Does IT Matter?

Does IT Matter?

Information technologies have become essentially a cost center and these costs, while unavoidable, do not have real strategic value for companies.

Author(s): Nicholas G. Carr

Publisher: Harvard Business School Press

Date of publication: 2004

Manageris opinion

This fairly short book contradicts established assumptions by asserting that information technologies have become essentially a cost center, and that these costs, while unavoidable, do not have real strategic value for companies. The author specifically supports his reasoning with analogies to other technologies that gradually resulted in shared infrastructure (railways, electricity, etc.). He points out many signs which show, in his view, that information technologies are becoming commodities and as such, can no longer create competitive advantage for companies. While this book does a good job of demystifying the enthusiastic arguments of IT industry leaders, it sometimes jumps to conclusions that would merit more solid support.