Information systems planning and operation in Less Developed Countries. Part 1: Planning and operational concerns

Abstract

Aimed primarily at academics working in the field of development studies. First, it is intended to give an overview of the major issues involved in the diffusion of information to Less Developed Ccountries (LDCs), and a review of the types of organization that operate in the field, their accessibility and specializations. It is hoped that this presentation will encour age academics to become interested in the value and power of information as a thing in itself, and correspondingly to dedi cate greater efforts to making use of, and furthering the cause of, those information services which are appropriate and cost effective. Second, the paper is an attempt to pull together the various aspects of the subject of 'information for LDCs', encouraging librarians and information specialists to consider issues other than those concerned mainly with technical access to facilities, (e.g. the political control of information, the 'privatization of information' and appropriate information systems for local populations, etc.). Generally, recent literature (1978-84) is used throughout. This is partly in order to demonstrate the latest thinking on the subject, but also due to the relative sparseness of earlier material which is still relevant.