Speakers Clash in SpiritedDebate Over IT Relevance.

CARR, Nicholas G., 1959-; METCALFE, Robert M., 1946-

This article reports on the debate between author Nicholas G. Carr and inventor Bob Metcalfe over the relevance of information technology (IT) to U.S. companies. Carr asserted that IT has lost its ability to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Carr began by recounting his article IT Doesn't Matter. He argued that IT applications and infrastructure have become so easily replicable that they no longer provide sustainable competitive advantage. Like railroads, telephones and electricity, IT has become part of the general business infrastructure. Companies do not realize this and as a result, they spend much more aggressively on IT than they should. Risk management in IT is more important than innovation and the biggest risk is overspending. On the other hand, Metcalfe argued that IT matter to the tune of $1.8 trillion in IT spending in 2003. Metcalfe said Carr chose to cite only studies that support his thesis. The unsung heroes in the innovation machine are the IT leaders in the Premier 100 audience. He added that Carr is not wrong, but he is also dangerous because he has succeeded in misleading the vast majority of Harvard Business Review readers. Jack in the Box Inc. director Roger Zakharia said he disagrees with Carr's conclusions but can understand his cautionary message about not jumping into new technologies too quickly.