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Ict and Business Development

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ICT and Business Development

In line with the main priorities set by the URBACT Information Society Network, this theme focuses on business development and the role of ICT as a means of tackling economic restructuring and promoting employment and in doing so fostering social cohesion and economic inclusion.

The purpose of this brief document is to act as a guide for colleagues when preparing material or presentations on this topic and to provoke discussion on the issues raised in it.

Business Development and its relationship to ICT?

Business Development is the process of improvement that enables a business to become more efficient, profitable, and thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. Business development therefore does not …show more content…

Increasingly networks are not just confined to the office but are being adopted so that they allow home/remote working that supports changing business needs.

This transformation has really taken place over the last 20 years and continues to transform the way business is done. No business today can ignore the use of technology as its effective use helps businesses to remain competitive and profitable, thereby creating or safeguarding jobs.

The role of the Public Sector?

What is the case for Public Sector intervention if this is already happening? Talking specifically about SME’s, the final report (Feb. 2004) of the European Go Digital Awareness campaign 2001-2003 shows that "to help SME’s to “Go Digital” is still a policy challenge" as SME’s remain sceptical about ICT and e-business. This is mainly the result of:

• Their experience of procuring technology has often left an impression that the wrong decision was made as the expected benefits from using new technology have not materialised. This then affects businesses willingness to further invest in technology and therefore threatens their further competitiveness.

• The creation of new businesses especially in new industries requires that the right support and business environment are present. For example the presence of Science Park’s, Universities, and Research Centres etc. can help the spread of an

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