Why is information technology investment not paying off?

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper discusses factors that contribute to information technology (IT) investment notpaying off as might have been expected. The main purpose is to describe this IT _productivityparadox. The paper explores ideas that align organizations' business strategies andinformation technology as a key to achieving improved productivity. Which are possible toproperly measure in terms of the financial results? The main aims and objectives are to findout why managers invest in IT; whether there is a phenomenon such as an IT productivityparadox; whether IT pays off as expected; and how IT impacts on organizations. The studywill investigate options for proper management of information technology and data structures.It is necessary to ascertain whether ensuring proper IT implementation has a positive impacton productivity, leading to increased innovation and performance.The research design builds on research done on the use of IT in organizations, usmg aqualitative research method. This research paper looks at organizational issues such as ITmanagement styles, political and ethical issues, and work settings. The paper looks atorganizations across the service and manufacturing sectors to determine their production,innovation, and profits into their existing organizational processes and how technology isinterpreted. A group of IT users, IT managers and analysts were used as a sample to study theway IT managers and knowledge workers encounter information technology in organizations.The research method used in this research paper is called the informant approach, to takepoints of entry IT users would provide. This means that the interviewee, in this case the ITuser was questioned on the use of information technology tools to gather information. In thisstudy the aim was to conduct interviews with IT users and those they work with about theirexperiences. The sampling population was selected on the basis that they use this technology.In the data collection method a second interview was used to gather first-hand responses fromthe respondents to help me consolidate the information gathered to validate and ensure that itis reliable. The validity and reliability aspect of this research paper are based on the mainsources of data and interpretation and adopts coding as the main technique of analysis.The internal reliability of this research methodology concern itself with the research methodsthat were used within this research paper. Measures to be taken in the paper are to obtaininternal reliability in systematic gathering of data. The last part of this paper presents theconclusions and recommendations for changes to be made by managers and those investing inIT. IT managers should plan strategically when dealing with sales and marketers in order toput business needs before the needs of IT or systems. Technology should fit business needsrather than the business adjusted to fit the technology. IT should not cost an organization anyadditional profit it generates.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University