e-Transformation: Enabling New Development Strategies

Could information and communication technology (ICT) become the transformative tool for a new style of global development? Could ICT promote knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and smart, adaptive, participatory development? As countries seek a way out of the present period of economic contraction, they are trying to weave ICT into their development strategies, in the same way organizations have learned to use ICT to transform their business models and strategies. This integration offers a new path to development that is responsive to the challenges of our times.

In e-Transformation, Nagy Hanna identifies the key ingredients for the strategic integration of ICT into national development, with examples from around the world. He draws on his rich experience of over 35 years at the World Bank and other aid agencies to outline the strategic options involved in using ICT to maximize developmental impact—transforming public service institutions, networking businesses for innovation and competitiveness, and empowering communities for social inclusion and poverty reduction. He identifies the key interdependencies in e-transformation and offers a holistic framework to tap network effects and synergies across all elements of the process, including leadership, cyber policies, institutions, human resources, technological competencies, information infrastructure, and ICT uses for government, business, and society.

Integrating analytical insights and practical applications across the fields of development, political economy, public administration, entrepreneurship, and technology management, the author candidly argues that e-transformation, like all bold ideas, faces implementation challenges. In particular, the aspiration-reality gap needs to be systematically addressed if ICT-enabled innovation and transformation is to become a development practice. E-transformation is first and foremost about thinking strategically and creatively about theoptions made possible by the information technology revolution in the context of globalization. To this end, the author provides tools and best practices designed to nurture innovation, select entry points, prioritize among competing demands, and sequence and scale up. He outlines the roles of all participants—political, managerial, entrepreneurial, social and technical—whose leadership is essential for successful innovation.

Dr. Hanna is an author, international development strategist and thought leader with extensive experience in advising countries and aid agencies on designing and implementing programs to leverage information and communication technology in support of competitiveness, private sector development, and public sector reform. He has extensive experience with issues of leadership development in the public and private sectors in developing countries. He worked with stakeholders cutting across public, private and civil society leadership. He has more than 35 years of experience at the highest levels of development policy strategy, and operations, and covering all geographic regions. He was the World Bank’s first senior advisor on e-strategies.

Currently, Dr. Hanna advises countries on developing policies, institutions and leadership capabilities for coordinating ICT for development programs and social inclusion. He advises the World Bank, international organizations and premier consulting firms on issues ranging from creating networks and strategies for government transformation, to designing country and corporate programs for ICT-enabled innovation and transformation. He is an executive coach for chief information officers.

While a senior staff of the World Bank, he established and led global forums on developing e-leadership, transforming government and business, and building the information society. He published extensively on development strategy, development effectiveness, knowledge economy, ICT institutions, innovation systems, knowledge management, strategic planning, state modernization, and executive development. He established and chaired the World Bank’s global community of practice on e-development. He pioneered e-Sri Lanka, the first World Bank lending operation in support of comprehensive ICT-enabled development. He also helped formulate India’s first software services export strategy.

Dr. Hanna holds Ph.D. fromthe University of Pennsylvania, Wharton; and executive development from Harvard Business School. He is also currently Senior Fellow at JMB Academy of Leadership, University of Maryland, Visiting Professor at Duke University; Professor of Innovation and ICT at Infotec, Mexico, and member of the International Advisory Panel on Accreditation of Masters Programs for CIOs.

He can be contacted at nagyhanna@comcast.com.