Prof Norton travels the length and breadth of the country, talking to directors about how to prepare for e-business. The US is more open to new ideas and much more economically rational. Small business in the UK assumes that getting a web site built and hosting it will cost much more than it does. Directors do not need to be experts in Java programming, but a basic familiarity with new technology is essential. It's absolutely imperative that every single member of the board should have been helped to use the internet, should have bought something on it and visited competitors' websites.
People are embarrassed about being shown up among their peers.
So do it late at night - at midnight if necessary. Outside consultants are not necessary - board directors could be assisted by more technophile colleagues in the business. It affects every function around that board table. Boards need to thrash out how e-business will change what their company does. This strategic planning may need the help of a facilitator, but not a management consultant, he argues.