Strategic Information Management, 3rd Edition

Introduction: The Emergenceof Information Technology asa Strategic Issue

Although information systems of some form or another have been around since the beginning of time, information technology (IT) is a relative newcomer to the scene. The facilities provided by such technology have had a major impact on individuals, organizations and society. There are few companies that can afford the luxury of ignoring IT and few individuals who would prefer to be without it . . . despite its occasional frustrations and the fears it sometimes invokes.

An organization may regard IT as a ‘necessary evil’, something that is needed in order to stay in business, while others may see it as a major source of strategic opportunity, seeking proactively to identify ...