Making A Difference
Measuring the impact of information on development
Book 4 of 6 
This book is a progress report on an international research program investigating the impact of information on development. In 1991, when the idea was first broached of a systematic examination of the role and value of information in the development agenda, several colleagues voiced their doubts about the feasibility of such a task, but they still felt sufficiently intrigued by the consequences of success that they were prepared to rise to the challenge.
One of the reasons for undertaking this work was to help prepare more effective arguments that could be used to change attitudes toward investing in information for development in the face of increasingly tough competition for financial resources. The financial pressures have in no way diminished in the intervening years; indeed, the rationale for moving ahead with this research has become even stronger.
Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), this complex, multiphase, multidisciplinary, and multipartner research program has grown from an initial exploratory workshop early in 1992 to an international network that involves researchers from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and North America. The need to share information and experiences about the evolving research program is a paramount concern of IDRC and other members of the research network.
The initial phases of the work gave rise to a monograph edited by Michel Menou and published in 1993 by IDRC. Entitled, “Measuring the Impact of Information on Development.” it provided a strong theoretical foundation for launching an extensive field-testing of the concepts and methodologies. The recent workshop in Ottawa provided a timely opportunity to bring together members of the research network for an exchange of views on all of the action-research activities now in train within this program.
| Author(s) | Paul McConnell |
| Publication Location | Ottawa Canada |
| Website for this book | Website for this book |
| Purchase book online | Purchase book online |
| Content Language | English |
| ISBN | 0-88936-783-3 |
| Keywords | measuring impact information knowledge management |