ABSTRACT
This chapter presents five case studies – MasterCard International, SMooth Ride Trucking, Big Auto Leasing, Washington University, and Amazon.com – of how the technology infrastructure can most effectively be positioned within the organization as a result of a three-way negotiation between the chief information officer, middle management, and senior management. The parameters for technological management include technology context, technology relevancy, competitive posture, technological learning, and organizational styles. Network managers are expected to provide key insights on telecommunication technology investment for their enterprises. One way to gain insight into telecommunication investment is to consider the current versus future enterprise relevancy of telecommunication technology. Traditional market competitive analysis says an enterprise can compete on cost, differentiation, or niche. The combination of industry technology relevancy, competitive posture, plus available expertise provides guidance for where a particular enterprise falls on the grid. At Washington University, future telecommunication technology capability will play a key role.
