Most pre-1990 literature on businesses’ use of information technology(IT)—defined as any form of computer-based information system—focused on spectacular IT successes and reflected a general optimism concerning IT’s potential as a resource for creating competitive advantage.But toward the end of the 1980’s, some economists spoke of a “productivity paradox”:despite huge IT investments, most notably in the service sectors, productivity stagnated.In the retail industry, for example, in which IT had been widely adopted during the 1980’s, productivity (average output per hour) rose at an average annual rate of 1.1 percent between 1973 and 1989, compared with 2.4 percent in the preceding 25-year period.Proponents of IT argued that it takes both time and a critical mass of investment for IT to yield benefits, and some suggested that growth figures for the 1990’s proved these benefits were finally being realized.They also argued that measures of productivity ignore what would have happened without investments in IT—productivity gains might have been even lower.There were even claims that IT had improved the performance of the service sector significantly, although macroeconomic measures of productivity did not reflect the improvement.
But some observers questioned why, if IT had conferred economic value, it did not produce direct competitive advantages for individual firms.Resource-based theory offers an answer, asserting that, in general, firms gain competitive advantages by accumulating resources that are economically valuable, relatively scarce, and not easily replicated.According to a recent study of retail firms, which confirmed that IT has become pervasive and relatively easy to acquire, IT by itself appeared to have conferred little advantage.In fact, though little evidence of any direct effect was found, the frequent negative correlations between IT and performance suggested that IT had probably weakened some firms’ competitive positions.However, firms’ human resources, in and of themselves, did explain improved performance, and some firms gained IT-related advantages by merging IT with complementary resources, particularly human resources. The findings support the notion, founded in resource-based theory, that competitive advantages do not arise from easily replicated resources, no matter how impressive or economically valuable they may be, but from complex, intangible resources.
GWD5-Q22:
The passage is primarily concerned with
A.describing a resource and indicating various methods used to study it
B.presenting a theory and offering an opposing point of view
C.providing an explanation for unexpected findings
D.demonstrating why a particular theory is unfounded
E.resolving a disagreement regarding the uses of a technology
Most pre-1990 literature on busi- 大多数1990年前关于IT－
nesses’ use of information technology 基于电脑的信息系统的任何
(IT)—defined as any form of computer- 形式－的商业应用的著作，都
Line based information system—focused on 聚焦于惊人的IT成就，并反映
(5) spectacular IT successes and reflected 了人们对IT作为竞争力来源的
a general optimism concerning IT’s poten- 潜力的普遍乐观。
tial as a resource for creating competitive
advantage. But toward the end of the 但是到80年代末，一些经济
1980’s, some economists spoke of a 学家提出”生产力悖论”：尽管
(10) “productivity paradox”: despite huge IT IT投资巨大，特别是服务业，
investments, most notably in the service 生产力停滞不前。
sectors, productivity stagnated. In the
retail industry, for example, in which IT 例如在80年代，零售业广泛
had been widely adopted during the 采用IT，其生产力(小时产出)在
(15) 1980’s, productivity (average output per 1973－1989年间年平均增长
hour) rose at an average annual rate of 1.1%，而过去25年间为2.4%。
1.1 percent between 1973 and 1989, com-
pared with 2.4 percent in the preceding
25-year period. Proponents of IT argued IT支持者辩护说IT需要时间和
(20) that it takes both time and a critical mass 极其重大的投资来产出利益，
of investment for IT to yield benefits, and 一些人表示90年代的增长数字
some suggested that growth figures for 证明利益正在得以实现。
the 1990’s proved these benefits were
finally being realized. They also argued 他们同时说生产力的度量方法
(25) that measures of productivity ignore what 忽略了如果没有IT投资的情况：
would have happened without investments 生产率可能会更低。
in IT—productivity gains might have been
even lower. There were even claims that 甚至有人说虽然宏观的生产力
IT had improved the performance of the 的度量没有体现服务部门有所
(30) service sector significantly, although mac- 改善，但IT显著地改善了其
roeconomic measures of productivity did 表现。
not reflect the improvement. 现象及IT支持者的论据
But some observers questioned why, 然而一些观察员质疑既然IT
if IT had conferred economic value, it did 带来经济价值，为什么没有为
(35) not produce direct competitive advantages 公司制造直接的竞争力。
for individual firms. Resource-based 以资源为基础的理论可以解答，
theory offers an answer, asserting that, 公司通过积累具经济价值的、
in general, firms gain competitive advan- 相对稀少的不易复制的资源获
tages by accumulating resources that are 得竞争力。
(40) economically valuable, relatively scarce,
and not easily replicated. According to 根据近期一项对零售公司的
a recent study of retail firms, which con- 研究，受访者确认IT已经普及
firmed that IT has become pervasive 并相对容易掌握，IT本身似乎
and relatively easy to acquire, IT by 不能带来优势。
(45) itself appeared to have conferred little
advantage. In fact, though little evidence 事实上，尽管缺乏直接效果的
of any direct effect was found, the fre- 证据，IT与业绩频繁的负相关
quent negative correlations between IT 暗示了IT可能削弱一些公司的
and performance suggested that IT had 优势地位。
(50) probably weakened some firms’ compet-
itive positions. However表递进, firms’ human 然而，公司的人力资源确实
resources, in and of themselves, did 解释了改善的业绩，一些公司
explain improved performance, and 通过合并IT和补充资源特别
some firms gained IT-related advan- 是人力资源，获得了IT相关
(55) tages by merging IT with complementary 的好处。
resources, particularly human resources.
The findings support the notion, founded 这些发现支持了以资源基础论，
in resource-based theory, that competi- 即竞争力不是从可随便复制的
tive advantages do not arise from easily 资源获得，不管它有多令人难
(60) replicated resources, no matter how 忘或具有经济价值，而是从复杂
impressive or economically valuable 的无形资源中获得。
they may be, but from complex, intan-
gible resources.
现象解释？
逻辑简图：
1P : Most pre-1990 focused on successes and reflected a general optimism... But toward the end of the 1980’s, productivity paradox… for example… proponents of IT argued…also argued.. even claimed…..
2P: But observers questioned why….. Resource-based theory offers an answer, However表递进, firms’ human resources, did explain improved performance,…. The finding support notion in R theory……
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GWD-5-Q22:
The passage is primarily concerned with
A. describing a resource and indicating various methods used to study it
B. presenting a theory and offering an opposing point of view
C. providing an explanation for unexpected findings
D. demonstrating why a particular theory is unfounded
E. resolving a disagreement regarding the uses of a technology
文章中作者是在表达自己的观点 注意文章套路
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GWD-5-Q23:
The passage suggests that proponents of resource-based theory would be likely to explain IT’s inability to produce direct competitive advantages for individual firms by pointing out that
A. IT is not a resource that is difficult to obtain
B. IT is not an economically valuable resource
C. IT is a complex, intangible resource
D. economic progress has resulted from IT only in the service sector
E. changes brought about by IT cannot be detected by macroeconomic measures
. According to a recent study of retail firms, which confirmed that IT has become pervasive and relatively easy to acquire, IT by itself appeared to have conferred little advantage. 越来越狡猾了，是proponents of resource-based theory而不是proponents of IT，注意读懂题干
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GWD-5-Q24:
The author of the passage discusses productivity in the retail industry in the first paragraph primarily in order to
A. suggest a way in which IT can be used to create a competitive advantage
B. provide an illustration of the “productivity paradox”
C. emphasize the practical value of the introduction of IT
D. cite an industry in which productivity did not stagnate during the 1980’s
E. counter the argument that IT could potentially create competitive advantage
注意例子前后的观点
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GWD-5-Q25:
According to the passage, most pre-1990 literature on businesses’ use of IT included which of the following?
A. Recommendations regarding effective ways to use IT to gain competitive advantage
B. Explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of adopting IT
C. Information about ways in which IT combined with human resources could be used to increase competitive advantage
D. A warning regarding the negative effect on competitive advantage that would occur if IT were not adoptedf
E. A belief in the likelihood of increased competitive advantage for firms using IT
Most pre-1990 literature on businesses’ use of information technology (IT)—defined as any form of computer based information system—focused on spectacular IT successes and reflected a general optimism concerning IT’s potential as a resource for creating competitive advantage.作者: tomchengs 时间: 2010-8-28 21:32
lz看看前后文章的关系~楼主多讲讲你的思路
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