"The new high tech and information revolution is moving in a warp speed where a life span of a product is being measured in terms of dog years. As technology and products move faster than ever in a global market without boundary, the gap widens between countries that embrace the digital paradigm and that do not."Perhaps it is the frustration of the week, but I saw reflections of higher education and senior leaders facing similar struggles (granted, on a much smaller scale), that the country and leadership of Ethiopia face. Monetary resources are in short supply, tons of technological solutions are being thrown at you every day, you are fighting a constant battle to gain ground in a faster paced world, and the technical know-how/understanding needed at the top levels of leadership may have departed for more fertile grounds. There is a pattern here that need further study... where is Christopher Alexander when you need him *grin*.
Does Ethiopia's Technology Dragon Have a Familiar Face?
Yesterday's article in allAfrica.com, Technology Park in Ethiopia: Business of Out-Sourcing and Reversing the Brain Drain has haunted me over night. Woldeloul Kassa, the writer of the article, succinctly defines Ethiopia's technology plight and opens a plan for a technology park for discussion. One subject that he touched upon has a familiar ring: