What is also needed, though, is a complementary focus on the intuitive, social and human aspects of computer systems. In other words, the focus will be on managing, developing and exploiting two key competitive resources of any organisation - information and knowledge . Currently few organisations yet systematically manage information as they do more tangible resources. Enhancing Human Interaction Information and telecommunications technologies are making it easier for people to work together irrespective of geographic location and time. Electronic networks can give access to experts on a world-wide basis.
Teams can work together without being together.
At one level IT supports the processes of organising information, sourced from global electronic networks. At a higher level, IT supports the human interaction needed to turn such information into actionable intelligence. It is here that 'groupware', computer conferencing and group decision support systems come into play. With a combination of the right technology and the appropriate processes, significant improvements in the speed and quality of decision making can been achieved. There is no doubt, that sensibly applied, the approaches briefly outlined above can significantly improve business performance - in terms of time to market, improved customer satisfaction, innovative marketing.