That old, old story...

The debate around whether IT does or doesn't matter has been around for some years now. Jyoti Banerjee asks if there is anything more to be said.

It is possible that there is nothing more to be said till we can have some startling new evidence that swings the case for or against the business performance of IT. It is also possible that the analyst community is bored out of its brains on this one. But every month I meet end-user organisations that are asking themselves this question one more time. Or even for the first time.

Next month Nick Carr and Bob McDowell will be debating exactly this issue in London, rather as they have in a number of locations in the US. And it is my privilege (?) to chair the debate between them.

What questions should I ask? What arguments should be shot down before we waste time on them? If you know me, then you will be certain that I will be placing some of the debate in the realm of medium organisations where I don't believe there has been much research done in this regard. Any opinions out there on the impact of IT in medium organisations? Wondering where I stand on this matter? Check out my views here and here, for starters.

Just comment on this blog or send me email at jbanerjee@kiteblue.net.

Let's get this matter resolved once and for all....

PS. I have also asked for help on this over at Brian's blog.

Comments

[woodgate53]

I would like to know if the view of whether technology matters is different dependent on if it viewed for business or to people in general.

If it is for the people in general then it clearly matters. Technology is used to track and help guard against outbreaks of disease, help give childless couples children and entertain. Whether we are better with or without is it another question entirely. I bet the same question was asked in the industrial revolution and was just as irrelevant in the face of inevitable change.