Information Technology and Organizational Transformation: Innovation for the 21st Century Organization (John Wiley Series in Information Systems) [Hardcover]

Robert D. Galliers (Editor), Walter R. J. Baets (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0471970735 | ISBN-13: 978-0471970736 | Edition: 1

This book discusses a holistic approach to organizations. It explores alternative organizational forms and work practices, the use and availability of information systems, evolving skill requirements, the innovative power of information technology, the creation of knowledge, and the reshaping of industrial sectors. Presents forward-looking, exciting topics. Breaks the boundaries of functionally-based, overly deterministic information literature.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book discusses a holistic approach to organizations. It explores alternative organizational forms and work practices, the use and availability of information systems, evolving skill requirements, the innovative power of information technology, the creation of knowledge, and the reshaping of industrial sectors. Presents forward-looking, exciting topics. Breaks the boundaries of functionally-based, overly deterministic information literature.

From the Back Cover

Information Technology and Organizational Transformation is arguably the key challenge facing corporate executives and business school academics alike as we approach the millennium. Much that is superficial has been written on the topic in recent years. The siren call of the more popular literature in this area - seductive in the simplicity of the message of radically improved business performance brought about by IT and process re-engineering - has led to the unwary foundering on the rocks of the realpolitik associated with organizational change. But organizational innovation is possible - as the case studies included in this book amply demonstrate. While 'best practice' solutions may be illusory, the examples given herein, taken together with the fruits of research undertaken by leading academics from Continental Europe, Scandinavia, North America and the UK, provide key lessons that one ignores at one's peril. This is a highly important contribution to knowledge. Bringing together such key themes as organizational learning, knowledge management, IT and business strategy alignment, the management of change, inter-organizational communications, corporate innovation and business process change, this book provides significant learning for those willing to challenge much of the received wisdom on this fascinating topic.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471970735
• ISBN-13: 978-0471970736
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,938,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable resource for research & best practices, September 14, 2001

By 

Linda Zarate "IT Ops Consultant" (Azusa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Information Technology and Organizational Transformation: Innovation for the 21st Century Organization (John Wiley Series in Information Systems) (Hardcover)

This collection of essays is devoted to all facets of aligning IT and business. While the central theme is integration of information technologies into the fabric of business processes as an enabler, the book touches on peripheral issues that cause you to think in much larger terms. If you take the holistic view that is presented in the book you will be armed with information, ideas and knowledge to accomplish an organizational transformation that meets your unique business needs.

Essays that I especially liked are:

Section 1 STARTING AFRESH: "Linking Strategy and IT-based Innovation", which gives an interesting perspective on marrying technological innovation to business strategy; and, "Computer Supported Collaborative Working". This essay will spark some ideas on how to integrate systems and business processes. Section 2 IT AND THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION in its entirety is short, but contains a wealth of information for knowledge engineers. In Section 3, INNOVATION, NETWORKS AND CORPORATE IDENTITY, the essay titled "Innovations as Precursors of Organizational Performance" is a fascinating study linking innovation to performance, with predictive indicators. This is probably my favorite essay. Section 4, IT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, is on the mark in all respects. Each essay contained information that was immediately useful to me for a project in which I was working.

Who this book is for: executive- and director-level management in both the business and IT domains will benefit most because of the strategic nature of the essays. This is not to say that this book does not also support tactical-level initiatives, because it does, and also provides a foundation of thought and practices for managers who occupy lower rungs on the organizational ladder. However, the most immediate value will be to the former group. Also, business and IT consultants will find this book to be thought-provoking and a source of viable ideas.