Chapter 7: Does IT Matter?
Information systems are integrated into all components of business today, but can they bring
competitive advantage? Over the years, there have been many answers to this question. Early research
could not draw any connections between IT and profitability, but later research has shown that the
impact can be positive. IT is not a panacea; just purchasing and installing the latest technology will not,
by itself, make a company more successful. Instead, the combination of the right technologies and good
management, together, will give a company the best chance of a positive result.