| Technology is perceived as the "enabler" for business. | | | | advances makes your business more productive. |
| And with the recent commoditization of technology - | | | | Customers have choices and if you don't have |
| the playing field has been leveled. Whatever | | | | relevant and updated business practices supported by |
| technology, products and services company A can | | | | new technology in place to serve your customers - |
| buy are also available to company B. So in effect | | | | they will go somewhere else. |
| technology should be the least significant component | | | | Integration - The consolidation of businesses via |
| of any business and therefore it is not about | | | | mergers/acquisitions and the proliferation of customer |
| technology. | | | | interface channels poses a growing problem for IT |
| Maybe not! | | | | departments. The problem is how to integrate |
| Efficiency - Most businesses whether large or small | | | | disparate IT systems so that both internal and external |
| use technology to run their business. From routine | | | | customers get consistent and accurate information. |
| business processes like payroll and accounting to | | | | Integration is neither cheap nor simple but it is a |
| sophisticated marketing and customer interfaces like | | | | necessity if companies want to complete in the global |
| websites and web 2.0 services - it is all supported by | | | | marketplace. |
| a technology infrastructure. Having a more efficient | | | | Innovation - True value is generated when technology |
| technology platform translates into a more productive | | | | is leveraged to enhance the customer experience or |
| business. Efficient IT systems exhibit characteristics like | | | | propose a better business solution. Consider Walmart's |
| intuitive and easy to use, engage the user and process | | | | usage of IT solutions to streamline their global inventory |
| information effectively. Corporations spend valuable | | | | management systems. Dell's on-demand PC sales |
| resources to keep their IT systems functioning to | | | | model. Geico's web-based insurance sales initiative. |
| support the business. Efficiency in running your IT | | | | eBay's online marketplace. In these instances you see |
| operations has a direct impact on business value. | | | | technology's usage as a competitive advantage. |
| Effectiveness - Keeping the lights on is important but | | | | So it is all about technology? No - it is about the |
| making sure you are using energy efficient bulbs leads | | | | business and how technology supports and eventually |
| to effectiveness. Leveraging the technological | | | | enhances the business offering. |