An Information Support System for Industrial Development in Uganda with Special Reference to The Small Scale Sector, A Proposal
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Date
1994-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The role of information in the scientific, technical and socio-economic
development of nations is becoming widely accepted . In what has come to be
referred to as the "information age" , a larger percentage of people in the
developed world are now employed in the information sector and the same trend
is perceptible in the industrialising economies as well. In Uganda, the future of
the country lies in the rejuvenation of the industrial sector, which presently ,
accounts for less than 5 per cent of the GDP. More than 80 percent of the
manufacturing sector in Uganda is comprised of small scale enterprises. The
problems faced by the SSIs are numerous and diverse. However, a critical
analysis of these problems reveal that they all have a bearing to the information
situation in the country, which presently remains grossly ill-developed.
Twice the government of Uganda, assisted by international agencies has tried to
address the issue of industrial information in the country. These two attempts,
however, proved futile, partially due to poor perception of information as a
resource by planners, decision makers, manufacturers, etc.
With the advent of information technology, the information component has gained
new dimensions. Information technology (IT) is today an indispensable tool in the
capture, storage, processing, analysis and dissemination of data and information
in industries as well as in other organisations. IT application has transformed
information systems and centres from mere custodians of information to amanagement tool of industries. Its impact is being felt in all sectors of the
national economy, the manufacturing sector in particular. Information,
industrialisation and economic development are a mutually synergising trinity.
This thesis discusses the relevancy of information systems and centres in
industrialisation from Uganda's point of view. It proposes the need to develop
a national scientific, technical and industrial information centre (NSTIIC). It is
proposed that among other things, NSTIIC should aim at bringing together in a
network of database system, all institutions, organisations, etc., whose activities
and functions are contributory to the growth of the industrial sector in Uganda.
It also advocates for a serious campaign to sensitise planners, decision makers,
manufactures and all those involved in guiding the national economy, big or
small , so as to help them develop an information culture in their day-to-day
activities.
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Keywords
Information Support System for Industrial Development