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Imagine thinking about your company's information technology in the same way that you think about its investment portfolio: as a bundle of assets that--when managed right--will generate revenues and savings. Here's just such a framework for leveraging IT (technology, networks, data, and software)--... More

Imagine thinking about your company's information technology in the same way that you think about its investment portfolio: as a bundle of assets that-when managed right-will generate revenues and savings. Here's just such a framework for leveraging IT (technology, networks, data, and software)-one ... More

<p>What is your digital business model? While many leaders of companies recognize the threat from digital--and the potential opportunity--they lack a common language or a compelling framework to help them assess it and, more importantly, to direct them. They don't know how to think about their digit... More

In this day and age, it is impossible to successfully run a business without an effective system for tracking performance. But IT savvy firms take things a step further, building digitized platforms that leverage IT to consistently elevate firm performance. As Weil and Ross point out, simply having ... More

Many firms have not addressed the key question of how they want to profit and grow, and how IT can help create their platform. IT savvy firms, on the other hand, clarify what they are trying to do with IT by defining an operating model. In this chapter, Weil and Ross look at IT systems as tools for ... More

With the average firm spending over two thirds of its IT budget just on maintaining operating systems, it's vital that companies begin rethinking how they track and manage their IT funds. In this chapter, Weil and Ross provide extensive guidelines on how companies can compose an effective IT funding... More

As your company begins to expand, whether domestically or internationally, it is important that standardized systems are organized for all branches to maintain efficiency. To do this, your company has to build a digitized platform which focuses on three main areas: a shared IT infrastructure, consol... More

Every firm, at some level, needs a digitized platform, or integrated set of electronic business processes, to operate effectively. The only way to deliver a digitized platform--and superior business value from IT--is to design IT decision rights and accountabilities so that daily decisions about IT ... More

Building a digitized platform and the proper IT services for your company can take a lot of time and energy. However, it's important not to fall back into bad working habits once new processes are set in place. Even as you take the first steps towards building an integrated digital platform, you sho... More

Being IT savvy places your company in a position to take advantage of future business opportunities. To maintain the upper hand, all senior managers must make it a constant priority to ensure their digitized platform is being exploited successfully. But how IT savvy is your firm? In this chapter, We... More

This chapter provides a questionnaire that will help you assess the level of IT savvy in your organization. Consider your firm's practices in each of five areas and determine how to move forward and make improvements to your digitized platform. This chapter was originally published as the appendix t... More

This chapter provides an overview of the e-business revolution and the struggle that many traditional businesses are facing to respond to the threats and the opportunities of doing business online.... More

This chapter introduces business model schematics as a useful tool for analyzing e-business initiatives and for plotting the migration of traditional business to the electronic world. The e-business models of several companies are used as examples.... More

This chapter identifies a number of different atomic e-business models-which are the building blocks of more complex business models-designed to provide a conceptual framework for analyzing and understanding e-business initiatives.... More

This chapter uses the case study of cdnow.com to explore the direct-to-customer e-business model, illustrating the critical success factors and core competencies necessary to maximize this deceptively simple model.... More

This chapter examines the full-service provider e-business model, which combines the benefits of direct-to-customer and intermediary services. The authors illustrate this model at work in a case study of GE Supply Company.... More

The use of multiple business models across an organization can create confusion among customers, who may be required to navigate not just different computer systems, but also different ways of doing business. This chapter describes the benefits of adopting an integrated whole-of-enterprise e-busines... More

Some of the most popular sites on the Internet are intermediaries-sites that stand between the buyer and the seller. This chapter examines several kinds of electronic intermediaries, exploring for each the reason it exists, its current role, and its possible future.... More

When conditions are right, the benefits of an electronic alliance-cooperation among competitors by sharing infrastructure-can be significant enough to overcome competitive barriers. This chapter profiles several companies that have implemented a shared infrastructure e-business model.... More

Virtual communities can create significant value for their owners as well as for their members. This chapter describes how to implement a virtual community e-business model successfully and facilitate communication between members.... More

Value net integrators control the virtual value chain in their industries by gathering, synthesizing, and distributing information. This chapter analyzes the cases of Seven-Eleven Japan and Cisco Systems to illustrate how to successfully implement the value net integrator e-business model.... More

Some organizations are better off working through third parties, rather than trying to serve directly the extremely large and diverse set of consumers online. This chapter looks at examples of content providers, or firms that create and provide content (information, products, or services) in digital... More

This chapter summarizes the characteristics of several atomic e-business models and demonstrates how to compose and decompose e-business initiatives using these models.... More

There is tremendous pressure these days for companies to migrate at least a portion of their business online. This chapter lays out a way forward for existing firms, balancing the opportunities and threats of e-business with a traditional firm's assets and liabilities. The authors provide several fr... More

Effective IT governance is the single most important predictor of the value an organization generates from IT. This chapter provides an overview of IT governance and a framework for linking it to corporate governance that will enable organizations to deliver superior results on their IT investments.... More