The Impact of Computer Processor Speed on End-User Productivity

There is no doubt that information technology (IT) has dramatically impacted many if not all aspects of the business environment. However, the ability to capture, measure and analyze the effects of IT has been elusive. At the aggregate level it has only been in recent times that the net positive effects of IT have been acknowledged (McGee, 2000). Yet the identification and measure of these effects are still under debate. As of 1999, statistics from the BEA state that over $390 billion was spent on IT, including both hardware and software (BEA, 1999). The continued investment in IT is testament to the high expectations that businesses place on the ability of IT to improve the productivity of its workers, as well as its organizations, even if it cannot be isolated and measured. As IT becomes more and more enmeshed with the business organization, the ability to evaluate its contribution becomes more complex and ABSTRACT