The paper might challenge the strategic value of a specific initiative, speculate about outcomes of a management approach, applaud innovative applications of technology, or question the impacts of individual technologies. The paper can be a precursor of the final paper or address a totally different issue. Since the early 1980s, IT has been touted as a source of possible competitive advantage. In practice, however, the means by which a firm might gain competitive advantage from IT are unclear. Even in firms that have demonstrated success in applying IT strategically, there is some question as to whether that advantage is sustainable.
Many firms focus on addressing competitive necessities and applying IT strategically.
An ongoing challenge is to align IT with corporate strategy. Best practices in managing the IT unit. The CIO role has gained prominence as particularly key to a firm's ability to apply IT to business needs both strategically and cost effectively. The CIO can choose from a variety of organizational structures, management mechanisms, strategic alliances, and leadership approaches to develop a high performance IT organization. A key challenge is to balance technical expertise with business acumen a balance that has proved hard to find and sustain.