Roadmap to digitalisation of an emerging economy: a viewpoint

Abstract

Purpose

This paper posits a critical analysis of digitalisation initiatives of emerging economies with a focus on India. It suggests granular policy measures towards realising the dream of a competitive, empowered and knowledge-based society. To this extent, the paper juxtaposes and compares policy measures undertaken by several governments to facilitate digitalisation in their country. The policy measures embarked upon have been critically analysed in terms of their relevance, challenges for their implementation and adoption at the back of the prevailing social and economic fabric of the country. At the same time, attempts have been made to benchmark it against the best practice standards weighed in by the industry studies. The paper has also laid down a robust agenda for future research that can be replicated for any country.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint study based upon public data and documentary sources within India as well as publications of several countries and international agencies. Research projects of numerous multinational companies working in the area of digitalisation has been accessed and analysed as well in the study.

Findings

The findings of this study have policy implications for governments in several emerging economies who have embarked on the path of digitising their economy with the larger objectives of reaping its larger benefits but have to deal with the challenges of inadequate resources to create an effective ecosystem to facilitate such a transition.

Originality/value

The study highlights the implications of challenges of gaps of physical and socioeconomic infrastructure in driving digitalisation, highlighting granular policy measures for public managers and policy makers to address them.

Citation

Paul, M., Upadhyay, P. and Dwivedi, Y.K. (2020), "Roadmap to digitalisation of an emerging economy: a viewpoint", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 401-415. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-03-2020-0054