Lessons from the Past: The Value of Global Historical Perspectives in Information Technology Management

Computers have been around for over 60 years, and despite the ever-changing nature of information technology, important lessons can be learned by studying its history. The historical approach enables researchers to step back and consider the long-term relationship between information technology, organizations, and wider society providing rich insights and the ability to address "big picture" questions. However, despite its importance, research on the history of information technology has tended to concentrate on Western countries and elite groups. Though this has been addressed to some extent in recent years, there is still a need to ensure that the recorded history of information technology becomes more representative and inclusive, telling the stories of people in all parts of the world who have been affected by this technology and enabling a more complete understanding of computing on society's impacts.