Technology Mangement

Some decades ago the twentieths century was often referred as the century of technology. It seems that the twenty first won’t be different either. Naturally if we enter a company we found computers rather than machines and in most companies the IT department has a considerable amount of money to spend. In spite of this IT often takes a backseat and it’s hard to tell what the benefit of all this costs is.

Technology management got focus in the 80’s when it was discovered that one of the major reason of bankruptcies lies in some technology problem. It’s a very strong argument for the importance of technology. So strong that several universities offer MOT (Management Of Technology) programs. The question is whether the importance of information technology is also so decisive? This is the million dollar question, and no firm answer could be given yet. IT is needed of course but how much of it? Some companies are successful with a modest IT budget while others – in the same industry – are less successful although spending much more on IT.

For many the logical step is to define the services provided by the IT department and squeeze down the costs to a minimum. According to this view information technology is not a strategic field but a commodity (like phone or electricity) which is easy to reach for anyone.

Facts don’t say this approach is dead true. Otherwise how can be possible that half of IT projects fail, and so big is the difference in the effective use of information technology between companies?

The earlier innovations usually “enlarged” the physical abilities (the steam engine his muscles, cars his legs, television his eyes) of mankind. But informatics broadens the field of information management. And because human creativity is unrestricted so is the use of computers and software. Creativity is not simple a question of money and neither is the efficiency of IT.

New ideas emerge mostly during conversations. Good teams are sometimes closed, they tend to communicate with each other and are less open to new ideas and change. If a business has an experienced but closed IT team it will make the everyday routine easier but innovation gets more difficult. If we add that that today most people can’t work without computers and a large IT project can last for years (e.g. implementing a complete Enterprise Resource Planning solution) the importance of IT management and IT strategy is obvious.

The strategic importance of IT is determined by its ability to help the company in reaching its strategic targets. IT can meet this expectation if business and IT cooperate as partners. This relationship must materialize in communication, organizational structure and governance.