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BT role in ICT study
Wednesday August 13th 2008. Posted: 13:19
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BT is working closely with the Scottish government to improve the country's ICT capability
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BT is working with the Scottish government to better understand the contribution that information communication technology (ICT) makes to productivity.
The work follows the publication of a study by the ICT Forum for Scotland - Unlocking ICT’s Potential to Boost Scotland’s Economic Growth. BT has played a key role in establishing the ICT Forum for Scotland, which brings together industry leaders and senior government policymakers to help shape consensus on Scotland’s future ICT strategy. The work is being led by BT Design’s Mark Dames, BT government’s Martin Southern and BT Scotland’s James McClafferty, who are helping develop a shared understanding of the contribution of ICT to productivity; identify the barriers to be overcome to maximise its contribution; and propose a new set of actions that both private and public sectors can take to raise innovation and productivity, and find solutions to complex problems. Mark - whose previous role in BT Global Services included the route mapping and development of BT’s international ICT strategy - said: “Increasing productivity is key to attracting more investment, increasing exports and achieving sustainable economic growth.” “The challenge is to identify the key practical interventions that will maximise the potential productivity improvements through the skilled exploitation of ICT. Essentially the productivity argument is not about technology as such - it’s about management capability necessary to exploit the technology.” BT Scotland director Brendan Dick, who has supported the work, said: “A new BT-supported report into sustainability and economic policy in the UK regions and devolved administrations this week indicates a worrying trend for ICT to be overlooked and digital inclusion not being covered as well as it was in the past. “This suggests that the work of the ICT Forum for Scotland in raising the importance of ICT is very timely, and a good example of how BT is working closely with the Scottish government, its agencies and other business organisations to improve Scotland's ICT capability at a time when global competitive pressures require even greater investment in innovation.”
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Last updated:
08:55