Managing new information technologies: Lessons from Singapore's experience with EDI

Abstract

This paper describes how Singapore managed its decision to invest in electronic data interchange (EDI) technology. It is a case study of TradeNet, the first EDI application to be implemented in Singapore. Four major areas in the management of new information technologies are discussed: the business problem that initiated a search for a technological solution, the decision on which technology to use, the delivery organizational structure, and the selection of a vendor. Lessons relevant to managing new information technologies are high- lighted from each of these four areas. These show that managers should not make a commitment to a specific technological platform too early in the process, that there is a need for a vision that goes beyond the original business problem that triggered the consideration of new ITs, that the development of new technological solutions often require separate organizations cooperating in strategic partnerships, that the adoption of new information technologies should be accompanied by a planned marketing, publicity, and educational effort, that a new organizational entity may be needed to ensure sufficient attention to the diffusion of the adopted technology, and that a vendor should be selected to meet both the immediate and strategic goals for utilizing the new technology.