The Policy Context


At the European Community scene, IT became a major part of the 5th IST Framework with an outset in the Bangeman report (1996) and the Key Action II program line on e-commerce within the Information Society Technology program. A very visible indication of the European policy commitment to fuel e-commerce diffusion was the creation of a new Directorate Generale (DG), namely the DG Information Society (DGXIII). A key priority for the EU with respect to EDI policies in the mid- to late 1990s was to push the UN/EDIFACT standard. Other key priorities were diffusion of ICT, primarily to SMEs, by forming networks of excellence and uptake measures. In particular, the 5th Framework for R&D activities in the EU had the rapid uptake of EDI among SMEs as a cornerstone. During the late 1990s, the challenge for the EU with respect to e-commerce policies was to instigate the IST policies to help push the e-commerce uptake. Yet, facing global competition (primarily from the U.S.) with the prospect of undercutting European competition and thereby losing jobs in the EU, diminished the eagerness to use information technology to open global market competition. Thus, the strong emphasis on European technologies and projects that had an internal EU focus appear to present a policy flavor rather than programs that increase international presence within Europe. EDI and in particular EDIFACT seemed in line with these motives.

At the Danish political scene, owing to a change of government in 1992 from a rightwing to a center-left-wing government, the small Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre) came into power as parliamentary support to the Social Democratic Party. The Social Liberal Party played a major role in promoting research and IT policy (see, for example, Dybkj r & Christensen, 1994). An EDI Action Plan was launched in Denmark at a time when there were strong environmental demand drivers for standards (Andersen et al., 2003a). Apparently, it played a crucial role that the newly appointed Minister of Research and IT, Mr. Frank Jensen from the Social Democratic Party, felt an urgent need to position his ministry. Mr. Jensen was regarded as the crown prince within the Social Democratic Party. It was important for him to demonstrate results that would merit a move to more prestigious policy fields and enable a rapid political career. He launched a strong push towards deregulation of the telecommunication sector, and tried to ensure that all business sectors and micro-companies would be provided with opportunities to enter the Information Society. Other central policies advanced by the Ministry of Research and IT in the mid-1990s included standardization and dissemination of e-commerce to SMEs.

Building consistent agendas was difficult throughout the 1990s in part because IT issues were relatively new on the Danish political scene and also since none of the ministers for IT and research held their office for more than two years. The IT ministers during the mid-to late 1990s already had an active political career, or they were not viewed as key persons in the Social Democratic Party, nor using the position as minister for the IT field as a platform for improving their political position.




Social and Economic Transformation in the Digital Era
Social and Economic Transformation in the Digital Era
ISBN: 1591402670
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 198

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