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Subramanium Vutha*
In India, mainstream
businesses, business executives and professionals have
yet to consider the impact of the internet on their
respective domains. Yet, this is where the real revolution
should begin, says Subramanium Vutha in the latest addition
to our 'Net Effects' series
The
recent dotcom debacle and the shake-up in the Internet
economy has highlighted the need for introspection,
not just by the entrepreneurs and businesses that bore
the brunt of the collapse but also by all mainstream
businesses and businesspersons. The Internet will add
new dimensions to many existing areas of business and
non-business activities and the senior management of
all companies needs to take a serious look at these
possibilities.
If one attends any e-commerce
or cyber-biz conference or seminar, one encounters,
mainly, technology providers and technology focussed
businesspersons. In fact, one sees the same faces at
each of these events. In India, at least, it does appear
that mainstream businesses, business executives and
professionals have yet to consider the impact of the
Internet on their respective domains. And yet this is
where the real revolution should begin.
It is far easier for domain experts
in various fields of endeavour and knowledge to understand
enough of technology and the world wide web to apply
these to their respective domains. The converse would
be almost impossible. That is to say, it would be virtually
impossible for Internet technologists or technology
providers to even begin to understand the implications
of their technology on various domain areas such as
economic policy or consumer issues.
In fact, there are at least 23
domain areas in which domain experts need to research,
train and debate about the implications of the Internet
for their respective domains. These are as follows :
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Economic policies |
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The legal framework
of business |
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Corporate governance |
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Public governance |
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Freedom of
information |
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Innovation
and intellectual property rights |
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Security and
crime |
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Finance, taxation
and investment |
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Privacy |
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Marketing |
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Organization
and people |
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Entrepreneurship
and competition |
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Education and
training |
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Science and
technology |
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Consumer issues |
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Non-profit
enterprise |
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Justice systems/ADR |
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Ethics and
spirituality |
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Media and communications |
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Health and
welfare |
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Social sciences |
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Infrastructure |
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Entertainment |
Over the next few months, this
forum will address some crucial questions to domain
experts drawn from industry, professional institutions
and firms, government and academia (both faculty and
students) to elicit their views on the interaction between
their respective domains and the Internet.
Implications for India
If India has to move up the value chain in the area
of software and Internet-enabled services, it will not
suffice to allow the Internet to be the preserve of
technologists alone. Mainstream domain experts from
the areas outlined above will need to participate vigorously
in research, education and debate about the Internet.
Such think tanks are active worldwide. It is high time
we research and disseminate the Indian perspective on
these issues.
We welcome responses to the
issues raised here. Please mail your comments to this
address: ylobo@schoolnetindia.com
About the author
Subramaniam
Vutha is senior vice president (secretarial &
legal) with Tata Infotech Ltd, Mumbai. A graduate in commerce
and post-graduate in law, Subramaniam is a member and
Indian correspondent for the International Bulletin of
the Computer Law Association's magazine, and a contributor
to the World Internet Law Report, a publication of BNA
International Inc., London. He was recently invited to
join their advisory board.
He is also a speaker and
contributor on intellectual property rights, e-commerce
and information technology law issues, and a member
of the Confederation of Indian Industries’ working
group on TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights).
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