This line of reasoning, common at the time, has led to the widespread belief that IT departments exist solely to serve the other departments. I meet many computer scientists who adopt this point of view. Unfortunately, if that was a sensible attitude 10 years ago, it has become obsolete and even downright dangerous in the information age. In the industrial age, businessmen would invest in good factories. I think we need to review IT in the same light.
Computer systems are the flesh and blood of tomorrow's powerhouses.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating unchecked investments in anything technical. The numerous dotcom failures are a keen reminder that turning a profit remains a business priority. I lack the space for a detailed explanation but look at distributors and supermarkets. You might think I'm word playing. It does because it changes our perception.