The Switzerland-based group compiles the annual survey to measure the propensity for 142 economies around the world to exploit the opportunities offered by information and communications technology (ICT).
Among the Asian economies studied in the WEF's Global Information Technology 2012 Report, Taiwan lags behind only second-ranked Singapore and is ahead of 12th-ranked South Korea, 13th-ranked Hong Kong and 18th-ranked Japan.
The WEF bases its rankings on the Networked Readiness Index, a composite of three components -- the environment for ICT offered by a given economy (market, political and regulatory, infrastructure), the readiness of the economy's key stakeholders (individuals, businesses and governments) to use ICT, and the usage of ICT among these categories.
According to the latest WEF report, the world's most developed countries dominate the top of the networked readiness rankings, with Sweden heading the list.
Finland is third, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Norway. The United States is in eighth place, with Canada and the United Kingdom rounding out the top 10.
In contrast, the report said, emerging economies such as BRICS -- the acronym used to refer to surging economies in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- are hampered by challenges when it comes to adopting ICT.
While the BRICS countries are highly competitive in the global market, they generally end up in lower rankings in the global networked readiness list, the report said. For instance, the highest ranking BRICS nation is China in 51st place, with India at 69th position.
The WEF report cited a shortage of skilled workers and flaws in institutional environments for businesses as elements that stifle entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging economies.
It further said ICT development has resulted in a new digital divide in sub-Saharan Africa as countries in the region are low in networked readiness.
Soumitra Dutta, the Roland Berger chaired professor of business and technology and professor of business and technology at the INSEAD business school, who is one of the editors of the report, said networked readiness has become an important indicator used by major countries around the world to enhance their competitiveness.
In compiling the index, the WEF said it has combined data from publicly available sources with feedback from a survey of more than 15,000 executives.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jay Chou and Sofia Wu
Quelle/Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel, 05.04.2012
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