article thumbnail

A Board Director's Perspective on What IT Has to Get Right

Harvard Business Review

I''m often struck by how many articles exclusively focus on new or emerging technology and their productivity or efficiency effects. Every discussion on the role of IT and CIOs should start with the question: "What are the potential uses of this technology that will guarantee we stay in business?" Generating Top-Line Growth.

article thumbnail

Design as a New Vertical Forcing Function

Harvard Business Review

From Microsoft’s latest radical reorganization and subsequent purchase of Nokia’s devices unit to Google’s acquisition of Motorola , it’s clear that after decades of horizontal integration, high tech is in an age of increased verticalization. If they don’t, they may not survive this industry-realigning disruption.

article thumbnail

Today's Best Companies are Horizontally Integrated

Harvard Business Review

In big companies, management teams focus on achieving the right level of vertical integration. With every degree of verticalization now made possible by information and communications technologies, the right scope of operations for any given firm is an open question. This kind of fragmentation commonly results from growth.