Corporate Backlash against IT
“The cost of IT is getting to the point where it is running ahead of its own value to corporations.”
-“Corporate Backlash against IT”, Florence Chong, The AustralianIT, 2/04/2002
IT – Is it Worth the Cost?
The bad taste IT leaves in the mouths of some executives isn’t surprising considering the unflattering numbers of failed, cancelled, over-budget and/or overdue IT projects.
However, IT investments are rapidly becoming survival mechanisms as organizations face climbing costs and increased resource demands. To compete effectively, companies look to IT for improved process and resource management, increased revenue, and lower internal costs. Consider the case of DuPont Engineering, which has already saved at least $10,000 by investing in a new employee tracking system.
<For 15 years, DuPont relied on a database application to track graduates in its Field Engineering Program. However, the old software was staggering under the task of tracking 275 engineers and rotating their job assignments. Automation Centre, developers of email based project management software for both Lotus Notes/ Domino (Tracker Suite - www.trackersuite.com) and Microsoft Outlook/ Exchange (TrackerOffice- www.trackeroffice.com), created a customized IT solution for DuPont’s Lotus Notes platform.
The new application tracks and assigns employees automatically. It also generates detailed employee reports in hours, a task which took at least 3 days under the old system. DuPont also enjoyed the familiar Lotus Notes UI, which greatly simplified training. The new system also allows them to attach resumes to files, something they could not do previously. (Read the complete story, “DuPont Plays the Match Game” at InformationWeek.com)
The Tracker solution improved DuPont Engineering's processes and provided new, useful functionality. This investment allows them to operate more smoothly, effectively, and profitably. DuPont Engineering recognized IT as a value center as opposed to an overhead/cost center, a perception that is becoming increasingly widespread among industry leaders. Four years ago, a survey of CEOs revealed only 55% of executives considered information technology of value to their company. Last year a similar survey revealed a dramatic shift in that attitude, with 97% of the CEOs surveyed describing IT as an important investment. The majority of CEO’s surveyed also cited IT as having significant impact in generating revenue, developing strategy, and in day-to-day operations.
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Tracker Webinars
Automation Centre will be conducting a series of Webinars concerning our Web products strategy and demonstrating Tracker’s new, configurable user interface. These Webinars will show you how to capitalize on your Tracker investment for more productivity and a simplified, enjoyable work experience.
We will also offer Webinars for our Tracker Data Warehouse module. Tracker Data Warehouse utilizes SQL Server or Oracle as a back-end data store, integrating information from Tracker and/or legacy applications to serve as your single point of access for business intelligence. It offers up-to-date reports about projects, billable hours, headcount reports, issues, trends, expenses, resource allocation, web statistics and much more. The Data Warehouse Webinar series demonstrates how you can use this “virtual business dashboard” to keep a finger on the pulse of your organization.