Monday, March 28, 2011

Story’s the same, just change the name…

Advancements in information technology over the past two decades have been nothing short of profound.  Still, we more often hear what a company’s systems won’t do than what they will.  And the “will not’s” are often…well… profound.  Just out-right hard to believe given our desire for access to data anywhere, anytime.  Could it be that intense focus on knowing your customer, marketing through your database and offering customized products and services put basic accounting and financial reporting on the back burner?  Could it be that Band-Aid solutions are beginning to bring entire systems to their knees?  
When fundamental information is difficult to obtain, most of us will look for easier, albeit compromised solutions.  We’ll settle for what we can get.  But at what point does compromise on the input put the output at risk?  Makes you wonder how many strategies are really based on foundational knowledge versus a house of cards.