Archive for November 3rd, 2009

Article – IT snake oil

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

I’ve been involved or around all of these over the years.. AI and CASE at BP’s IT Research Unit in the late 80’s. Thin Clients (yeah!), ERP, B-to-b marketplaces while at Oracle and more recently Enterprise social media.

IT snake oil: Six tech cure-alls that went bunk.

In most cases I think the approach, ideas and technology/applications are (still) valid – it is the expectations which were incorrect:

  • HYPE & timing:
    • over-estimating the short-term impact; under-estimating the long-term impact
    • technology is not quite ready/mature enough – yet the trend is towards what’s required
    • Vendors always over-HYPE the potential of the tech and it’s impact
  • resistance to change:
    • most people and organisations resist change and most managements can’t/don’t/won’t lead their employees properly
    • as the article points out -people like the way they do business already
B-to-b marketplaces