I would have to agree with Mr. Carr: IT has become a commodity. Mr. Carr contends that current companies need to realize that IT is no longer a strategic advantage and that they need to transfer "From Offense to Defense." He takes the reader through the evolution of IT from strategic resource to commodity of electricity, railways, and communications. He explains how each of these, when introduced, provided a strategic advantage to those who had it because of its scarcity. He goes on to explain that as these became widely available, they were still necessary, but no longer provided any strategic advantage. He claims that IT is heading down that same road, and that it no longer provides unique opportunities because it has become so universal and ubiquitous. He advises that if you are "spending more frugally and thinking more pragmatically, you're already on the right course. The challenge will be to maintain that discipline when the business cycle strengthens and the chorus of hype about IT's strategic value rises anew."
IT will continue to evolve and change much like the gaming world described in "Extra Credits: Consoles Are the New Coin-Op."Some parts will become obsolete, and new technologies will emerge. What Carr is saying is that "The key to success for the vast majority of companies is no longer to seek advantage aggressively, but to manage costs and risks meticulously."
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