Open Technologies: Catalyst for Transformation

Developed by the United Nations Development Programme's Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP), this e-Note discusses the value of open information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystems and explores their principles and building blocks. According to the e-note, an ICT ecosystem encompasses not only hardware and software, but also the policies, processes, procurement, data, laws, applications, partnerships, standards and stakeholders that together make up a technology setting for a country, a government or an organisation. People, those who create, buy, sell, regulate, manage and use technology, are considered the most important part of any ICT ecosystem. The note further explains that open ICT ecosystems are: interoperable, user-centric, collaborative, sustainable and flexible. To activate these principles, there are three building blocks of an open ICT ecosystem: open standards, open source and service-orientation.

The content of the e-note is largely based on the 'Roadmap for Open ICT Ecosystems', a project of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society, developed jointly by members of the Open ePolicy Group. According to the e-note, open ICT ecosystems bring increased choices, collaboration, innovation and economic opportunities. The openness of an ICT ecosystem also impacts on such issues as access to information and economic development.

The e-note encourages people to push for change in how government buys and uses technology and change in how ICT policies are made. According to the document, opening an ICT ecosystem means changing people's behaviour and procurement drives behaviour. It suggests that change could be encouraged by a few procurement rules, such as mandating interoperability in procurement decisions, with a preference for open standards; require technology and brand neutrality in procurement specifications to prevent lock-in to a single vendor, data format or technology, and link final payments to an auditor's confirmation that a system or solution comply with policies on open standards and related procurement terms.

Secondly, the e-note suggests that it is necessary to see the big picture when it comes to technology, and ensure that government leaders understand the benefits of more open ICT ecosystems in countless sectors from transportation and energy to healthcare and disaster management. The note concludes that, "agencies must become more efficient; economies and industry must be more innovative and competitive. Evolving more open ICT ecosystems is a decisive, even necessary, step. It is vital to building and sustaining an innovative, knowledge society."



APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series aims to introduce readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs such as internet governance, ICTs and poverty alleviation, e-governance, free and open source software, and many others