Now, we at Context believe as strongly as anyone in the power of technology in today's business world. But it's not as simple as lots of people would have us believe. Anyone who has ever had a computer screen freeze at an inopportune moment knows technology doesn't always work as planned. And the corporate equivalent of a frozen screen happens often enough, too-sometimes with very expensive consequences. Even when technology works as planned, it's not all sweetness and light.
Some people win.
The three features in this issue all address the complexities of technology issues. Executives overestimated the benefits of the ERP system, underestimated the limitations, and managed the implementation badly, according to former managers and industry consultants. U.S. companies may well win, but it's not that easy. Foreign companies are using technology to invade the U.S. market, too. Before the health care system can change, there is going to be a lot of creative destruction.