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Analysis: IT Strengths and Weaknesses

Analysis: Impacts on the (non-IT) Globally-competing Firm

About the Author

STATISTICS

  1. MAINFRAME PENETRATION: Mainframe usage appears to be limited to primarily to financial services, health care and mining industries. Sonda, one of the largest Chilean software companies, promotes the use of DEC products with its services. 1

  2. PC'S PER 100 PEOPLE: Chile has the largest per capita ownership of PC's in Latin America with 3.4 PC's for every 100 people. 2

  3. SIZE OF DOMESTIC HARDWARE PRODUCTION: The majority of PC's still are imported. Although in 1994, in excess of 20,000 PC's were assembled in Chile, they were from components manufactured internationally. 3

  4. SIZE OF DOMESTIC SOFTWARE MARKET: The total software market in Chile in 1994 was US$77 million. In Latin America, Chile is expected in 1998 to capture approximately 3.3% of total software sales. 4 With the influx of US based companies, as listed below, the percentage projection is most likely below revised expectations.

  5. MAJOR PLAYERS IN IT SECTORS
    • SONDA: A major Chilean software and computer services company, Sonda announced plans to create a new subsidiary, Sonda Communications, which will design and develop voice, video and data communications systems. One of the largest national software companies, Sonda focuses primarily on providing services and consulting and employs in excess of 1,500 employees. 5

    • ORACLE CHILE: Computer company which has seen its 1997 sales increase 55% over 1996. Oracle's growth in Chile has primarily been due to its involvement in Chile's mining sector. In 1998, Oracle will be installing new computer systems to oversee environmental impact variables at the Dona Inez de Collahuasi mine. 6

    • SILICON GRAPHICS: The U.S. computer company has recently formed a yet to be named subsidiary in Chile which will specialize in the importation and distribution of computer hardware.

    • DELL COMPUTERS: U.S. computer manufacturer has announced plans to enter the South American market by opening a computer sales and support operation in Chile.

    • AISOFT: A Chilean company, AISOFT develops administrative software with sales to the US, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Argentina.

    • EXCELSYS: A small Chilean company, Excelsys specializes in custom hardware and software solutions.

1. "Computing in Chile: The Jaguar of the Pacific Rim?", Communications of the ACM, Sept. 1995, Vol. 38, No. 9, pg. 27

 2. U.S. Department of State: Chile Commercial Guide

3. "Computing in Chile: The Jaguar of the Pacific Rim?", Communications of the ACM, Sept. 1995, Vol. 38, No. 9, pg. 27

 4. Ibid, pg. 25

 5. Ibid, pg. 27c

 6. http://journal.chilnet.cl/nws_IT.htm