'IT has no inherent value'

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What Kind of Metrics to Use?: Basically, I am old enough to remember clearly the world before the world wide web. As soon as I was old enough to get working papers, I had a job in an auto parts store. The store ran efficiently with out a computer or network. Years later I went back to the store and they were completely networked and computerized. The old paper catalogs where you could look up parts were still there but most of the young crowd searched for the parts in the computer's database. The store had one extra employee who worked as the IT person for the store. Other than that the same number of employees were employed. So for that particular store, computers actually added one expensive person and didn't really improve the service or efficiency of the business in a noticeable way. Now it didn't make it worse but the ROI was practically 0 US dollars.

The local grocery store installed a point of sale computerized solution and it tremendously increased how fast customers were able to pay and leave the store. I knew the owner and he claims inventory is also incredibly fast and efficient.

My point is how do you measure "value" for any type of technology. I live in NYC now and almost every single person on Wall Street has a Blackberry. From the anxious looks on their faces and the frantic typing on their phones, I am not sure if their productivity has increased or just their job stress. Also they spend more time answering e-mail than doing anything else. Do Blackberry devices add value? Ask a Blackberry user and sure they do. As an independent person to measure the actual real productivity and you might get a different answer.

So after reading other peoples comments I am left with the notion it doesn't really matter if IT projects have a hard value ROI.

Try starting a modern company telling your employee's there will not be any company e-mail. No company IM, and no company internet connection. No company electronic spreadsheets, data entry, or word processing. You had better have a great dental plan if you want to keep them working for you.
If you do decide to provide those electronic services for you employees, you will then need to investing things like electronic security, electronic backups, storage, and connectivity.

It sucks but welcome to the 21st century.; Posted by: mr1972 Posted on: 02/09/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use