Describe the role of information technology in globalization
Globalization can be defined as the increase in global interconnectedness allowing different
cultures, norms, and values to be linked and mixed (Lawlor, 2008). Globalization has opened up
ways for the flows of capital, people, ideas, goods through increased communication and
transportation supported through information technology. Hence, we can say that information
technology has been a catalyst for globalization. There are key innovations that made the most
significant impact on globalization. Some of them include the development of personal
computers (PC), the World Wide Web (WWW), and workflow software (Lawlor, 2008).
The development of Windows-based PC, allowed individuals can create, author, modify and
distribute data or information easily (Lawlor, 2008). This gave access to computing powers that
were only available to companies or a few individuals. This was the first step which was soon
followed by the invention of a dial-up modem allowing people to send files or data through
email.
The development of the internet was great but the invention of the World Wide Web could be
seen as the biggest achievement towards globalization. This allowed individuals to create and
share digital content with the world. This creates a rise in use by the general population and
companies that accelerated the pace of globalization (Chabrow, 2006).
The next big development in information technology that was geared towards business is
workflow software. Workflow software helps businesses to automate their work and exchange
documents, information, and tasks from one employee to another. Businesses located in different
countries can work together and communicate with each other.
Define the digital divide and explain Nielsen’s three stages of the digital divide.
The digital divide is simply the gap concerning access to the internet and the capacity to utilize
available technology (Taylor, 2022). Nielsen (2005) has breakdown the digital divide into three
categories. These are the economic divide, the usability divide, and the empowerment divide.
The economic divide is simply the inability of a certain group of the population not being able to
afford IT innovations like PC. It can also be seen as the lack of infrastructure in developing areas
that prevent people from accessing the internet.
Globalization can be defined as the increase in global interconnectedness allowing different
cultures, norms, and values to be linked and mixed (Lawlor, 2008). Globalization has opened up
ways for the flows of capital, people, ideas, goods through increased communication and
transportation supported through information technology. Hence, we can say that information
technology has been a catalyst for globalization. There are key innovations that made the most
significant impact on globalization. Some of them include the development of personal
computers (PC), the World Wide Web (WWW), and workflow software (Lawlor, 2008).
The development of Windows-based PC, allowed individuals can create, author, modify and
distribute data or information easily (Lawlor, 2008). This gave access to computing powers that
were only available to companies or a few individuals. This was the first step which was soon
followed by the invention of a dial-up modem allowing people to send files or data through
email.
The development of the internet was great but the invention of the World Wide Web could be
seen as the biggest achievement towards globalization. This allowed individuals to create and
share digital content with the world. This creates a rise in use by the general population and
companies that accelerated the pace of globalization (Chabrow, 2006).
The next big development in information technology that was geared towards business is
workflow software. Workflow software helps businesses to automate their work and exchange
documents, information, and tasks from one employee to another. Businesses located in different
countries can work together and communicate with each other.
Define the digital divide and explain Nielsen’s three stages of the digital divide.
The digital divide is simply the gap concerning access to the internet and the capacity to utilize
available technology (Taylor, 2022). Nielsen (2005) has breakdown the digital divide into three
categories. These are the economic divide, the usability divide, and the empowerment divide.
The economic divide is simply the inability of a certain group of the population not being able to
afford IT innovations like PC. It can also be seen as the lack of infrastructure in developing areas
that prevent people from accessing the internet.
