SESSION 2 - Mastering the three worlds of information technology

Question 1

Give a brief summary of the article “Mastering the Three Worlds of Information Technology, McAfee”

Answer 1

The article focuses on how organizations can effectively integrate and manage three types of IT systems. The article explains that successful integration of these three IT systems can lead to a competitive advantage for businesses. The author provides examples of companies, such as Wal-Mart and Dell, that have successfully integrated the three worlds of IT systems. He also offers insights for managers on how to manage and prioritize IT initiatives to achieve business success.

Question 2

What are the three categories of IT?

Answer 2

1. Function IT: spreadsheets, software
2. Network IT: email, instant messages
3. Enterprise IT: software for enterprise resource planing, supply chain management

Question 3

What is the outside-in and the inside-out approach?

Answer 3

Pervasive/outside-in approach to selecting IT: hearing about new technologies others adopted and then adopting it as well  problem: too many new applications to evaluate them all

Inside-out approach: determining the capabilities/business needs that company is looking for in IT and then selection specific IT rather than focusing on the technology itself

Question 4

What about IT adoption regarding the three categories?

Answer 4

FIT adoption: does not bring its complements, managers must allow teams to discover new ways of working with the FIT and thus develop them themselves
NIT adoption: NIT is rather voluntary than mandatory and thus adoption less in control of managers  still need to intervene by showing how to use new technologies in beginning later holding back
EIT adoption: most difficult adoption as EIT imposes new processes on employees without allowing them modification  managers need to forcefully intervene and build consensus by pushing ahead even if they don’t have everyone on board every step of way
* EIT adoption problems: 1) often become delayed due to negotiations of use of complements between employees and managers 2) firms often settle for more modest solutions 3) firms may abandon EIT adoption after time 4) some firms fail to abandon EIT adoption at the right time & thus suffer losses