The Role of ICT and Effect of National Culture on Human Development

Human development is one of the prominent factors that captures the essence of livelihoods in societies. In the current information era, the unprecedented reach and diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) to the remotest countries of the world make it a catalyst to achieve the desired target of human development. But ICT cannot be highly overrated, while the world acknowledges the benefits of incorporating ICT to solve societal issues, the world reports also indicate that nearly 70% of ICT designed projects for development are mere failures. The reason can be attributed to the societal norms and cultural aspects of the community toward the usage of technology. This study builds on the thought that the sustained usage of ICT is highly dependent on the various factors and facets of the society. Using national culture as a societal facet, the study demonstrates the necessity of congruence between ICT usage and national culture values to attain the desired human development. The results indicate that national culture dimensions of low-power distance, collectivism, femininity, short-term orientation, and restraint with ICT have significant influence on human development index. The study demonstrates the variations in using ICT for human development depending on cultures in different regions of the world. The study has implications for policymakers at national and international levels regarding treatment of ICT for human development.