The Strategic Advantage Of Technology - 1508 Words

Historically, strategists have overestimated the strategic advantage of technology. Gray noted that Lieutenant General Rudolf von Caemmerer, a renowned German strategist during the early 20th Century, over-valued the impact of the telegraph, when in 1905, he wrote, â€Å"However much the enemy may have succeeded in placing himself between our armies, we can still amply communicate†¦over an arc of a hundred or two hundred or four hundred miles†. While the telegraph indeed helped mitigate the â€Å"tyranny of distance† between armies stretched across Europe, it also created a dangerous reliance that diminished focus on dealing with the real fog and friction of war. In the end, the German Army in 1914, relying violently on the telegraph, was unable†¦show more content†¦This reliance on technology to defeat the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat has effectively crippled mobility, creating one of the slowest forces in the modern era. Chris Lowe from S mall War Journals states, â€Å"The MRAP has yet to prove its place in future service equipment plans. The gas-guzzling MRAP could impose a strain on logistics†¦and could run counter to the intent of counterinsurgency doctrine, which stresses close contact with the population† (Small War Journals). Both examples highlight that reliance on technology as a ways versus a means can hinder military forces against an irregular enemy threat. Looking at the even more recent NATO campaign against the Moammar Gadhafi-led Libyan government, it is obvious that strategy is being created around technology, rather than technology being nested into strategy. In Libya, the might of air power was the technology around which the strategy was developed. NATO leaders argued that bombing the Libyan Army would clear the way for anti-Gadhafi forces, which would lead to an overthrow and a more pro-Coalition government. Oren Dorell of USA Today says, â€Å"The strategy in Libya in 2011 was f or a U.S.-led NATO air campaign to reinforce Libyan rebels, with NATO forces partnering with moderate rebel groups to create a more stable Libya. In the end,Show MoreRelatedInformation Technology Cannot Really Give a Company a Strategic Advantage Because Most Competitive Advantages Dont Last More Than a Few Years and Soon Become Strategic Necessities That Just Raise the Stakes of the Game. Discuss?1958 Words   |  8 PagesINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CANNOT REALLY GIVE A COMPANY A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE BECAUSE MOST COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES DON’T LAST MORE THAN A FEW YEARS AND SOON BECOME STRATEGIC NECESSITIES THAT JUST RAISE THE STAKES OF THE GAME. DISCUSS? INTRODUCTION The information technology (IT) revolution has had an enormous influence on how organizations/companies are managed. It can credibly be claimed that no other source of change has had more impact on the paradigms and practices that underline the managementRead Moreâ€Å"Informatio Technology Can’t Really Give a Company a Strategic Advantage, Because Most Competitive Advantages Don’t Last More Then a Few Years and Soon Become Strategic Necessities Which Just Raise the Stakes of the Game. Discuss Why?4485 Words   |  18 PagesSUMMARY Since introduction of computer in 1950 to organizations, information technology has been deploying to gain competitive advantage for business organization. According to Ward and Griffiths, (1996), that information technology (IT) has gone through three evolutions. Today is third era of IT, organization view IT to support existing business strategy, create new opportunities for business, competitive advantage and new strategy opportunities leads to new markets and products and survival inRead MoreStrategic Information Systems Planning1347 Words   |  6 PagesStrategic information systems planning is a crucial component of business in the 21st century. From the smallest of businesses to multi-national corporations, successful use of IT and IS drive fundamental business processes, help business cope with increasing marketplace demands, and form an integral basis for competitive advantage. This paper will discuss strategic information systems planning, information technology, information systems, and how they affect competitive advantage, business planningRead MoreIt Doesn t Matter By Nicholas Carr1696 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscussion about the strategic importance of IT spending of companies in his Article IT Doesn t Matter published in Harvard business review, 2003. He advises to reduce the spending on IT infrastructure by arguing the fact that IT become commodity rather than a strategic advantage. Diminishing strategic advantage of the IT as explained by Nicholas Carr is not a broad view of the topic and Author has limited the scope of IT with mostly hardware part and not discussed the various advantages a firm can gainRead MoreFahad1373 Words   |  6 PagesChapter two ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Suppose you are a manager being asked to develop e-business and e-commerce applications to gain a competitive advantage in an important market for your company. 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He also advises to reduce the spending on IT infrastructure by arguing the fact that IT become commodity rather than a strategic advantage. Diminishing strategic advantage of the IT as explained by Nicholas Carr is not a broad view of the topic and Author has limited the scope of IT with mostly hardware part and not discussed the various advantages a firm canRead MoreThe Tools of Strategic Analysis1545 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 1 What is Strategy and the Strategic Management Process? Copyright  © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall. 1-1 The Tools of Strategic Analysis Walt Disney Company 1984 Profits: $242 Million Theme Park Operations: 77 percent of profits Consumer Products: 22 percent of profits Filmed Entertainment: 1 percent of profits Copyright  © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall 1-2 The Tools of Strategic Analysis Walt Disney Company HiredRead MoreIt Doesnt Matter Summary Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesITs role as strategic business differentiator. He examines the evolution of IT and argues that it follows a pattern very similar to that of earlier technologies like railroads and electricity. At the beginning of their evolution, these technologies provided opportunities for competitive advantage. However, as they become more and more available Ââ€" as they become ubiquitous Ââ€" they transform into commodity inputs, and lose their strategic differentiation capabilities. From a strategic viewpointRead MoreRyanair Strategy1069 Words   |  5 PagesYat-Sen University Strategic Management Professor: Richard Lihua Individual Reflection Date:April 13, 2013 Student: Wu Yanfei (12211208) 1 ç› ®Ã¥ ½â€¢ 1. Knowledge Reflection ........................................................................ 3 2. Individual Experiences on Strategic Management Reflection ............. 6 3. Future Expectations ........................................................................... 7 2 1. Knowledge Reflection Strategic Management is the spirit