Does IT Matter?
This chapter centers around the idea of the strategic value that information systems can bring to an organization. Pay attention to the arguments around the idea of competitive advantage. After you read, reflect upon the arguments presented about the impact that information technology has on competitive advantage.
Using Information Systems for Competitive Advantage
Business Process Management Systems
In their book, IT Doesn't Matter – Business Processes Do, Howard Smith and Peter Fingar argue that it is the integration of information systems with business processes that leads to competitive advantage. They then go on to state that Carr's article is dangerous because it gave CEOs and IT managers the green light to start cutting their technology budgets, putting their companies in peril. They go on to state that true competitive advantage can be found with information systems that support business processes. In chapter 8 we will focus on the use of business processes for competitive advantage.