Resource activation is a new concept for most individuals and organizations to consider, but is quickly becoming an important aspect of strategic planning as companies become more globally competitive in the marketplace. Resource activation is a process of intentionally targeting specific resources to be used in achieving certain goals. This is not to be confused with allocating resources, which is a prescriptive process of assigning resources without consideration for why the resource will be used. The need for resource activation has arisen out of the increasing organizational complexities that are facing today’s organizations as well as the increasing global competition, resulting in an environment where senior management has continually become more challenged in its ability to make informed decisions.
Resource Activation: Issues and Approaches
As organizations have become increasingly dependent on information technology (IT), it has become more challenging for companies to determine which IT resources are needed at any given time. This deficiency has created a gap between IT and the business, causing IT to be viewed as cost center, rather than an integral part of the organization. As a result, many companies have been unable to fully leverage their IT resources for competitive advantage. In response to this growing problem, organizations have begun to implement resource activation strategies in order to increase their understanding of how resources could be used across all functional areas of the business.
Resource Activation Strategies
Resource Activation StrategiesResource activation strategies come in two forms: specific and generic. In order for resource activation strategies to effectively drive organizational change they must be applied using a methodical approach that is focused on core business processes.
What is resource activation and why is it important
Activating resources demands an understanding of business processes, the way in which resources are currently used by the organization, and a clear definition of which activities should be focused on in order to drive change. The essence of resource activation lies in focusing on the results that can be obtained from a particular activity instead of considering the costs associated with that activity. This practice has been around for many years, however it has become much more widespread over the last few years due to evolving technologies and global competition. In this article we will discuss some popular approaches for implementingresource activation strategies within an organization, starting off with a discussion on functions vs processes.
Resource activation: some issues
some issuesActivating resources is a process of intentionally targeting specific resources to be used in achieving certain goals. It is not to be confused with allocating resources, which is a prescriptive process of assigning resources without consideration for why the resource will be used. The need for resource activation has arisen out of the increasing
organizational complexities that are facing today’s organizations as well as the increasing global competition, resulting in an environment where senior management has continually become more challenged in its ability to make informed decisions. Resource activation strategies are intended to help companies better understand what activities could potentially use their IT capabilities and how those activities could increase their competitive advantage.
