Technology at the Margins: How IT Meets the Needs of Emerging Markets(Microsoft Executive Leadership Series)

Remain competitive by offering more accessible, affordable, and relevant information technologies that meet mass-market needs Technology at the Margins demonstrates that by making IT more accessible, affordable, and relevant, new mass markets can be opened. Based on solid insights generated in key areas of health, education, finance and the environment, the book offers practical recommendations and insights from world leaders, innovators, practitioners and new users of emergent technologies. Offers recommendations on how companies can ensure their own competitiveness by offering more accessible, affordable, and relevant information technologies to support mass market needs Suggests practical recommendations and insights from world leaders, innovators, practitioners and new users of emergent technologies Challenges businesses to rethink their uses of existing technologies Technology at the Margins will be of interest to decision makers in the private, public and nonprofit sectors who are interested in opportunities offered by IT in meeting the needs of those at the base of the worlds economic pyramid.

Table of Contents:
Foreword xiii Preface xvii CHAPTER 1: Information and Communication Technologies for Everyone 1 Innovative Ways to Reach the Majority of the World 1 What Are the Barriers to Success? 7 Where Are We Today? 8 Summary Points 26 Notes 26 CHAPTER 2: Health Care: Where and When It Is Needed 29 World Health 29 Health Education 35 Health Administration and Management 40 Telemedicine 43 Diagnosis and Prevention 45 Disease Surveillance and Information Gathering 51 Taking Stock 53 Steps to Take to Move into the Future 55 Summary Points 58 Notes 59 CHAPTER 3: Outside the “Education Box” 61 Who’s Getting an Education? 61 Breaking Down the Problem 63 Classroom ICT: A History of Unmet Expectations 67 Curriculum within Reach 68 Corporations Invest in ICT for Education 71 New Delivery Methods 73 Effective Mediation 77 What Is Known? 78 New Directions and Challenges Ahead 79 Summary Points 83 Notes 84 CHAPTER 4: Microfinance: The Next Phase 87 Who Are the “Unbanked”? 87 Microfinance: Meeting Financial Needs of Poor Households 88 Microfinance Goes Beyond the “Lending Circle” Approach 90 Barriers to Microfinance 92 ICT Is Helping 94 Management Information Systems Now at the Core of Microfinance 102 Where Does Microfinance Go from Here? 105 Challenges 107 Summary Points 108 Notes 109 CHAPTER 5: Supporting the World in a Changing Environment 111 World of Limited Resources 111 Moving Science from Labs to the Field 113 Minimizing the Impact of Natural Disasters 125 Where Do We Go from Here? 131 Summary Points 132 Notes 132 CHAPTER 6: Conclusion: Harnessing Disruption 135 Reimagining the Role of Experts 136 Reimagining the Role of Institutions 137 Reimagining Partnerships 138 Reimagining Business Models 139 Reimagining Research 140 Reimagining Our Biases 141 Reimagining Public Infrastructure 142 Looking Ahead 142 Notes 143 References 145 Index 157

About the Author :
SAILESH CHUTANI is the cofounder and CEO of Mobisante, Inc. where his goal is to democratize access to healthcare by making diagnostics affordable and accessible. He was formerly a senior director for external research at Microsoft where he pioneered open innovation and funded seminal work in mHealth and technology for the emerging markets. Chutani has also held leadership roles in growing new businesses and products within companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Microsoft, and Transarc Corporation. JESSICA ROTHENBERG AALAMI is the Managing Director of the Gobee Group. Her teams provide research insights and field expertise to global businesses, governments, practitioners and their partners. As a research scholar affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy (BRIE), she works extensively in social and economic development and global corporate social responsibility (GlobalCSR). She holds degrees in economic geography and international political economy. AKHTAR BADSHAH is a Senior Director of Global Community Affairs at Microsoft, where he administers the company's global community investment and employee programs. He also manages the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills Program, a global initiative designed to help narrow the technology skills gap; and Technology for Social Good that supports nonprofits with their technology needs. Badshah has been in the field of community development for over twenty-five years in various capacities in academia, nonprofits, and business.