This three part report looks at the International Perspective, NCC Members' Views, and the NCC Agenda 2002-3.

The bulk of the document is the results of a PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological) of the IT environment within which NCC and its members are planning.

In a PEST analysis we examine a situation in terms of its political, economic, social, technological perspectives. In the present context, therefore, we concentrate this analysis upon trends, issues, and topical matters affecting the IT industry and its customers, and consider briefly how those same factors may impact upon NCC and its members.

In the widest sense, there is ongoing trade competition for leadership in IT between leading companies in the USA and others in "the rest of the world":

As the (Wintel) PC becomes the global standard and economies become increasingly dependent on it, the economies of nations around the world increasingly key on what the US computing industry in general - and Microsoft in particular - is doing. This increases American power.
Asia Times Online - May 2000

Undoubtedly, in 2002, the USA is still winning this competition and is very likely to remain in this position in the near future. The protection of intellectual property has become integral to corporate and national strategies and economic policy. We'll see this in the use of software patents for aggressive and for protective purposes, and commercial pressure for the protection of national and international marketshares.