supporting national agendas for modernisation and e government
Chapter 4 Conclusions: from e-readiness to e-intensity
230. As discussed at the start of this chapter, assessment of Plan Avanza should consider the strategy’s original goal, which has been to primarily to increase the state of e-readiness of Spain’s information society, especially in regions and demographic groups lagging behind national and EU averages for various reasons: whether because of their mountainous terrains, disperse populations, socio-economic disparities, predominance of SMEs, or traditionally low levels of economic activity in the ICT sector. Has this goal been achieved? Survey results, programme indicators and international data signal that considerable progress has been made in ICT diffusion, thanks in Iarge part to investments in telecommunications infrastructures, the adoption of a collaborative governance model based on co- financing and joint-implementation, as well as critical support from the public enterprise red.es.
231. The next logical question for IS policy makers at this important junction in Spain’s IS agenda (Plan Avanza 2 is launched in May of 2010) is whether sufficient progress has been made in ICT diffusion to justify a growing prioritisation of e-intensity policies (e.g. greater focus on usage and take-up of digital services). While, in general, findings from this study point to an affirmative answer, this depends highly on the policy sector and region in question: The below graph represents, based on the data and survey results presented in this chapter, a possible positioning of different sectors/target groups along the S- curve.
Figure 4.43 Current states of IS development (chapter overview)
Source: OECD.
232. Looking at rates of progress also offers clues as to whether the tipping point between e-readiness and e-intensity is approaching. In justice and health, rates of ICT diffusion remain high, since these are relatively new areas of work. Conversely, in the sector of education, rates of growth in internet/computer access have slowed, as a high percentage of schools have improved their connectivity. Likewise, the latest annual trend for household broadband adoption suggests rates of growth are beginning to stabilise, though the effect of the crisis cannot be discounted. This could be further evidence in favour of a shift of objectives in some sectors.
233. It is evident that since Plan Avanza’s launch in 2006 Spain’s information society has made considerable progress in increasing its state of “e-readiness” (e.g. increasing the availability of critical ICT infrastructure on which the continued development of ICT goods and digital services depends). Several factors have contributed to this achievement- namely- strong leadership on the part of the State Secretariat for Telecommunications and the Information Society, as well as close collaboration with sub- national governments and stakeholders. However, if Plan Avanza 2 is to achieve its goal of consolidating Spain as a leading European knowledge economy, strong e-readiness is necessary but, alone, insufficient. Now, leveraging the progress achieved thus far in ICT diffusion will depend on establishing a greater equilibrium between demand and supply-side policies. As Plan Avanza begins a new phase, then, achieving greater “e-intensity” is key- that is: (i) promoting ICT take-up and usage, (ii) building ICT skills of all kinds (users’ skills, practitioner skills, e-Business skills), and (iii) improving the responsiveness of public services- this means, exploiting ICTs not only to improve efficiency and reduce costs, but also to create value for society: increasing public sector transparency, offering new services, and improving the quality of services. This changing philosophy can be summed up as follows: a shift in priorities is needed, from a focus on technology, to a focus on users.
Time Sophistication of information society Readiness Intensity Impact
Justice & Local governments
Education SMEs
Health
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234. This shift in priorities in Information Society policy is not only important to contribute to greater public value, but also it is especially important in terms of contributing to Spain’s economic recovery. Plan Avanza 2, has an important role to play in the current economic context, as ICTs and the ICT sector have the potential to contribute to societal-wide goals for greater growth, innovation, sustainability and equity. Indeed, in a globalised world that increasingly depends on knowledge-based transactions, where ICTs facilitate access to new markets and ideas, and where access to information can help “level the playing field” for socially excluded groups, OECD governments are understanding that societies that are good at creating, diffusing and exploiting information for social and economic gain will find themselves at the forefront of new economic opportunities and pioneering ways for generating welfare for citizens. Plan Avanza has much to contribute in this regard, and recent initiatives such as the draft Law for the Sustainable Economy are windows of opportunities for IS policy to contribute further to wider socio- economic goals.
235. However, to maximize the Plan’s impact (as well as optimize resources in times of fiscal consolidation), Plan Avanza could encourage greater co-ordination between stakeholders and adapt policy instruments to match its changing objectives and priorities. As we’ve seen in this report, the governance tools exist, it is a matter of leveraging them further and looking at cross-sectoral synergies that can be realised. The following chapter summarises the report’s conclusions, and proposes recommendations for how the next phase of the Plan could materialise these changing priorities.
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