Strategic information systems often change the organization as well as its products, services, and operating procedures, driving the organization into new behavioral patterns. Successfully using information systems to achieve a
competitive advantage is challenging and requires precise coordination of technology, organizations, and management.
Sustaining Competitive Advantage
Using information systems to beat the competition and increase the value of a product is not easy. Because competitors can quickly copy strategic systems, competitive advantage is not always sustainable. Sustaining a competitive advantage constantly requires changing processes and methods of conducting business. Managers simply cannot rest on their success with today‘s fast paced, fast changing technological advances. Technology changes much faster than organizations can adapt. As soon as employees and managers become comfortable with a particular system, it‘s almost time to make some more changes.
Aligning IT with Business Objectives
It‘s such a basic idea—an organization should align its information technology with its business objectives. It‘s an easy thing to have happen when the techies and the non-techies fail to work together to plan, implement, and maintain information systems that support their company‘s business objectives and competitive strategy.
Employees and managers in all the functional areas must be active players in the IT game. They can‘t sit on the sidelines and let someone else decide what kind of information system the company will have. They can‘t claim ignorance and say they don‘t know that much about computers.
Managing Strategic Transitions
A vital attribute of any manager‘s success is the ability to adapt to change. The pace of technological change is at its highest level ever. With each advance, the organization must use strategic transitions, to take its advantage. Making changes in the information systems should trigger a review of associated processes to make sure they are in sync.