James Drogan

Re Conversations with Dave

Here is an abstract view of a business system, say a logistics system.

 

My hypotheses:

1. Processes are turned into applications, information into databases, and people into users (I recognize there are other sorts of users of there) when one applies information technology to improve the performance of a business.
   
   
2. Processes, application, information, and data are widely known and shared across an industry. That is, there are few secrets in these areas.
   
   
3. People (integrity, intellect, energy, and imagination) are widely known, but not shared (i.e., there is only one of everyone) across an industry. People are the differentiator.
   
   
4. Tesco and Wal-Mart thrive because of the people they attract and retain. Imagine a three dimensional space: value enabled by technology investment, value enabled by people, and business results. I suspect that Tesco and Wal-Mart are somewhere towards the upper right back corner of the space.