A shared value approach to digital inclusion

This paper seeks to contribute additional ideas that may foster the more equal participation of all Australians in the growing digital economy, which is the harbinger of far-reaching changes to how citizens will engage with Government, business, and each other. In Australia today, with the advent of the National Broadband Network, digital inclusion is increasingly viewed as a catalyst for achieving greater equality of opportunity for socially excluded people, as well as being key to increased business productivity. The concept of shared value creation is promoted by the influential Harvard Business School as a new and superior way of framing the relationship between business and society, which encourages business to be in the business of creating social value as well as commercial value. The paper analyses a well-established Australian communications inclusion program, Telstra's Access for Everyone, finding many features of a shared value approach such as reconceived pricing, products and services for non-users, reconceived markets that include those who may be excluded, and reconceived distribution channels in collaboration with the not-for-profit sector. The paper suggests that these elements may be applicable to the new challenge of digital inclusion with a potentially significant role for business. Through a shared value approach to corporate social responsibility, more effective digital inclusion programs could be developed as part of an expanded national framework involving greater collaboration between governments, the not-for-profit sector and business, which could lead to improved outcomes for all stakeholders.