspond to:

• Education and literacy levels
• Economic indicators (GNP, GDP, etc.)
• Telecommunications and media infrastructure

However, this may not be applicable to all countries. In the model, the three dimensions are correlated with each other, but Alexander Flor notes that in his country, the Philippines, the model is not be entirely suitable due to the following reasons:

• The high education and literacy levels are not directly correlated with telecommunications infrastructure and degree of economic development.
• The correlation between the degrees of telecommunications infrastructure and economic development cannot easily be established.

Flor proposes a new dimension be added to the Kuo Model - values dimension. This dimension can be operationalized through government priority indicators, subsidy levels and corruption levels among others. He proposes the following values for this dimension: equality, complementarity, integration, participation and inclusion, development from within and convergence.