Carr
What does Carr argue IT has become?
A commodity / infrastructure
Does IT investment alone increase productivity?
No
What famous utility does Carr compare IT to?
Electricity
What must companies combine with IT to gain value?
Organizational capabilities / complementary factors
Why can’t IT provide long-term competitive advantage according to Carr?
Because it’s widely available and easy for competitors to copy.
Name one complementary capability identified in the research.
employee skills, management practices, data culture, process redesign
What strategic mistake do companies make when they treat IT as a competitive weapon?
Overspending on technology expecting differentiation.
Why do some firms gain more from IT than others even if they spend the same amount?
Because they differ in how effectively they use and integrate it.
If IT is infrastructure, what should firms compete on instead?
Strategy, efficiency, processes, management, and execution
What is the paper’s main conclusion about IT and competitive advantage?
IT still drives productivity and innovation — but only when supported by strong organizational capabilities.