Cyberstrategy
Business strategy for extranets, intranets and the internet.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Cyberstrategy
Assessing the business case
Why should you think about this?
In order to plan your Internet presence, you need to review both the strengths and weaknesses of this new medium in terms of your business and communication needs.
Whether you are an IT expert, or a marketing executive recognizing the value of Internet exposure, you face a difficult task in justifying the kind of investment needed to ensure that a web site will be a commercial success. Figure 3.2 outlines the major benefits of Internet development for a business organization. This diagram is designed to give you a sense of overview; each stage is examined in greater depth later.
Figure 3.2: The business case
So what is the Internet good for and where are the pitfalls?
Instant communication
The Internet is an ideal mechanism to communicate information about your organization, its products and services to a global audience. The increasing speed at which an organization has to adapt to its environment is poorly supported by print communication. Print (whether on paper or CD) delays publication because of the time it takes to reproduce and deliver materials. The Internet provides an instant form of communication.
This major benefit has been most appreciated by the IT industry. Decision-makers use the Internet as a virtual library and educational medium to keep up to speed with developments of new products as well as important issues affecting existing products. With online demos and ordering, the Internet has become the showcase and the delivery channel for...
Copyright Pauline Bickerton, Matthew Bickerton, and Kate Simpson-Holley 1998 under license agreement with Books24x7
