First International Conference on the Economic
and Social Implications of Information Technology
January 27-28, 2003
Main Auditorium
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th St. and Constitution Ave. Washington, DC
Enterprise transformation is not limited to the businesses
processes of the firm. It affects the broad fabric of economic
and social enterprise in a world where information, knowledge,
and value are easily reproduced and transported. What happens
when business and social processes span traditional boundaries
of place, ownership, and jurisdiction? How do individuals,
teams, and entities work together -- or else find new ways
of asserting identity and distinctiveness?
Despite the bursting of the “dot.com” bubble and
the troubles in the telecom sector, the Internet continues
its dramatic growth, transforming the way the world communicates,
works, and learns. During the Internet boom, many firms and
organizations developed strongly expressed visions of what
information technology would do to transform the way they
did business. A few unique Internet business models have succeeded,
some spectacularly, but much of the continuing change is at
finer level in internal processes and in transactions within
the firms and markets of the old economy. The changes are
ubiquitous, manifold, and subtle with a focus on successful
implementation and sustained profitability rather than pursuit
of market share.
Although the speculative frenzy is past, research shows that
fundamental elements of economic and social activity –
markets, value chains, firms, business models, transactions,
capital, institutions, collaboration, innovation, community,
relationships, standards, trust, infrastructure, consumption
– are changing in important ways. Every sector of the
economy has been affected to varying degrees. Some sectors,
such as government and health care, are more constrained than
others; in others, such as scientific research, the change
is dramatic despite the conservative nature of the surrounding
institution.
In the decade that has passed since the initial commercialization
of the Internet, a vast amount of experience has accumulated.
Empirical research always lags rapid change, but eventually
lessons can be drawn and documented. The evidentiary history
now includes insights from the shakeout, offering hope for
perspective and insight into phenomena such as overinvestment
and overcapacity that were unrecognized three years ago.
Transforming Enterprise is a two-day international conference
on the economic and social implications of information technology
that will bring together prominent researchers, industry leaders,
and policymakers. It will examine what makes the digital economy
different in terms of the changing nature and relationship
of information, knowledge, and value – and the implications
for work, learning, and society. It will look at what we have
learned and ask what we need to know. Do we have the right
tools and metrics? How can research contribute to sensible
policies?
Please mark your calendar and bookmark this page at http://transformingenterprise.com
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