Does IT Matter Assignment - Essay Example

Does IT Matter? Summary ment IT certainly matters modern organizations as the work setup is mostly based on it, though management should be cautious to do deep study before investing in every item of IT. Information technology is deep rooted in all functions and operations of a modern organization. Management is all the time looking for innovative ways to achieve company’s goals. Knowing that customers these days are technology savvy and are too much concerned about every new thing and fashion that comes in the market, companies’ managers try to satisfy their customers by offering them new products and services.

Companies have to draw a balance between purchasing latest information technology in order to acquire its benefits and increasing profit of business by cutting down expenditures and not purchasing latest technology. There is certain risk in getting every new technology that comes in the market because it might cost more than it benefits, so managers only hurry when they know there is definitely an advantage in getting the new technology. Different organizations select information technology they need considering the functions and goals as well as organization structure. Q. 1: Consider your organization.

How much attention does the IT organization receive in terms of funding and management support? Is IT a “value adding” area? Or merely a “cost center”?Ans. IT department in my organization, which is a construction company working on a building project as a contractor, gets a lot of attention and support of the management. However, many a times, top management hesitates to entertain the requests and recommendations it makes. It is like one out of every three recommendations IT department makes is approved.

IT department is undoubtedly a value adding area in my organization as it facilitates company’s operations and ensures that business runs smoothly as the whole organization is primarily depending upon IT. It is not really a cost center because my organization usually uses technology that has long been in the market and has thus come down in terms of price. It is the new or the latest technology that management does not easily approve of. Q. 2: Consider the industry your organization competes in.

How essential is IT competence to competing in the industry? Do the market leaders in your industry have a high level of competence?Ans. The industry my organization competes in is construction. In construction industry, it is basic information technology that is very important. Construction works cannot proceed without constant interaction between people working on the site and others in the office. So every worker is provided with a telephone. Different project parties conduct group meetings using videoconferencing e.g. skype.

In order to compete in the construction industry, IT competence is essential but not the only factor that determines success. Yes, the market leaders in my industry are generally very competent in using information technology. Q. 3: Think about your industry. Is a “low tech” strategy with respect to IT investment a viable approach? Ans. A low tech strategy with respect to IT investment is a viable approach in most projects in the construction industry. The prime focus of a construction project is on innovation in design and functions of the facility being constructed, and not on IT.

However, my organization is very much interested in new software that can be used to facilitate the company’s operations. For example, many different kinds of software are available in the market to facilitate design, analysis, and planning operations. Using these software, construction companies get these operations done easily. Many construction companies use pirated versions of these software which offer them access to most functions of the software.