| Economic, global, political, and technological transformations are creating the most fundamental and rapid changes ever experienced on the planet. These changes are bringing more than three billion people into economies operating on market principles. The unparalleled opportunities that are being generated for many are tempered by rising inequality, both within nations and between them. South Africa is a microcosm of the current change dynamics occurring at an alarming rate in many developing countries.;In this new-world order, development requires not only economic growth, but also greater economic participation, human development, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and accountability. The global economy is increasingly interdependent and complex. To that end, many South African leaders in business, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and education are increasingly cognizant of the fact that significant growth and development initiatives require the formation of mutually beneficial partnerships with a growing range of stakeholders, including non-traditional allies.;With the introduction of Iridium in November 1998, the infrastructure now exists to facilitate telecommunications connectivity anywhere in the world. Concomitantly, significant knowledge is required to fully comprehend how this nascent technology can most effectively benefit populations, countries, and economies on a global basis.;This research study specifically focuses on marginalized populations residing in South Africa's rural areas. Particular attention is paid to the perceptions of stakeholder populations that have the ability to facilitate the transfer of satellite communications for universal access through collaborative partnerships and strategies. Thirty-five executives from a private enterprise, government agencies, non-government agencies, and educational institutions with a stake in facilitating the transfer of satellite communications to South Africa were interviewed to elicit their perspectives of successful collaboration. The understanding of four high-level categories emerged as preconditions for success: marginal populations, developmental dichotomies, partnerships for progress, and technology transfer. Two contextual categories were subsequently identified as potential barriers to these collaborative endeavors: stakeholder attitudes and individual organizational strategies.;Subsequent interventions are proposed including appreciative inquiry and future search conferences to bring the stakeholder groups together for purposes of mutual knowledge sharing and development of strategies for future collaborative endeavors. Additional recommendations for pricing alternatives to provide affordable solutions to marginalized populations are also discussed. |
