ROLE OF ICT IN ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

 ROLE OF ICT IN ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is mainly focused on development, promotion and strengthening of micro, cottage and small enterprises with the technical and financial support. It shall provide various types of services to potential entrepreneurs, existing entrepreneurs/enterprises, and intermediary organizations which are involved in the entrepreneurship development process. (Alemi, 2016)

Mainly EDP includes:

       i.            Entrepreneurial capacity and competency development through training and research Business start-up and improvement training: Start-up schools

     ii.            Micro enterprise creation (Business identification, selection, planning, feasibility and financial assistance)

  iii.            Business counseling

  iv.            Production and productivity management (Productivity improvement, marketing, financial management, business management)

     v.            Research and development – Innovation Lab

Similarly, Job and being employed have been considered as the most necessary factor for human survival since ancient time. It is the source of economic generation, survival and integrated part of one's social identity. Employment is contributing to person's economic and social role that it is regarded as an indicator for every government's success and programs. In this context, Nepal (country with serious poverty and unemployment) has serious challenge of promoting macro and micro enterprises and employment friendly strategies directed towards poverty reduction.

 

 

1.3 REASONS FOR USE OF ICT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION

The advent of information technology has changed all the aspects of the world in the third millennium to a great extent and the entrepreneurship in particular. The world is fast entering the information age, which in result, is changing the way business and people communicate, transact and behave. The advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) helping businesses and people to use new technologies and Information Systems (ISs) in transactions and information exchange. The entrepreneurship and employment has following common characteristics other than their uniqueness and environment as listed below:

1.     Innovativeness in converting ideas to reality

2.     Risk taking

3.     Pro-activeness in sense of doing

4.     Learning from failure and success

The role of ICT is only means to create meaningful effect on increasing RICH and REACH of common characteristics of entrepreneurship and employment.

2.1 ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTERNET PENETRATION

As of 15th June 2018, the voice telephony penetration in country is 132.82% (population projection of 29,291,746) and broadband penetration (except internet services through GPRS) is 50.32%. Most of consumers access the internet through smartphones with 78% market share6. The Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 by World Economic Forum's has ranked Nepal at 88th position, ten position up than previous year. After formation of stable governments at three tiers (Federal, Provincial and Local Level) in this year, the four sub-indexes of Network Readiness Index (NRI) as mentioned below are changing but solid strategies has to be taken by the government to promote uptake of technology in personal and business use:

       i.            Environment index (political, regulatory, business and innovation environment)

     ii.            Readiness index (infrastructure, affordability and skills)

  iii.            Usage index (individual, business and government usage)

  iv.            Impact index (economic and social impacts).

2.2 E-BUSINESS AND SERVICES

 Doing the business online has emerged as practice in Nepal. Though the industry is in nascent stage but has shown tremendous potential over last few years especially after competitive growth in banking sector. The growing young, educated and technology friendly population has contributed largely in growing trends of e-business in Nepal. Popular E-Commerce models Business to Business (B2B), Business to Customer (B2C) and Customer to Customer (C2C) are adopted by many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a growth strategies for their business. Similarly, public service innovations are also driven by Government to Government (G2G), Government to Citizen (G2C) and Government to Business (G2B) models.

2.3 TECHNOLOGY IN JOB CREATION

 Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are creating new job opportunities and making labor market more inclusive, innovative, simple, easy, flexible and global. ICTs are empowering industries to easily get competent Human Resource (HR) and influencing individuals to access new forms of work in new and more flexible ways. The use of effective and efficient ICT enabled system, will lead to creation of new job and expand employment opportunities. The ICT enabled job system shall include three global drivers:

       i.            Greater connectivity – especially penetration of mobile telephones

     ii.            Digitization of more aspects of work – today, telecommuting and outsourcing have become standard business practices globally

  iii.            More globalized skills – India and the Philippines have become major outsourcing hubs. The English language skills considered as major contributor of growth.

2.3.1 OPPORTUNITIES

Believe on ICT has a meaningful effect on facilitating doing business and job access: Signature success stories:

Better telephony and broadband penetration

       i.            E-Readiness and E-Participation of citizens

     ii.            Emerging micro enterprises (SMEs)

  iii.            Improving Global presence, E-Government development index and ranking

2.4 CHALLENGES OF ICT IN ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPMENT

              i.     Lack of culture of innovation and low level of capacity for research and development: Innovation lab where public and private dreams can be translated into reality. Some of tools under this practice include modeling, learning and development, knowledge management, discussion paper and policy discourses, etc. · Investment on Infrastructure as a utility to every citizen: Broadband Highway, Universal Access to Mobile, Public Internet Access Program (PIAP), Electronic manufacturing, Commitment of Investment on ICT by Government, Non-Government and Banks and Financial Institutions (BFI's).

            ii.     Re-imagining e-Government implementation framework and strategies: Initiatives on electronic transactions, cashless culture, cost of digital services and incentivizing digital behaviors (time and cost benefits).

         iii.     Integration of ICT at all levels and types of education. Increasing scholarships of ICT related education (especially at under graduation, graduation and post-graduation level) nationally and internationally

         iv.     Digital divide: Awareness, Available, Accessible and Affordable

            v.     Legislative and policy harmonization and continuous update: Especially in the area of Privacy, Security, Copyright, Retention, Access to Information and Language. Since these are major components of Online Trust Building Model as shown below:

 

CONCLUSION

Information and Communication Technology is considered as product and behavior of developed countries and used by them for better RICH and REACH their products and services. However, it should not be viewed as disability of under developed countries like Nepal. Any country can take the benefits of using ICT provided, its application and role has analyzed better in terms of country present opportunities and challenges. Initiatives for Nepal to leverage ICT in promoting entrepreneurship and employment generation shall include following, however the role and commitment of Government is most crucial.

                               i.            Define the national development framework by re-imagining the role of ICT

                             ii.            Develop of Vision Paper – ICT in Nepal 2030 A.D.

                          iii.            Increase Policy dialogue as an integral culture to leverage policies and rules for promoting use of ICT in personal, professional and business

                          iv.            Conduct E-Readiness survey

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