Full Name: APS420 H1S/APS1420 HiS - Technology, Engineering and Global Development FINAL EXAMINATION: April 26, 2017 University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Exam Type: X - Open Book Examination Duration: 2 and V2 hours Examiner: Rahim Rezaie, PhD The Final Exam counts for 35% of the total course grade (20% for APS1420 Students). Please carefully organize your answers in a logical flow before you start to write. Adequate coverage in your answer is expected but insights conveyed clearly and succinctly will be rewarded! Begin all answers in sentence form, but you can use bullet points within your responses, where appropriate. The occasional schematic or simple flowchart is acceptable if it serves to convey messages more clearly/succinctly, but must be clearly explained in text. This exam is open book. You may refer to any course hard copy materials or notes you have with you. You may not use laptops or any other electronic devices. Structure & Guidelines:. This exam consists of 8 main questions, most having two or more sub-questions. The weight for each question and sub-question is shown. The maximum number of points for this exam is 62. The exam document consists of 9 pages in total. If you are missing any pages, please inform an invigilator at once. Please only write in the space provided for each question and as legible as possible. Please write your initials and student number at the top of each page. Good luck. (Continues over 4) Page 1 of
QUESTION 1: (10 Points Total) Below is a list of terms that we have covered in the course. Briefly describe, in your own words, what each one of the terms refers to and elaborate on their relevance to technological innovation or poverty alleviation. (2 Points). Social entrepreneurship (2 Points). Microfinance (2 Points). Official Development Assistance (also known as Foreign Aid) (2 Points). Sustainable Development Goals (2 Points). Innovation Systems Framework Page 2 of 9
QUESTION 2: (8 Points Total) William Easterly defines those engaged in global development into two categories, namely "planners" and "searchers". Based on what you have learned these terms to mean, address the following questions. 2(a). (4 points). Let us assume that the World Bank (WB) operates with a "planners" mindset/approach. You are hired as a consultant to advise on how the Bank can incorporate some activities that would be more characteristic of a "searchers" approach. You are told that WB invests heavily in large-scale projects (e.g. roads, airports, oil & gas projects) and some of the funds that typically go to such projects can be spent differently. What are two key recommendation(s) you would make to WB? Elaborate how each recommendation is aligned with a "searcher's" approach? 2(b). (4 points). Provide two compelling reasons and/or direct evidence that contradict Easterly's assertion that a "searchers" mentality is better than a "planners" mentality in advancing global development. (i.e. provide reasons or evidence that a "planners" mentality is superior to a "searchers" mentality/approach). Page 3 of 9
QUESTION 3: (4 Points Total) In his article entitled "Engineering and its solutions", Brian Arthur states that "Standard engineering... contributes to the evolution of technology". Let us assume that we are talking about technological change in a broad sense (i.e. at a national/societal level) and want to apply the theory of biological evolution to explain technological change at this level. Given these assumptions, explain what role engineers play in technological change in society by referring to elements of the theory of evolution? QUESTION 4: (8 Points Total) We have covered several important global trends including: urbanization, globalization, climate change, and rising inequality within nations. 4(a). (4 Points). Select two of the trends mentioned and note them here: & Describe what each of your chosen terms mean and identify a major causative factor (i.e. a key factor that contributes to it). Page 4 of 9
(...Continued from Previous Page) 4(b). (4 Points). Now select either (1) urbanization or (2) globalization (circle one), and explain two ways in which your chosen trend may result in poverty reduction in developing countries? QUESTION 5: (10 Points Total) Drawing on what we have covered about technological innovation and the key innovation frameworks that have been used to explain and advance innovation, address the following sub-questions. 5(a). (3 Points). We discussed that our understanding of how innovation happens has evolved in recent decades. What are the two key innovation models/frameworks that have informed nations on how to enhance innovation capability, and how has this thinking evolved in recent decades? Page 5 of 9
(...Continued from previous page) 5(b). (3 Points). Suppose we are in the year 1973 and you are Canada's Minister for Technological Advancement and are tasked with raising the innovation capacity of the country. Based on understanding of innovation at the time and the role of government in this respect, which key area (or sector) are you most likely to invest new government funds in? Justify your response by explaining which theory/framework(s) likely informed your decision. (Hint: we're not in 2017 but in 1973. Need to think about how governments saw their role at that time) 5(c). (4 Points). Provide two main reasons why it is so difficult, expensive and time-consuming for an economically poor country (such as Tanzania) to transition to a technologically innovative nation (e.g. Germany)? Explain/justify your response by referencing current knowledge about innovation theory and processes. Page 6 of 9
QUESTION 6: (8 Points Total) We studied a variety of finance models and organizations involved in promoting development and pro-poor innovation. Some of these were: The Acumen Fund, Sarona Asset Management, Grand Challenges Canada, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Grameen Bank. You are a development finance consultant with deep knowledge of the named organizations. Given the scenarios below, which single organization would you recommend to your respective client and, under each of the four circumstances presented below. 6(a). (2 points). Your client is seeking $100,000 for a project aimed at engaging private health clinics to promote optimal early development of young children in poor urban environments in Pakistan, through an integrated package of interventions that include: information on nutrition, information on child development and screening and management of maternal depression. (2 points). Your client is a venture capital firm based in South Africa that has a significant, although not exclusive, focus on funding social entrepreneurs active in the ICT sector. (2 points). Your client is a representative of the Ottawa-based Micronutrient Initiative, and is trying to raise $28 million dollars to scale up micronutrient-fortified salt in 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. 6(d). (2 points). Your client represents an NGO called the Slum Dwellers International and is currently raising funds to support poor households build low-cost toilets for their families. Page 7 of 9
QUESTION 7: (8 Points Total) Country X has the profile shown below. Numbers in bracket refer to the year for which data is provided. Gross Domestic Product per Capita (GDP/capita): $9,270 US (2013) Adult Literacy Rate: 94% GIN! Index: 0.368 (2009), 0.397 (206) Human Development Index: 0.684 (2014) Research & Development (R&D) Expenditure: 0.08% of GDP (2013) GDP: $868 Billion US (2013) % of Population at $1.90/day: 40% (2000), 8.25% (2014) Based on insights gained from the above data, address the following questions: (2 Points). Given the high Adult Literacy Rate (94%), Country X is likely to be a technologically advanced nation. (Circle best response) True II. False Ill. Cannot Decide Based on Available Data (2 Points). Data show that the portion of population living on $1.90/day has dropped significantly from 2000 to 2014. Judging by this and other parameters, we can say that in financial terms (e.g. wealth/income) Country X is becoming: 1. More equal It. Less equal Ill. Cannot Decide Based on Available Data (2 Points). Based on the parameters provided, Country X is a middle-income, landlocked country. (Circle best response) True II. False Ill. Cannot Decide Based on Available Data (2 Points). If Country X wishes to become a technologically innovative country, which two of the above parameters does it need to focus most on changing and why? Page 8 of 9
QUESTION 8: (6 Points Total) Address the following questions based on what you have learned from group projects presented by your peers. Select two of the project topics/technologies listed below, excluding your own project topic, and write them here: and read the whole question before selecting your choices). Free Basics by Facebook Paperfuge KioKit Tablets Solar Cooking - Cookit (Hint: Please (4 Points). Briefly explain what each of your chosen technologies are, and what key challenge each intervention aimed to address? (2 Points). Using lecture material and readings we have covered in the course about technological diffusion and factors that promote it, provide one compelling reason for the failure of each of your selected technologies to reach a large number of people (relative to the number of people that it could benefit). END OF THE EXAM Please Do Not Write Under This Line. Page 9 of 9