Are your business information systems and technology merely a means of support for increased operational efficiency and effective decision support for management?

Whilst exploiting technology and systems for these ends is admirable, how much more valuable would it be if the same investment also contributed to your company’s strategic advantage over competitors?

Strategic information systems are those that support and influence the competitive position of a business in its global market.

A powerful conceptual framework for identifying competitive strategies is based on a model of Competitive Forces* that must be addressed to achieve the long term survival and success of an enterprise - see diagram below.

• Cost reduction
• Differentiation
• Innovation
• Growth
• Alliance

• reduce the cost of a business process
• introduce new features which differentiate products or services
• create barriers to entry for new suppliers or switching costs for new suppliers
• radically change (re-engineer) business processes
• diversify or manage business expansion
• create ‘virtual organisations’ in partnership with customers/suppliers