Does I.T. Matter?

The focus of MBA 5230 is to introduce I.T./I.S. to students while helping us gain knowledge on how I.T./I.S. can be used to help businesses gain a competitive advantage. So when I consider Dr. Chen's question: "Does I.T. Matter" I instantly translate this question to mean: "Does I.T. matter when making a determination of how successful a business can/cannot be?" My response to this... yes (undoubtedly). Not only does I.T. matter but it is important to the existence and sustainance of a large percentage of businesses.

Information Technology (formal definition)
"Information technology is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." - Information Technology Association of America

Information Technology (informal definition)
I.T. is computers, servers, software, networks (the Internet, the internet, intranets), databases, website generation, biometric implementations, modern information security, and cellphones and how they interact to meet the expectations of users. An Information System is a particular type of work system that uses information technology to detain, store, retrieve, manipulate or display information. Information systems also help managers and workers investigate problems(Decision Support Systems), envisage complex subjects and generate new merchandise or services (Expert Systems).

Jeffrey H. Schwartz, CEO of "Fortune 500" distribution facility and developmental real estate compay Prologis Inc., contributes a major portion of his company's success as the top real estate company in the fastest growing industry of 2007 to his company's ability to compete on a global platform in the following statement:

"The rise of the Internet, which has allowed companies up and down the supply chain to interface seamlessly with each other through virtual, software-based business management systems. "
This statement encompasses the importance of I.T. to an array of businesses in todays society.

Although I speak from a completely biased standpoint I do understand that the complexities and everchanging nature of nearly all components of I.T. have been known to cause confusion and to contribute to timely job restructuring processes for businesses with the smallest of I.T. implementations. That doesn't, however, change my stance in knowing that I.T. has evolved into a role within businesses that will exist forever, as does accounting, marketing, operations, etc.

Personal Reflection
As an I.T. professional I can't help but take offense to the question "Does I.T. matter?." For me I.T. is a way of life and I intend on making a living based on my knowledge of the different aspects of I.T. and how they can interact to ease selected functions of public accounting. In my opinion a more appropriate question would be: "How much does I.T. Matter?"