What is E-competence?

Access, know how and trust are pre-conditions for participating fully in the new e-conomy. Parallels exist between the introduction of the Internet and other ground breaking new technologies. People are struggling to describe a phenomena which is completely new with language that relates to an old view of the world. Developing e-competency relates to the new behaviours which people adopt when communicating via web technologies as opposed to other traditional media.

Delegates struggled to describe the specific skills which define e-competency in relation to international trade. One possible definition: The ability and willingness to understand how electronic mediated mass communication can develop and maintain communities of buyers and sellers which lead to profitable exchange relationships.

Recommendation: TPOS and ITC should collaborate to produce a video showing how e-trade is conducted, using commonly understood examples from other introductions of new technology. e-mail participants:  What do you think defines e-competency for enterprises and trade promotion organizations?

ITC Moderator, John Gillies