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Colin Blackman

Bio: Colin Blackman is an academic researcher from University of Manchester. The author has contributed to research in topics: Information society & Competition (economics). The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 55 publications receiving 694 citations.


Papers
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MonographDOI
01 Sep 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlighted the role of ICTs in enhancing African regional trade and integration as well as the need to build a competitive ICT industry to boost innovation, job creation, and the export potential of African companies.
Abstract: This new flagship report for the eTransform Africa Project, produced by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, with the support of the African Union, identifies best practice in the use of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in key sectors of the African economy. Under the theme transformation-ready, the growing contribution of ICTs to agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, financial services, government services, and health is explored. In addition, the report highlights the role of ICTs in enhancing African regional trade and integration as well as the need to build a competitive ICT industry to boost innovation, job creation, and the export potential of African companies.

134 citations

01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the future infrastructure requirements to 2030 for telecom, land transport, water and electricity for the developing world and OECD countries, considering issues such as economic growth, population and income levels, the potential impact of infrastructure development of other factors such as climate change, security issues, the likely evolution of public finances, human settlement patterns, and technology-induced substitution effects.
Abstract: This publication considers the future infrastructure requirements to 2030 for telecom, land transport, water and electricity for the developing world and OECD countries. As well as considering issues such as economic growth, population and income levels, the potential impact of infrastructure development of other factors such as climate change, security issues, the likely evolution of public finances, human settlement patterns, and technology-induced substitution effects are included. A set of policy recommendations to OECD governments is provided, based on critical issues for the future. The chapter on telecoms infrastructure includes a discussion of whether teleworking will reduce the need to travel. It is considered that it may reduce the need to travel at peak times, reducing future infrastructure requirements. Part-time teleworking is more common than full-time teleworking. Many teleworkers live greater distances from their place of work. The potential to reduce vehicle miles travelled and pollutant emissions are considered overstated. The need for public transport will continue but telecommunications may enable more flexible services. Videoconferencing and audioconferencing are considered to complement travel patterns, with the increased efficiency and productivity gains from communications technology translated into extra air travel. Reductions in energy costs, office infrastructure requirements, vehicle requirements and vehicle secondary services such as insurance may result from increased use of telecommunications. Increases in travel to remote areas and in electricity use at remote areas, and increased delivery requirements from internet shopping are predicted. The chapter on future demand for surface transport predicts road transport infrastructure requirements for new construction at $220-290 billion/year between 2010 and 2030, with possibly 20% of this amount subject to deliberate policy intervention to achieve greater infrastructure use efficiency. The equivalent figure for rail is $49-58 billion. Infrastructure benefits are expected to exceed infrastructure costs. Transport financing, public willingness to pay, and the effects of short term political considerations are also discussed. A large portion of this publication considers future water demand for domestic, agricultural, public amenities and industrial uses. A current global figure of $574.6 billion/year invested in water infrastructure is predicted. Electricity demand is predicted to increase at 2.5%/year up to 2030, with large requirements for developing countries, especially China.

111 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the regulatory issues raised by technological convergence between telecommunications and other media and argue that intervention may be justified but a clear distinction needs to be drawn between regulation in the public interest and regulation to protect against market failure.

94 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main issues raised at a recent workshop on the universal service obligation were discussed in this article, with the main issues being: how much does it cost and who is going to pay for it? And what will universal service mean in future in the era of the information superhighway.

47 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
30 Sep 2010-Nature
TL;DR: The first worldwide synthesis to jointly consider human and biodiversity perspectives on water security using a spatial framework that quantifies multiple stressors and accounts for downstream impacts is presented.
Abstract: Protecting the world’s freshwater resources requires diagnosing threats over a broad range of scales, from global to local. Here we present the first worldwide synthesis to jointly consider human and biodiversity perspectives on water security using a spatial framework that quantifies multiple stressors and accounts for downstream impacts. We find that nearly 80% of the world’s population is exposed to high levels of threat to water security. Massive investment in water technology enables rich nations to offset high stressor levels without remedying their underlying causes, whereas less wealthy nations remain vulnerable. A similar lack of precautionary investment jeopardizes biodiversity, with habitats associated with 65% of continental discharge classified as moderately to highly threatened. The cumulative threat framework offers a tool for prioritizing policy and management responses to this crisis, and underscores the necessity of limiting threats at their source instead of through costly remediation of symptoms in order to assure global water security for both humans and freshwater biodiversity.

5,401 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 2008-Science
TL;DR: Climate change undermines a basic assumption that historically has facilitated management of water supplies, demands, and risks and threatens to derail efforts to conserve and manage water resources.
Abstract: Climate change undermines a basic assumption that historically has facilitated management of water supplies, demands, and risks.

3,438 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the use of the strategic management tool, Strengths•Weaknesses•Opportunities•Threats or SWOT analysis, and assess how the methodology has been used as well as changes to the methodology.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the use of the strategic management tool, Strengths‐Weaknesses‐Opportunities‐Threats or SWOT analysis, and to assess how the methodology has been used as well as changes to the methodology. The findings both for and against SWOT analysis should lead to a balanced view of the technique as well as yield ideas for needed theory building.Design/methodology/approach – Using the ABInform Global® database, academic peer‐reviewed articles were compiled indicating SWOT as one of the article's key index and search words.Findings – The use of SWOT analysis continues to permeate the academic peer‐reviewed literature. Research supports SWOT analysis as a tool for planning purposes. Over the past decade, SWOT research has focused on analyzing organizations for recommended strategic actions. As a methodology for strategic positioning, SWOT analysis has been extended beyond companies to countries and industries and is used in virtually every published business case positi...

718 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
20 May 2016-Science
TL;DR: There is an urgent need for major transdisciplinary efforts in research, policy, and practice to develop alternatives with implications for cities and aquatic ecosystems alike.
Abstract: The top priorities for urban water sustainability include the provision of safe drinking water, wastewater handling for public health, and protection against flooding. However, rapidly aging infrastructure, population growth, and increasing urbanization call into question current urban water management strategies, especially in the fast-growing urban areas in Asia and Africa. We review innovative approaches in urban water management with the potential to provide locally adapted, resource-efficient alternative solutions. Promising examples include new concepts for stormwater drainage, increased water productivity, distributed or on-site treatment of wastewater, source separation of human waste, and institutional and organizational reforms. We conclude that there is an urgent need for major transdisciplinary efforts in research, policy, and practice to develop alternatives with implications for cities and aquatic ecosystems alike.

501 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors employed a systematic procedure to review the literature on universities-industry collaboration (UIC) and identified five key aspects, which underpinned the theory of UIC.
Abstract: The collaboration between universities and the industry is increasingly perceived as a vehicle to enhance innovation through knowledge exchange. This is evident by a significant increase in studies that investigate the topic from different perspectives. However, this body of knowledge is still described as fragmented and lacks efficient comprehensive view. To address this gap, we employed a systematic procedure to review the literature on universities-industry collaboration (UIC). The review resulted in identifying five key aspects, which underpinned the theory of UIC. We integrate these key aspects into an overarching process framework, which together with the review, provide a substantial contribution by creating an integrated analysis of the state of literature concerning this phenomenon. Several research avenues are reported as distilled from the analysis.

495 citations