Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study

Case Title:

Nick Negroponte's 'One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)' Program: A New Dimension of Public-Private Partnership?

Abstract:
In the hope of providing the children of developing countries with a tool, which would fulfill their educational needs, Nicholas Negroponte launched the 'One Laptop per Child' programme. The programme aimed at manufacturing a laptop for as low as $100. Negroponte hoped that governments of developing countries would buy the laptops in bulk quantities and distribute them for free. But analysts are sceptical about the feasibility of manufacturing a laptop for $100. They are also sceptical about the success of the programme in countries where even proper educational facilities are not available, and questioned the motive behind the move, by the different companies contributing to the programme.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss the ‘One Laptop Per Child’ programme as a new dimension in public private partnership.

Keywords : Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study Nicholas Negroponte, 'One Laptop per Child (OLPC)' programme, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Low cost laptop, Wireless mesh network, Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) enabled, Open source software, Educational facilities, Budgetary provisions, Public-private partnership