WHAT REALLY IS THE PROPER ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?

This is my final entry. I’ve moved on to the next phase of my life. My days of managing IT infrastructure projects and implementing applications are over.

I wanted to share the gist of my experience in this post. Of the different aspects of IT consulting, I choose to discuss the proper role that Information Technology must play in an organization. In any organization.

Technology is merely a tool. It is managed by a part of the organization. And like any other part of the organization, IT’s mission is to support the organization’s mission.

How does it do this? By doing what it does best. And that, namely, is by improving the flow of information within the organization.

How does that help the organization? It helps because it enables people to make better decisions (or at least better-informed decisions) since they are able to access the right information at the right time.

Why is this particularly important? Today’s environment operates more rapidly than yesterday’s. Today’s environment also changes more rapidly than yesterday’s. Technology in the form of advances in communication and transportation is responsible for this. These factors, namely, faster (implementation) cycles and faster evolution (of the market), increase the need for faster decisions. And smart decision-makers who already face the pressure of making fast decisions will not handicap themselves with poor information. This is why IT is more important than ever.

HOW SPECIALISTS REACTED TO HEALTHCARE REFORM

HOW SPECIALISTS REACTED TO HEALTHCARE REFORM

The lighter side of physicians' reactions.

The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Obama health care proposals.

Allergists voted to scratch it, but Dermatologists advised everyone not to make any rash moves.

Gastroenterologists had a gut feeling about it, but Neurologists thought the administration had a lot of nerve.

Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while Pediatricians said, “Oh, grow up!”

Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while Radiologists thought that they could see right through it.

Surgeons, however, washed their hands clean about the whole thing. Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow but Plastic Surgeons said, “This puts a whole new face on the matter.”

Podiatrists thought it was a step forward but Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

Anesthesiologists, meanwhile, thought the whole idea was a gas, while Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out and left the decision up to the assholes in Washington.