Part 1

1. How could a business use information technology to increase switching costs and lock in its customers and suppliers? a. A useful investment in information technology can make customers and supplies more dependent on the use of innovative information systems. This allows the customer or supplier to become more reluctant to pay the cost in time, effort, and inconvenience that it would take to change to the competitor. Also, the relationship the business has with its consumers will deter them from leaving. 2. How could a business leverage its investment in information technology to build strategic IT capabilities that serve as a barrier to new entrants into its markets? b. By investing in more advanced computer-based info system to improve the overall efficiency, businesses will be able to develop newer products or services that could have not otherwise been possible without the information technology capabilities available. Also, by increasing the possible complexity of information technology, the business can often discourage other companies from entering the same market 3. How could a business use Internet technologies to form a virtual company or become an agile competitor? c. In order to form a virtual company, the business most form well developed internets, intranets, and extranets in order to affectively link the people, their assets, and ideas. In order to become more of an agile competitor, the business must follow the four basic strategies: customers must find the product a solution to their individual problems; cooperate with customers, supplies, other companies, and even competitors; the company must thrive off change and uncertainty, using flexible organization structures; and leverage the competitive impact of its people and the information recourses available. 4. MIS author and consultant Peter Keen says: “We have learned that it is not technology that creates a competitive edge, but the management process that exploits technology.” What does he mean? Do you agree or disagree? Why? d. Yes. The management of technology and the development of innovative ideas are the ingredients that lead to a successful company today. Technology will always be available, competitors will almost always posses the same technology as well, so in order to climb above you must recognize how to effectively use the technology and discover innovative ways to conduct business.

Part 2

a. How does the Wikimedia Foundation meet the criteria for an agile company? a. Wikimedia consumers find information available as solving their problems or questions at the click of a button, they thrive of changing stories and methods of adding new information from reliable peers, and they hold leverage upon their accuracy and free databases b. Wikimedia is an entirely virtual company. Their systems of internets and intranets are very well developed and able to handle massive loads of consumer usage at any given moment. This way, at any moment Wikimedia has the ability to link people all over the world. c. Most of Wikimedia meets the criteria of knowledge-creating companies due to its availability of explicit knowledge. d. Given that people can instantaneously find free information within Wikipedia, in order for Encyclopedia Britannica to adapt and deal with the threat is to have some sort of free, consumer developed, information site that can compete and perhaps be more reliable than Wikipedia. e. Wikiversity has the ability of connecting students with other students and teachers, while making available open courseware and material online and distance learning infrastructure so you can become able to get an accredited degree through a select group of universities that will provide credit for open learning materials ascertained through Wikiversity.