Events

Prof. Israr QURESHI
Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and ICT for Development
Research School of Management
Australian National University

Research on information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D), now commonly referred to as digital development, has faced challenges in effectively engaging with marginalized communities at the base of the pyramid (BoP) and aiding practitioners in achieving their developmental goals. Most research conducted in this field fails to address the needs of the “missing” beneficiaries or those who live on the fringes of society. To address these inadequacies, a critical review of the literature and extensive engagement with practitioners from around the world has led to the development of the digitally-enabled-social-intermediation (DESI) framework. This framework offers insights for future researchers to examine how digital technologies can be leveraged to achieve developmental objectives by and for the beneficiaries, enabling the marginalized to access global markets and engage beyond local boundaries. By utilizing the DESI framework, future research can explore relevant theories and develop research questions that focus on the implications of digital development for BoP beneficiaries, leading the field towards a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges of marginalized communities.

Israr Qureshi is a Professor at the Research School of Management, Australian National University (ANU). He is the Director of ASCEND (Australian Social Cohesion-Exploring New Directions) Grand Challenge Project. He is a member of ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions and an associate editor at Business & Society and Information Systems Journal. He recently concluded his associate editorship at MIS Quarterly. He was a member (Civil Society Group) and observer (Technical Working Group) on the recently concluded Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative.

His research projects focus on social value creation through alternative organizing, drawing from his extensive pro-bono experience of advising social enterprises and ventures. Israr’s work highlights the potential of ICTs for social transformation while emphasizing the need for inclusivity, sustainability, and participatory approaches in ICT4D interventions. He has extensively studied social intermediation and social entrepreneurship initiatives.

Prof. Yulin FANG
Professor, Innovation and Information Management;
Director, Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation,
HKU Business School