Information Technology: A Changing Business Environment
As information technology (IT) developments continually enable new business applications, success of organizations worldwide has become increasingly dependent on the effective creation, distribution, and use of information and knowledge. CTR's new report, Information Technology: Converging Strategies and Trends for the 21st Century, examines how information systems (IS) must now implement technologies and strategies that add business value, rather than simply automating old processes.
The report addresses the forces and technologies shaping the IT industry as it moves into the 21st century, with a focus on how an organization's IT function must change to meet new business needs. The report covers important technologies such as: knowledge management, IT infrastructure solutions, E-commerce, the Internet and intranets, and data warehousing.
Infrastructure Solutions
Most IS managers cannot afford the luxury of waiting for comprehensive infrastructure solutions. Instead, they must solve their management and administrative problems by implementing solutions now, anticipating a more comprehensive, enterprisewide solution for the long run.
The report covers various infrastructure issues, including the problems with Microsoft's Windows NT, the dominance of Intel, desktop systems management, and the four desktop computing choices: NetPCs, network computers (NCs), low-cost PCs, and high-end PCs.
Also included is a discussion of operating system (OS) management, response time issues, and database management systems (DBMS).
The Future of IT
IT is experiencing a convergence of applications, content, and interactivity. But despite recent, far-reaching changes in the information technology (IT) arena, the job of IT departments remains the same: to provide the technological foundations for a company's business processes. The critical information provided in the report will help IS managers: understand the move towards decentralization; learn how to achieve an effective return on investment (ROI); utilize the Internet, intranets, and the Web as business tools; choose an effective client/server (C/S) systems solution; develop an infrastructure strategy; and guide their organization into the 21st century.
Given all the available technologies, there are many new opportunities for IS in developing different types of applications and determining new ways of doing business. In this period of rapid change, IS managers must be prepared for the technological requirements of future business trends. CTR's Information Technology: Converging Strategies and Trends for the 21st Century report is an invaluable resource to aid in this process.
