Page 285 -

“Right. Flores and his group demonstrated this thing works. You can use the cloud
and all this exercise gear and mobile devices to collect, integrate, and report exercise
data. So, who do we sell it to, and what do we tell ’em to induce them to buy?”
“I talked to a couple of insurance companies, and they’re not promising.” Jared
looks at Zev.
“No? Why not?” Zev knows the answer, but he wants to see if Jared does.
“They don’t like exercise. Exercise doesn’t prevent disease. Well, maybe some
cardiac diseases, and long term maybe some diabetes, but it doesn’t do anything for
cancer or Alzheimer’s. The insurance companies think exercise just raises claims due
to exercise-induced injury.”
“You’re kidding.” Nicki can’t believe what’s she’s hearing.
“Even worse, to them anyway, when you get in good shape, you last longer when
you do get cancer or whatever. So, you live longer on your way out the door, and their
care expenses increase.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this!” Nicki says what she’s been
thinking.
“So, Zev, I’m wondering, do you think there’s any government money
in this? Obamacare funds we could tap?” Jared’s looking right at Zev.
“Maybe. I’ll ask some friends. That kind of money is slow to get, and
the reporting requirements can be so painful it’s not worth it. But I’ll find
out what I can. That won’t help us immediately, though.”
“Well, the real beneficiary of this is the whole system. All the players
“How much money together.” James speaks up for the first time.
does a system “Young man, you may be right. But let me ask you, how much money does a sys-
own?” tem own?” Zev is gentle, but privately he’s amazed at James’s naiveté.
“Well, none, Mr. Friedman.” James figures out where this is going.
Image source: jiris/Fotolia
“Then the system can’t be a buyer, can it? Saying the system gets the benefits
might make sense to you techies, but it won’t make sense down at the bank.” Zev is
still gentle, but James is squirming.
“I see. OK.” James is embarrassed but has the good sense to shut up.
“Well, besides the medical players, there are employers, health clubs, equipment
manufacturers, and people who exercise.” Jared is counting on his fingers as he speaks.

StUdy QUeStIonS

Q7-1 What are the basic types of processes?
Q7-2 How can information systems improve process quality?
Q7-3 How do information systems eliminate the problems of
information silos?

Q7-4 How do CRM, ERP, and EAI support enterprise processes?
Q7-5 What are the elements of an ERP system?
Q7-6 What are the challenges of implementing and upgrading
enterprise information systems?
Q7-7 How do inter-enterprise IS solve the problems of enterprise
silos?
Q7-8 2026?
284