Does IT Matter (Yes, kind of)

Carr claims that IT is bound to go the way of other infrastructure technologies, like rail and electricity These technologies gave early adopters a competitive advantage, but this advantage slowly recedes as other companies start to use these technologies So is IT bound to go this route, or is it something different?

IT is something different Real infrastructure is different from IT No one gets a consultant to help them with infrastructure technologies Software can evolve without physical constraints

IT can provide the backbone to many companies, especially when it is free(lots of companies use Linux,etc), but it is still the underlying proprietary technology that sets companies apart(i.e it's Google's search engine, etc) Different needs for different companies, ensure that IT will always matter somewhat(Algo trading firm is different that Mom and Pop ecommerce site) Your sever needs and Facebook server needs are very different Where are your data stored? What happens if you are hacked? What happens if a service provider becomes to powerful? Window for an IT advantage is still there, just not as big as it use to be, but it is still there for early adapters

The changing face of technology means that IT will continually change and evolve so that there must always be some part of it that will be proprietary or cutting edge leading to competitive advantages for early adopters and those with enough foresight Rise of mobile computing and apps Apps ensure that more of the IT realm will be closed off as time goes on, leading to more gain for those with proprietary technology aspects, and leading away from IT as a commodity