Evolution of Information Resources
IS Strategy from 1960’s through the 1990’s was driven by internal organizational needs. First, in the 1960’s, primary role of IT was to replace paper based processes, in the 70’s was to solve problems and create opportunities, in the 80’s to increase group effectiveness, in the 90’s to create collaborative partnership, in 2000’s to transform the industry, and now it is used for community based social business. At first IS strategy was used to reduce cost, and as it progressed now it is used by company to add advantages over their competitions. IS is now used to not only address firm’s internal circumstances but also external. The link between IS strategy and business strategy focuses on the firm’s external requirements.
Information Resources definition is the available data, technology, people, and processes within an organization to be used by manager to perform business tasks. Information resources can be either IT-asset and IT-capability.
What is IT-asset ?.
IT asset is anything tangible or intangible that is used by firm to perform process of creating producing, and/or offering products. IS infrastructure is an IT asset that provides foundation for firm’s products and services. And Web 2.0 broadens the potential of IT assets. For example, Salesforce.com offers managers a new way to manage customer information, and Linkedn makes hiring expert workforce easier.
What is IT-capabilities ?.
IT capability is something that is learned or developed to use IT assets effectively. Three major categories of IT capabilities: Technical skills (development of IS), management skills (managing IS department and projects), and relationship skills (manage partnership between business units).
How information resources as Strategic Tools used ?
5 questions to better understand the advantage of information resources: (1)What makes information resource valuable? (2)Who appropriates the value created by information resources? (3)Is the information resource equally distributed across the firm now and in future? (4)Is the information highly mobile? (5)How quickly does the information becomes obsolete?
Resume from :
Keri E. Pearlson& Carol S. Saunders. (2013). Strategic Management of Information Systems. 05. John Wiley & Sons Singapore. . ISBN: 978-1-118-32254-3. Chapter 2
