SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Ever since the advent of technology; the growth of the entire human race has been spurred far beyond the border lines of imagination. From the television to the Internet, technology has been embraced into our daily lives and routine. The digital world has changed the narrative of time and distance; it has rewritten the scripts of communication and enhanced the rate of human productivity. A wealth of information is now available at the stroke of a single key. With technology, we can truly say there is light at the end of the tunnel.

For the sake of clarity, sustainable development has been defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Realising the immense need for its actualization, all countries are currently in the race to ensuring they meet the standard of sustainable development goals bordering on all basic necessities for adequate human existence ranging from goal 1 – poverty reduction – to goal 17 – partnerships to achieve all goals. It then becomes a matter of importance to dissect how sustainable development can be properly brought to fruition via the tools of technology and management.

Simple economics teaches us that resources are painstakingly limited. This is why, going forward, man reasonably substitutes his wants for needs and then rations the available resources for his reasonable satisfaction. Today, many problems heralding from countries like Nigeria stem from a deliberate disregard of this simple law of economics. We find ease in importing things we can easily produce, so much so that we import toothpicks. Currently, Nigeria is the 14th largest producer of tomatoes, and ironically, this same country is the largest importer of tomato paste. So much of our national common wealth is spent on imported products when we can reinforce local manufacturers to meet global standards. Instead of importing refined products, efforts and funds can be invested into purchasing of modern day technology thereby improving our style of agriculture largely from subsistence to commercial, and therefrom accelerating value addition.

Information and Communication Technology is yet another ambit of technology that could be used in achieving sustainable development towards 2030. Through the ease in data sharing, analysis, and communication, ICTs are catalysts of change with Digital platforms for e-Commerce that has restructured supply chains and expanded markets. According to a 2017 research commissioned by Huawei, ICT is highly correlated with country-level SDG performance (89%), which suggests that countries that perform well on ICT perform equally well on SDGs. Asides redefining commerce and creating employment, the importance of ICT – through data sharing – in the 21st century cannot be over-emphasized, as it serves as a requisite even for donor organizations to reach out to ailing countries, and countries with refugees lurking in extreme poverty. Little wonder it is generally remarked that information is power, because with information, strategies can be properly mapped out for development.

Information and Communication Technology is yet another ambit of technology that could be used in achieving sustainable development towards 2030. Through the ease in data sharing, analysis, and communication, ICTs are catalysts of change with Digital platforms for e-Commerce that has restructured supply chains and expanded markets.

According to a 2017 research commissioned by Huawei, ICT is highly correlated with country-level SDG performance (89%), which suggests that countries that perform well on ICT perform equally well on SDGs. Asides redefining commerce and creating employment, the importance of ICT – through data sharing – in the 21st century cannot be over-emphasized, as it serves as a requisite even for donor organizations to reach out to ailing countries, and countries with refugees lurking in extreme poverty.

Little wonder it is generally remarked that information is power, because with information, strategies can be properly mapped out for development.

Notably however, a key hindrance to the actualization of sustainable development can be found within the confines of infrastructure decay.

A good number of countries lack the requisite infrastructural outfit to see developmental projects through. It is no coincidence that highly developed countries such as Singapore, Japan, and the United States also rank top of countries with best qualities of infrastructure. The absence of such skeletal framework is what constantly dampens the garment of growth in countries like Nigeria. However, a key managerial factor that could be explored in actualising the necessary infrastructure for this sustainable development is the window opportunity of public private partnership.

Governments need to foster relationships with private individuals so as to leverage on their operational and managerial skills. If allowed to flourish, these partnerships can deliver efficient services capable of driving employment opportunities – an ultimate way of checkmating poverty.

In conclusion, the ultimate question that borders on the lines of technological advancement and acceptance is how balance can be struck between the technology and human labour. This is so, as with the progress of technology, many works are being lifted off the arms of humans. Human labour is becoming sapped of productivity, and questions are rising as to whether or not this would not in the long run leave many unemployed, and poor.

Hence, it is important that technology itself be effectively managed to ensure the involvement of humans. Technology itself should not just be used for working, but also to create more work. With this, the consequential development from the end of technology can be sustained by human beings.

---

Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.tell.com.ng/sustainable-development-the-importance-of-technology-and-managerial-skills-in-the-21st-century/

---