Question #1:

The article "IT Doesn't Matter" by Nicholas G. Carr from the May, 2003 Harvard Business Review is available here: http://www.roughtype.com/archives/2007/01/it_doesnt_matte.php

Read all parts of the article carefully. After you understand Carr's arguments, find at least one article that presents an opposite view. You may use Internet searches to do this, but find an article from a high quality source. One source of high-quality articles is the ACM Digital Library (you are not expected to use material that requires payment of a fee for this or any other assignment in this course). You may also use any other source, including books and periodicals in the university library near you.

In no more than two or three paragraphs, take the position of the "prosecuting attorney," i.e. of Mr. Carr. Summarize and defend Carr's arguments using material from the essay and also material from your outside reading. Then, in another two or three paragraphs, present the opinion of the "defence attorney," using material from one or more articles that present the opposing view. Finally, play the role of the judge and, in two or three more paragraphs, render a decision.

Tell which point of view is the correct one and why. You may quote from your articles. Be sure to cite your sources when you do that. Use APA style in your answers. Please note - a "good" essay will clearly present two distinct sides of the argument and a ruling. Regardless of which side you favour, you must clearly and succinctly present an opposing side.

Answer #1:

A set of related arguments that Carr makes is that scarcity, uniqueness, and proprietary technologies bring about strategic advantage and lock-in the vendor (Carr, 2003, pp.6-9). Healso states that as information technology’s power and ubiquity has grown, its strategicimportance has diminished (Carr, 2003, pp. 5-6). Finally, he argues that information technology(IT) can no longer be used to gain a strategic competitive advantage (Carr, 2003, pp.6). The second set of arguments that Carr makes is that information technology has become anon-proprietary commodity, invisible, and has therefore become an infrastructure technology.

This doesn’t mean that “IT doesn’t matter” – it does, but for the majority just in the same way that electricity does. When it is not available you feel the most of its importance in your life and think about utilizing it in most meaningful manners. He is right at some point when we see I.T is being used like as it is not being appreciated at a level where it should be. Due to this it is losing its importance on ground while being there all the time. I.T in its sub divisional sections therefore gets ignored some time, on scale when it could have played a major role in development of corporation's advance operations.

Source (Critique of the Arguments of Carr’s: IT Doesn’t Matter, C. Madewell)

Question #2:

Explain 2-3 advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing. Cite your sources. What are 2-3 cultural changes an IT organization would have to make to transition from a technology-oriented to a service-oriented organization?

Answer #2:

Information technology age brought mankind more ease to share ideas to enhance productivity. Everyone is connected through internet from person to an organization. Now we know more about other cultures and progress made by other country's manpower. When it comes to productivity, aim of any individual or an organization is to maximize its productivity. Since productivity depends on the resources, manpower and tools and technologies that an organization have. It become harder to maximize the profit while depending on in-house resources, manpower and tools and technologies. Not all organizations afford to buy resources which are useful to it for certain period of time. That is why outsourcing is the way to over ride these hazards. Organization can get help from some independent external body to aid its operational performance. Particular in Information technology outsourcing has more chance of success, since it depends least on time to integrate the outsourced projects results. Organization can outsource resources, manpower, and tools and technologies to the other organizations which has expertise in certain area.

Advantages:

Financial benefits—Clean up your balance sheet by eliminating assets, and have a more stable cash flow

Strategic optimization—Think about your company's core mission and whether it is relevant to continue certain operations

Better management of the outsourced activity—In theory, you can choose a supplier that is a leader in the field

Market discipline—You can align your costs with those of suppliers in the field Technology—In theory, you gain access to state-of-the-art technologies Flexibility—The resources no longer used in one area can be redirected to the

company's core operations

Disadvantages:

Loss of expertise: You lose know-how and skills that may prove critical to your long-term competitiveness. Information from suppliers helps in new product development.

Dependence on the supplier: If you resume carrying out the outsourced activity yourself, it can take years to reach the level of performance you used to enjoy. But if the supplier’s service deteriorates, or if their price rises, you may want to take back the activity.

Loss of control over costs: Improved production facilities may generate larger gains than outsourcing. Look at internal solutions before considering external solutions.

(Source)

Question #3:

Read the case study at http://www.cio.com/article/31701/Halamka_on_Beth_Israel_s_Health_Care_IT_Disaster and analyze the management of CareGroup's CIO John Halamka. Use the analysis presented in Chapter 9 of your text (starting on page 177) as a guide to describe strengths, weaknesses and lessons learned for the Beth Israel case. Remember to appropriately cite all sources, including your text.

Answer #3:

However, Beth Israel was the dominant culture. This paralyzed employees of Deaconess. They felt powerless, lost interest and sought other employment.

Causing problems like these:

Periods of uncertainty Running facilities independently of one anotherLack of teamworkMaking decisions on a group-think basisStaff cutsLoss of patient confidenceThreat of financial collapse

Beth's Strengths • Deep roots in the Jewish community• Strong academic research• Warm personal environment. • Beth Israel relied on its ability to harbor support from donors and philanthropists.

Beth's Weaknesses • Focus on primary care and minor medical issues. • Low profit margin compared to more advanced surgical procedures

Deaconess's Strengths• Academic research (though not as strong as Beth) • Top care surgical procedures

Deaconess's Weaknesses• Weaker cultural ties• Larger focus surgery means low primary care focus

Combine academia and family environment with great care and surgical specialization.

Lesson Learned:More medical professionals, Enhanced medical practice, Better standards and performance, and Collaborative strength

(Source)