Information Technology example essay topic

Information Technology (IT) can be defined as all the processes and technologies used to create, store, exchange, and use information in its various form. For instance, business data, voice conversation, Multimedia presentation and other forms. This system has eaten deep into the annals of today's business that they have become inseparable. "IT does not matter". This was Nicholas G. Carr's article in the May 2003 issue of Harvard Business review.

In his thesis, he pointed out that IT has lost its strategic value. Carr argues that IT has become widely and cheaply available that it no longer creates a lasting strategic advantage. I believe that Information Technology is a means to an end. IT is a tool that can assist the users to get a task done. Although it may be readily available but the skills required to harnessed the potential is not readily available, and availability is the essence of Technology which IT is part of.

I believe that when technology is skillfully applied, the strategic benefits will surely be reaped. It is one thing to have the technology, and it is another thing to have the right people in place to skillfully use this technology. For instance, Internet services have actually created possibilities that did not exist before. Through Internet, companies have been able to attain globalization. Although this technology is widely available but not all that has it has used it to the fullest especially in the area of globalization. Globalization moves business to networked economy and in turn increases labor productivity and economic growth.

Also, IT has created high skilled and well-paid jobs in the society. Carr further compared IT with electricity, railroads and combustion engine. I totally disagree with this comparison. All these other technologies have matured and are no longer evolving in any significant ways. IT is very different now from what it used to be 10 years ago. The technologies used in IT continue to evolve.

Also the demand for IT is still growing and will continue to grow. There is virtually no company or organization that has not incorporated IT into its business in one form or the other. In schools, the use multimedia has helped students to learn at their own pace and interactively also. In medicine, telesurgery enabled surgeons to perform surgery by the help of robot. The combination of robot, video and telecommunication technologies makes it possible for surgeons to perform operations on patients anywhere on the planet.

Applied, telesurgery may make it possible to allow specialists to aid surgeons in war zones or train doctors in developing countries. It lays the foundations for the globalization of surgical procedures, making it possible to imagine that a surgeon could perform an operation on a patient anywhere in the world. According to Carr, IT no longer provide a competitive advantage because anyone can buy what you buy. Although, I agree with Carr that there is not competitive advantage in procuring IT equipment.

On the other hand, competitive advantage can be achieved through innovations in IT. This can be seen in airline business where American Airlines developing in Third world countries. Used its air traffic reservation systems to gain a competitive advantage over the others. This system actually altered the nature of air pricing.

Carr Also failed to recognize that IT is on the virgin stage in developing countries. The potential has not been tapped. Carr sees overspending as the biggest risk of all. I believe that it takes money to make money. In most companies, IT department generates most of the money. I see nothing wrong in spending money to strengthen a department that generates more money for the company.

Citigroup for example, (one of its data center) processes $1 trillion worth of information every 24 hrs. This is just one aspect of the IT department. Spending money in IT, not only increase productivity, it also helps companies to gain competitive advantage over others. When money is available, it is very easy to engage in research that will lead to innovations. In conclusion IT is the bedrock of modern business and life itself.

It has reduced the entire world into a global village. Life today is made simple and affordable by IT and to live without IT is like living without air. While I sincerely agree that IT has its own demerits, the gains by far surpass loss and have rendered it infinitesimal. Carr was over zealous in his argument and therefore undermined the potential of IT in modern society..