ABSTRACT

The expanded use of internet-driven technology to meet budgetary and deficit challenges is rapidly changing traditional boundaries of commerce, politics and public administration. As a result, global markets are increasingly interconnected and the costs of installing and accessing new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are decreasing, allowing greater numbers of online participants to become more closely linked together. ( Bold print denotes key term listed at back of chapter and defined alphabetically in the Glossary.) As the knowledge revolution expands, geographically isolated parts of the world are interconnected via cellular/mobile phones, fiber optic cables, social networking, teleconferencing and satellites. Businesses, both large and small — as well as many governments and non-profit organizations of all purposes and sizes — are revising performance management strategies, personnel systems and technology standards to respond to customers in a more “wired” but less stable world economy. Spurred by growth of the global economy, ICTs are expanding faster than many organizations are able to cope with or pay for the changes necessary to fully benefit from the knowledge revolution.