Waves of Change: Business Evolution Through Information Technology

Waves of Change examines how information technology has influenced the competitive nature of industries and the strategies, structures, and systems that have resulted. McKenney provides in-depth research on two information systems that radically changed industries: the Bank of America’s ERMA (Electronic Recording Machine Accounting) check sorting system and American Airlines SABRE reservation system. Based on these studies, the author argues that managing an IT strategy is an evolutionary process that requires collaboration among the firm’s CEO, IT manager, and a technical team. Together these leaders move their organizations through a series of developmental phases to bring about an IT solution, which enables the organization’s structure and drives its strategy.