Transforming Enterprise: The Economic and Social Implications of Information Technology

Innovators across all sectors of society are using information and communication technology to reshape economic and social activity. Even after the boom -- and despite the bust -- the process of structural change continues across organizational boundaries. Transforming Enterprise considers the implications of this change from a balanced, post-bust perspective. Original essays examine the impact on the economy as a whole, and, in particular, the effect on productivity; the role of information technology in creating and using knowledge -- especially knowledge that leads to innovation; and new organizational models, as seen in the interlocking and overlapping networks made possible by the Internet. The authors also analyze structural changes in specific sectors, including the effect of information technology on the automotive industry, demand-driven production and flexible value chains in the personal computer industry, and new models of outsourced manufacturing in the electronics industry. The final essays examine the societal implications of the diverse ways that information technologies are used -- across individuals, groups, communities, and nations -- and considering questions of access and the digital divide.