Constructing the Infrastructure for the Knowledge Economy: Methods and Tools, Theory and Practice is the proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Information Systems Development, held in Melbourne, Australia, August 29-31, 2003. The purpose of these proceedings is to provide a forum for research and practice addressing current issues associated with Information Systems Development (ISD). ISD is undergoing dramatic transformation; every day, new technologies, applications, and methods raise the standards for the quality of systems expected by organizations as well as end users. All are becoming more dependent on the systems reliability, scalability, and performance. Thus, it is crucial to exchange ideas and experiences, and to stimulate exploration of new solutions. This proceedings provides a forum for just that, addressing both technical and organizational issues.

In many parts of the world, knowledge is being put to work to accelerate and deepen the development process, promoting innovation and helping to generate wealth and jobs. This book discusses advanced development strategies that take into account education, information and communication technology, infrastructure, innovation, and the prerequisite economic and institutional regimes.

The importance of the Internet and information and communication technologies to the global economy has never been greater. This volume aims to facilitate knowledge sharing relevant to everyone, irrespective of background, thematic or goegraphic focus.

This book aims to provide knowledge on how infrastructure is planned and built in a typical developing country, and what key variables are there in the system limiting the efficient use of public investments in infrastructure. The book begins with a comprehensive literature review on construction and economic development, and trade and economic development. The focus of the book is on the case of Vietnam, with lessons drawn for other developing economies. The book employs the mixed use of data to provide a stronger basis for analysis and interpretation of related government policies. Based on the research findings, the book recommends significant capacity building work for Vietnam to develop capacities that would remove constraints on the efficient use of public investments in infrastructure. The general principles of significant capacity building work which are useful for policy implications are introduced in the book. Analysts, academics, public and private communities in developing countries can adopt the research findings as guiding principles to bring about changes in their current use of public investments in infrastructure, thus supporting their trade and economic growth in the long term.