User:Jaymax1991/sandbox

Team 1 - IT DOES MATTER (Jason Maxwell) =IT Does Matter=

Team one will be arguing from the "IT does Matter" standpoint.

=Introduction=

''Published in the May 2003 edition of the Harvard Business Review, "IT Doesn't Matter" examines the evolution of information technology in business and show that it follows a pattern strikingly similar to that of earlier technologies like railroads and electric power. For a brief period, as they are being built into the infrastructure of commerce, these “infrastructural technologies,” as I call them, open opportunities for forward-looking companies to gain strong competitive advantages. But as their availability increases and their cost decreases – as they become ubiquitous – they become commodity inputs. From a strategic standpoint, they become invisible; they no longer matter. The staff of HBR voted “IT Doesn’t Matter” the best article to appear in the magazine during 2003.''

=Evidence Supporting Argument from Carr's Article=

Carr's Argument
Carr’s is not arguing that Internet Technology is not important but that it’s infrastructural competitive advantage has diminished. Carr uses numerous examples such as the railroad and electric power, information technology to argue his viewpoint. According to Carr, one of the things that we have learned in the past in the sprint to commoditization of infrastructural technologies is the rapidity of their installation. When huge amounts of cash are inevitably invested in a new infrastructure, a buildout proceeds with extreme speed. By the end of the buildout phase, the opportunities for individual advantage are largely gone. the rush to invest leads to more competition, greater capacity, and falling prices, making the technology broadly accessible and affordable."

Rebuttal "IT Does Matter"
Spend Less. "Studies show that the companies with the biggest IT investments rarely post the best financial results. As the commoditization of IT continues, the penalties for wasteful spending will only grow larger. It is getting much harder to achieve a competitive advantage through an IT investment, but it is getting much easier to put your business at a cost disadvantage."

Follow, Don’t Lead. "Moore’s Law guar- antees that the longer you wait to make an IT purchase, the more you’ll get for your money. And waiting will decrease your risk of buying something technolog- ically flawed or doomed to rapid obsoles- cence. In some cases, being on the cut- ting edge makes sense. But those cases are becoming rarer and rarer as IT capabilities become more homogenized."

Focus on Vulnerabilities, Not Opportunities. "It’s unusual for a company to gain a competitive advantage through the distinctive use of a mature infrastructural technology, but even a brief disruption in the availability of the technology can be devastating. As corporations continue to cede control over their IT applications and networks to vendors and other third parties, the threats they face will prolifer- ate. They need to prepare themselves for technical glitches, outages, and security breaches, shifting their attention from opportunities to vulnerabilities."

=Evidence Supporting Argument from Pearlson and Saunders= Carr defines Information Technology as " technologies used for processing, storing, and transporting information in digital form." However, Pearlson and Saunders defines Information Technology as "the technology component of the information systems, usually consisting of the hardware, software, networking, and data" and Information System as "the technology (hardware, software, networking, data)people, and processes that an organization uses to manage information" A more accurate article for Carr would have been, Infrastructural IT Doesn't Matter. Overall information technology and informations systems play a major role within any business or organization. Business, Organizational, and, Information Strategy must be aligned to insure business success. Misalignment within the Information Systems Strategy could lead to catastrophic consequences(BP Oil Spill ) TrianglePearlson and Saunders introduces us to the framework Information Systems Strategy Triangle the relation of business strategy with information system and organizational strategies.

= Evidence From Work Experiences=

IT plays a vital role in our in our society from the military, to e-commerce, education, online banking and even entertainment. Ted Hoff's invention of the microprocessor in the late 1960‘s has paved the way for personal computer, laptops, cell phones, and so much more and changed how we view and use computers. There is no doubt that in the last two decades, the use of the personal computer and internet has definitely been on the rise. It’s hard to look at the world without technology. Everything from personal computers, cell phones and tablets to smaller things such as digital watches, alarm clocks, and calculators. Information technology continues to be the backbone or infrastructure for our computerized nation. Just as semi-trucks and the highway are the backbone infrastructure for our transportation of goods. Information technology continues to be a major part and driving force for our computerized nation. The army realized that IT was so important that they created an entire Military Occupation Skill devoted to it. As 25Bravo or information Technology Specialist I am the backbone of S6 or communication within the army. We specialize in military computer and communication equipment including very small aperture terminals (VSATs), radios, Cisco Routers and Switches, Windows Servers and Exchange, etc. As more technical description of my job title is as followed: installs, operates, and performs unit maintenance on multi-functional/multi-user information processing systems and peripheral equipment and auxiliary devices. Performs input/ output data control and bulk data storage operations. Transfers data between information processing equipment and systems. Troubleshoots automation equipment and systems to the degree required for isolation of malfunctions to specific hardware or soft ware. Restores equipment to operation by replacement of line replaceable unit (LRU). Installs, operates, performs strapping, restrapping, PMCS and unit level maintenance on COMSEC de vices. Assists in the design, preparation, editing, and testing of computer programs. Drafts associated technical documentation for program reference and maintenance purposes. Modifies existing ap plication packages using application and operating system software and appropriate computer language commands and files.

=Evidence from External Resoucrces=