This study was motivated by the challenges confronting the developing Southeast Asian nation of Thailand in realizing national policy objectives aimed at creating a knowledgebased society. The study determines and compares the development plans of 72 medium to large sized organizations representing 7 organizational sectors in terms of the relative and changing importance assigned to a range of technologies, professional activities, and IT knowledge/skills and assesses the alignment of these development plans with national policy objectives.Keywords: ICTs, Knowledge-based Society, National Policies, Organizational Sectors, Professional Activities and Skills INTRODUCTIONSince 1992 This Master Plan identifies 7 strategic agenda to: elevate the Thai ICT industry to become a regional leader; utilize ICT to enhance the quality of Thai society; reform and enhance ICT research and development (R&D); develop human resources; enhance entrepreneurial leadership; promote the use of ICT in small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and utilize ICT for the purpose of public administration and services. A full description of the development and content of this series of policy statements is given by Intarakumnerd and Panthawi (2003).Against this background of national policies and frameworks this study has 2 objectives: (i) to determine and compare the development plans of medium to large sized organizations representing different organizational sectors in terms of the relative and changing importance the sectors assign to technologies, professional activities, and IT knowledge/skills; and (ii) to assess the alignment of these development plans in the sectors with national policy objectives.No previous study of this type in Thailand was found and since the national ICT policies in Thailand were not formulated on the basis of organizational sectors this study provides a different perspective on the alignment of development plans within sectors and the national policies. The findings and methodology are expected to be of interest to those interested in national ICT policy formulation and implementation in developing countries, and academics, practitioners, policy makers, and commercial organizations interested in ICT developments and opportunities in Thailand as seen from the perspectives of different organizational sectors. NATIONAL POLICIES AND RELATED LITERATURESummaries of national policies are presented together with the results of an evaluation of IT-2000. This is followed by a review of published research over the period 2003-2007 on aspects of ICT development in Thailand and includes a SWOT analysis of ICT in Thailand, comparisons with other Asian countries, and ICT indicators used to monitor development.

This exploratory study aims to determine the technologies, IT professional activities, areas of IT knowledge/skills and related concerns, at present and within the next five years, which are important to private and public organisations operating in the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand. The study was motivated by the challenges confronting a developing nation in realising national IT policy objectives aimed at creating a knowledge-based society in the wake of a serious economic downturn in the late 1990s. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of responses to a questionnaire highlight the problems and future intentions for the use of information and communication technologies from the perspective of international and local, medium-and large-sized, organisations operating in Thailand.