A 21st-Century Tool for Intelligent Enterprises

Abstract

This chapter suitably summarizes all the points covered in this book by applying them to 21st-century intelligent enterprises. By addressing the business issues and management concerns of a 21st-century intelligent enterprise, we hope this chapter points medium- and large-sized businesses in the proper direction, to manage application service provider (ASP) resources and strategies to their competitive advantage. With the phenomenon of ASP in its infancy, we draw from works of IS pioneers Markus, Porter, Checkland, and others. Their intellectual contributions, plus findings from research work at CSIS, provide a framework for discussion. ASP delivers personal productivity software and professional support systems, assisting an intelligent enterprise in processing information, solving business problems, developing new products, and creating new knowledge. The need to exploit ASP capabilities to preserve and enhance organizational knowledge is clearly defined by this chapter.