Instructors Manual Introduction The Challenges of Managing in a Network Economy IT is a source of opportunity and advantage but also uncertainty & risk Chasm between viewpoints Business executives: View IT with apprehension Technical executives: Business leaders lack vision What is undeniable is the rapidity of change In system architecture and interfaces In business In work and the workforce

The Embedding of IT IT now embedded in: Definition and execution of strategy Organization and leadership of businesses Definitions of unique value propositions Every business definition is morphing before our eyes Markets Industries Strategies Firm designs Information is now a major economic good

Riding the IT Rollercoaster Mid 1990s: World Wide Web demonstrated IT potential Structural and technical hurdles remained in using IT Late 1990s Capital markets caught the fever VCs eager to spend on IT, regardless of long-term path to profitability 21 st Century Speculative bubble burst Downward spiral until 2003

What Now? What we know World is forever changed; IT will never return to the basement Technology as core enabler, primary business channel Global village is here to stay Rigid organization boundaries have fallen What we need to do Engage in sense-making of the transformation Mine the last decade of business experimentation Synthesize in order to choose a path forward

Let the Storytelling Begin This book examines stories of executives who ventured forth into uncharted waters Through the lens of the decades of research and experience of the authors Through rich dialogue during class discussion of chapters, cases, and articles

Key Themes 1. Continuous pace of technology evolution requires that we confront new choices for designing and building industries, markets, organizations 2. Business models that dominated the Industrial Economy are evolving 3. Types of opportunities pursued and technology employed strongly influence approach to developing, operating, managing IT 4. As IT infrastructure becomes more standardized, modular, scaleable, there is a shift in IT investment priorities and decisions

Key Themes (cont.) 5. The time required for successful organization learning and assimilation of rapidly changing technologies limits practical speed of change 6. External industry, internal organizational, and technological changes are increasing pressure on organizations to buy rather than to make IT applications and services 7. Ability to exploit technology requires high levels of engagement and cooperation among four key constituencies: business executives, IT executives, users, technology providers/partners

Key Themes (cont.) 8. Ability to ensure high levels of security, privacy, reliability, and availability is a core capability that determines organizations ultimate success and survival 9. Over the last decade, there has been a fundamental shift in IT that has dramatically impacted the way: People access and use technology Organizations exploit technology Technology is developed and managed