ABSTRACT

To manage the complexity associated with the issues raised within Part I, one first has to manage, and manage very well, some basics. There are four cornerstones to delivering an information system effectively. Once in place, these can serve to generate the necessary sensitivity to deal with the issues raised within Part I. The four cornerstones are:

1. Understanding that the introduction, application or extension of information systems is not only about the upside. IT presents risks as well as benefits, and understanding this is a necessary step to ensure that the over-exuberance associated with technology is dampened and placed within a more realistic frame of reference. This is not to say that technology is bad, but to recognize that there is a downside as well as an upside. A balanced view is required.