Competing through Information Technology

Abstract

Despite the fact that more money is spent annually on information technology, very few firms have found competitive advantage through the use of information technology. Information technology is seen as a backoffice function that is used for administrative functions and not as a key business enabler. Information technology will not only aid the business in surviving, but can be a strategic component to providing competitive advantage to the business, provided that the information technology function in the business is aligned to the business strategy. The critical factor in achieving competitive advantage through the use on information technology is not what technology is used, but how the technology is implemented and how the technology is aligned to the business.