Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Article - IT snake oil

I've been involved or around all of these over the years.. AI and CASE at BP's IT Research Unit in the late 80's. Thin Clients (yeah!), ERP, B-to-b marketplaces while at Oracle and more recently Enterprise social media.

IT snake oil: Six tech cure-alls that went bunk.

In most cases I think the approach, ideas and technology/applications are (still) valid - it is the expectations which were incorrect:

  • HYPE & timing:

    • over-estimating the short-term impact; under-estimating the long-term impact

    • technology is not quite ready/mature enough - yet the trend is towards what's required

    • Vendors always over-HYPE the potential of the tech and it's impact



  • resistance to change:

    • most people and organisations resist change and most managements can't/don't/won't lead their employees properly

    • as the article points out -people like the way they do business already




B-to-b marketplaces