INCLUSIVE DATA SCIENCE ADOPTION IN AN EMERGING DIGITAL ECONOMY: GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES

Abstract

As data-driven technologies become central to national development, understanding the factors shaping their adoption in developing digital economies is increasingly important. This study explored the institutional, governance, and inclusion-oriented conditions influencing data science adoption in Thailand’s emerging digital landscape. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders from government, private organizations, educational institutions, and civil society, followed by content analysis to identify key patterns. The findings revealed four central dynamics: significant institutional capability gaps, fragmented governance structures that impede coherent implementation, limited and short-term inclusion efforts, and the need for coordinated, system-wide strategies to expand equitable participation. Participants described misaligned policies, inconsistent data standards, and infrastructural constraints that limit the effective integration of data-driven practices, particularly among smaller organizations and underserved communities. These insights showed that inclusive adoption requires more than technological deployment; it depends on strengthened governance frameworks, investment in human capital, and improved digital infrastructure to address persistent inequalities. As emphasized in prior work, governance coherence and clear institutional mandates are essential for accelerating national digital transformation (Gierten & Lesher, 2022). The study contributes a context-specific understanding of how developing economies can reinforce the foundations necessary for meaningful, equitable, and sustainable data science adoption.