IT,%20Business

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IT, BusinessSo What?
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Basic Questions

• What, if anything, does IT do FOR business?
• What, if anything, does IT do TO business?
• What is there about IT that engenders these
  effects?
• Is it IT, or how we use IT, or us?

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What, if Anything, Does IT do FOR Business?
Business Environment
BUSINESS (specific or general)
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What, if Anything, Does IT do TO Business?
Bases of Competition Nature of Business Craft
of Business Cadre of Business People Economic E
ffects
BUSINESS
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What is there about IT that Engenders these
Effects?
Fact vs. fancy Reality vs. fantasy

• There are only four possibilities
• Computation, Data basis (decision making)
• Automation (speed, reliability)
• Communication (connections)
• Collateral effects, expectations, opportunity
  costs, restructuring, etc.

Action at a distance planned effect
Groups, networks, synergy
IT as a cultural and economic actor
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Business as Trade
Heh, heh! Am I glad I got rid of that horrible,
milkless cowand THREE sheep!
I have a cow, but I dont need many sheep
I have some sheep I need a cow
I dont have much of a needmaybe three?
How about two sheep for your cow?
Only if you bring the sheep to my place tonight.
Hahhah! Three smelly sheep gone, now I have room
for this lovely cow!
OK, here are the sheep give me your cow!
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Elements of a Trade

• Two (or more participants)
• Each participant has a set of resources that they
  are free to trade
• Negotiation (? Communication)
• Bargaining (? Computation)
• Recording (not essential)

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Processes of a Trade

• Establishing of ground rules
• Description of resources involved (may change)
  Cow, sheep
• The bidding One-two one-three
• The agreement
• Fulfillment Tonight

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IS View of BusinessIS View
Business View

• Computation
• Communication
• Interactivity
• Data (recording) is a surrogate for implied
  mutual threat from lack of trust

• Bargaining, price setting
• Negotiation
• Agreement (bill of sale, receipt)
• Trust (communication is a surrogate)

Generally fulfillment has no IS simulation
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Is it IT, or how we use IT, or us?

• Humans are hierarchical in nature
• Humans have free will
• Humans are inquisitive
• Humans are naturally competitive
• Homo habilis
• Homo sapiens sapiens
• Humans evolve rapidly