Technology policy and change in developing economies: advancing a banking strategy for world developments

This article examines technology policy and change in the Sudanese banking industry. Attention is given to the context of a developing economy that is aiming to fast track into the international banking arena through the introduction and use of new technology that is consistent with banking IT associated with more advanced industrialised economies. Some of the problems of translating a technology policy into practice and overcoming cultural, historical and socio-political legacies and attitudes are analysed and a number of implications for the adoption of IT in developing counties are assessed. Attention is given to the role of managers in translating national policy and the influence of key stakeholders on the process and outcomes of change. In presenting new empirical data the article aims to further our understanding of some of the main issues facing less developed economies as they seek to operate and compete within the increasingly electronic and international world of banking. Disciplines Business | Social and Behavioral Sciences Publication Details This article was originally published as: Mahdi, MOS & Dawson, P, Technology policy and change in developing economies: advancing a banking strategy for world developments, International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2006, 6(3), 256-273. Copyright 2006 Inderscience. Original article available here. This journal article is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow.edu.au/commpapers/216 Technology policy and change in developing economies: advancing a banking strategy for world developments Mohamed O.S. Mahdi* and Patrick Dawson Dhofar University, College of Commerce & Business Administration, Department of Management, Marketing & Information Systems, P.O. Box: 2509, Postal Code: 211, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] & [email protected] *Corresponding author Abstract: This article examines technology policy and change in the Sudanese banking industry. Attention is given to the context of a developing economy that is aiming to fast track into the international banking arena through the introduction and use of new technology that is consistent with banking IT associated with more advanced industrialised economies. Some of the problems of translating a technology policy into practice and overcoming cultural, historical and socio-political legacies and attitudes are analysed and a number of implications for the adoption of IT in developing counties are assessed. Attention is given to the role of managers in translating national policy and the influence of key stakeholders on the process and outcomes of change. In presenting new empirical data the article aims to further our understanding of some of the main issues facing less developed economies as they seek to operate and compete within the increasingly electronic and international world of banking. This article examines technology policy and change in the Sudanese banking industry. Attention is given to the context of a developing economy that is aiming to fast track into the international banking arena through the introduction and use of new technology that is consistent with banking IT associated with more advanced industrialised economies. Some of the problems of translating a technology policy into practice and overcoming cultural, historical and socio-political legacies and attitudes are analysed and a number of implications for the adoption of IT in developing counties are assessed. Attention is given to the role of managers in translating national policy and the influence of key stakeholders on the process and outcomes of change. In presenting new empirical data the article aims to further our understanding of some of the main issues facing less developed economies as they seek to operate and compete within the increasingly electronic and international world of banking.