Technology acceptance in developing countries

Description

Currently there are several countries in the world that are rising above their status as third world countries. Due to the fast growing economy in these countries the inhabitants have more money to spend. For the first time these people have got money to spend on things beside their primary needs.

The above mentioned fact combined with the limited usage of "older" technologies leads to a much faster and wider acceptance of new technologies. Because most people aren't attached or spend a lot of money on older technologies the drawback of having to "throw away" the money spend on old technology is non existant.

Enablers

• Investments by western countries / companies

A recent investment by Microsoft for implementing a nation wide WiMax network in Taiwan is a great example for this. These investments help the countries in speeding up their development by giving them easier access to the new technologies. This ofcourse also brings some major advantages to the investors. Advantages like the first mover advantage, a place to test the new technology or great potential for future revenues.

• Young generation in South Korea

The new generation of South Korean people are creating an enterily new lifestyle. This new lifestyle has hardly any relation to the traditional values in South Korea. This new lifestyle includes spending money on luxury items, including mobile devices, both as an utility item and as a style icon. Although South Korea is in a more advanced state of this development the same goes for other developing countries.

Inhibitors

• Old culture

In most of said countries the culture build up over many centuries does not value the same things the new generations do. Spending money on luxury has never been possible and therefor frowned upon by many of the elder people. The entire culture will have to shift over the coming years. Ofcourse this development is going much faster, and is much further ahead in the big cities.

Paradigms

• Before: Traditional culture, people don't have money to spend on luxury items. Surviving is the game and there isn't much place for other things, like lifestyles.
• After: The newer generations are starting to earn more, the economies in said countries are growing fast. The extra money is being spend on luxury items, new lifestyles are developing.

Web Resources

http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Young_Generation_in_South_Korea
http://scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Chinese_people%27s_increasing_leisure_time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Korea
http://www.euromonitor.com/Consumer_Lifestyles_in_South_Korea

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