Telecommunications is no longer a passive infrastructure in corporate environment. The role of telecommunication functions has changed dramatically in organizations and strategic telecommunication planning process has become vital in surviving in today's complex business environments. This article has investigated the major business environments that encourage corporate telecommunications investment and also examines three competitive advantages that a company can obtain from telecommunications implementations. Finally, a conceptual model for telecommunications implementations is introduced.
Companies no longer think of telecommunications technology as simply a passive component of their organization's environmental infrastructure, like electricity or central heating. Users are much more discerning and knowledgeable today. Leading business and institutions are largely dependent upon communication technology for timely and accurate information. Clemons and McFarlan maintained that many companies already use telecommunications to gain a competitive edge, and therefore, if they do not capitalize on the promise of telecommunications, laggard companies may find themselves in trouble (Clemons & McFarlan, 1986). Solomon (1990a) explained that communications technology should improve the efficiency of internal management and help companies globalize the operation and respond quickly to changing worldwide business conditions. To accomplish these objectives, user organizations should understand the new technology and the effects on corporate management. The users should determine how they can best serve the organization needs.
This article intends to help corporate executives apply communication technologies to solve their business problems. In the first part, definition, history, and components of telecommunication are briefly explained. Then, trends in business environments that affect the expansion of corporate investments in telecommunications are discussed. The article also investigates the competitive advantages that companies can obtain from the use of telecommunications. Finally, a framework to effectively implement telecommunication networks is discussed.