Information technology has transformed the way organizations do business. While a connected world provides access to similar technologies, the situations of use and deployment are likely to vary. Economic, political, social, and business environment prevailing in different countries and cultures can lead to the development of solutions unique to their circumstances. There is an opportunity for interesting and unexpected innovations in IT use in countries that are currently coming online.  Latin America is in a unique position to show us something about the adaptation of information technology to these different regional contexts. The region has experienced economic reforms, political stability and the growth of technological infrastructure. At the same time, it is in a position to leapfrog over stages of information systems development. Thus there is a great deal to learn about IT itself from studying developments in Latin America. It is also important that scholars and developers in the region become aware of the variety of technical and organizational approaches, both successes and breakdowns, that have been experienced in the US and other technology intensive countries.

The purpose of this mini-track is to provide a forum for research that furthers our understanding of the use of information technology in Latin America both public and private sectors. We also welcome papers about information technology as it relates to Hispanic communities in the United States. This mini-track will move us forward in the very important and perhaps too long neglected development of an Interamerican perspective on technology use which will benefit all parties. Long Beach is an ideal location for this topic given the large Hispanic population in California and its proximity to Mexico.

This track encourages submissions of panel and workshop proposals as well as quality research papers and case studies. Possible Topics may include (but not limited to) the following::

• Information technology economic, social, or political aspects
• Technological development
• Information Technology transfer
• Information technology applications for government institutions
• Information technology in Latin American education
• The impact of information globalization in Latin America
• Electronic Commerce in Latin America
• Dependence in Foreign Information Technology
• Challenges and opportunities for companies
• Information technology management
• Strategic use of information technology
• SME in Latin America
• EDI Experiences in Latin America
• GIS in Latin America

Martha García-Murillo
Syracuse University
School of Information Studies
Center for Science and Technology 4-216
Syracuse, NY 13455
E-mail: mgarciam@syr.edu
Tel: (315) 443-1829
Fax: (315) 443-5806

Eleanor Wynn
Oregon Graduate Intitute of Science and Technology
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
P.O Box 9100, Portland, OR 97291-1000
Tel: (503) 656-7108
Fax: (503) 656-7108
E-mail: wynn@cse.ogi.edu

Carlos Navarrete
Universidad Iberoamericana
Prol. Paseo de la Reforma 880
Lomas de Santa Fe
01210, Mexico, D.F.
Tel: 5-267-4064 Ext. 4604
Fax: 5-637-8954
E-mail: carlos.navarrete@uia.mx