The role of information technology in achieving the organisation's strategic development goals: A case study

The role of IT in achieving the organisation's strategic development goals has been an area of constant debate. This paper describes the experiences of John Nicholls Builders Ltd, a Cornish building firm, in their attempt to achieve their strategic development goals through the adoption of IT. The implementation stage of the project involved setting a flexible programme and timescale from the start. The company adopted a bottom up approach whereby potential users were consulted and involved in the process. Also the support of top management staff was crucial for the successful transition to the new system. Although there was no single ready-made solution that could fit the organisations requirements, they were able to identify appropriate construction industry software packages and integrate them through development of an intranet and database system. Now, there is greater management control, all departments have greater access to information, enabling them to function more effectively and efficiently, and since projections are more accurate or now available, management can make long-term strategic plans. These improvements and developments to the business system have improved operational efficiency, turnover and profitability of the organisation.