Description
The PPT highlights topics like control of IT activities,IT policy and responsibilities,general management support and policy overview.
ORGANIZING AND LEADING THE IT FUNCTION
Organizational Issues in the Control of IT Activities
? From centralized, IT-driven innovation to decentralized, user-driven innovation.
? User-driven innovation over IT department
projects. ? From decentralized, user-driven innovation to centralized IT management. ? From decentralized, user-driven innovation to unexpected centralized innovation.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance
IT Dominance
Too much emphasis on database and system maintenance. All new systems must fit data structure of existing system. All requests for service require system study with benefit identification.
User Dominance
Too much emphasis on problem focus. IT feels out of control. Explosive growth in number of new systems and supporting staff. Multiple suppliers deliver services. Frequent change in supplier of specific service.
Standardization dominates with few Lack of standardization and control exceptions. over data and systems. IT designs/constructs everything. Benefits of user control over development discussed but never Hard evidence of benefits nonexistent. Soft evidence of benefits not organized.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance – Contd.
IT Dominance
Study always shows construction costs less than outside purchase. Headcount of distributed minis and development staff growing surreptitiously. IT specializing in technical frontiers, not user oriented markets. IT spending 80 % on maintenance, 20 % on development.
User Dominance
Technical advice of IT not sought; if received, considered irrelevant. User buying design, construction, maintenance, and operations services from outside. User building networks to own unique needs, not to corporate need. Some users are growing rapidly in experience and use, while others feel nothing is relevant because they do not understand. No coordinated effort between users for technology transfer or learning from experience.
IT thinks it is in control of all.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance – Contd.
IT Dominance
Users expresses unhappiness. Portfolio of development opportunities firmly under IT control. No strong user group exists.
User Dominance
Growth in duplication of technical staffs. Dramatically rising communications costs because of redundancy. Duplication of effort and input everywhere because different data, hardware, and communications will not allow seamless movement.
General management not involved but concerned.
Drivers Toward User Dominance
? Pent-up user demand
? The need for staff flexibility ? Growth in the IT services industry ? Users’ desire to control their own destiny ? Fit with the organization
Drivers Toward a Centralized IT Structure
? Staff professionalism
? Standard setting and ensuring system
maintainability ? Envisioning possibilities and determining feasibility ? Corporate data management ? Cost estimation and analysis
Coordination and Location of IT Policy
? IT Responsibilities
? User Responsibilities ? General Management Support and Policy
Overview
IT Responsibilities
? Develop and manage the evolution of a longterm architectural plan. ? Develop a process to establish, maintain, and evolve company standards. ? Establish procedures that consider outsourcing options when new IT projects are proposed. ? Maintain an inventory of installed or planned-tobe-installed information services. ? Identify career paths for IT staff.
IT Responsibilities – Contd.
? Establish internal marketing efforts for IT support. ? Prepare a detailed checklist of questions to be answered in any hardware/software acquisition to ensure that relevant issues are raised. ? Identify and maintain relationships with
preferred systems suppliers. ? Establish education programs for potential users. ? Set up an on going review of legacy systems to determine when they should be redesigned and/or replaced.
User Responsibilities
? Clearly understand the scope of all IT activities supporting the ? ? ? ? ?
user. Appraise the amount of user personnel investment required for each new project. Ensure comprehensive user input for all IT projects that will support vital aspects of the unit’s operations. Ensure that the IT-user interface is consistent with a new technology’s strategic relevance to a business unit. Periodically audit system reliability standards, communication services performance and security procedures. Participate in the development and maintenance of an IT plan.
General Management Support and Policy Overviewthat an appropriate balance exists between ? Ensure
IT and user inputs. ? Ensure that a comprehensive IT strategy is developed. ? Manage the inventory of hardware and software resources, and assure the corporate view extends to purchasing relationships and contracts. ? Facilitate the creation of standards for acquisition, development and operations activities.
General Management Support and Policy Overview – Contd.
? Facilitate transfer of technology from one unit to another.
? Actively encourage experimentation.
? Assume responsibility for developing an appropriate planning and control system to link IT firmly to the company’s goals.
doc_679503701.ppt
The PPT highlights topics like control of IT activities,IT policy and responsibilities,general management support and policy overview.
ORGANIZING AND LEADING THE IT FUNCTION
Organizational Issues in the Control of IT Activities
? From centralized, IT-driven innovation to decentralized, user-driven innovation.
? User-driven innovation over IT department
projects. ? From decentralized, user-driven innovation to centralized IT management. ? From decentralized, user-driven innovation to unexpected centralized innovation.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance
IT Dominance
Too much emphasis on database and system maintenance. All new systems must fit data structure of existing system. All requests for service require system study with benefit identification.
User Dominance
Too much emphasis on problem focus. IT feels out of control. Explosive growth in number of new systems and supporting staff. Multiple suppliers deliver services. Frequent change in supplier of specific service.
Standardization dominates with few Lack of standardization and control exceptions. over data and systems. IT designs/constructs everything. Benefits of user control over development discussed but never Hard evidence of benefits nonexistent. Soft evidence of benefits not organized.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance – Contd.
IT Dominance
Study always shows construction costs less than outside purchase. Headcount of distributed minis and development staff growing surreptitiously. IT specializing in technical frontiers, not user oriented markets. IT spending 80 % on maintenance, 20 % on development.
User Dominance
Technical advice of IT not sought; if received, considered irrelevant. User buying design, construction, maintenance, and operations services from outside. User building networks to own unique needs, not to corporate need. Some users are growing rapidly in experience and use, while others feel nothing is relevant because they do not understand. No coordinated effort between users for technology transfer or learning from experience.
IT thinks it is in control of all.
Possible Implications of Excess IT and User Dominance – Contd.
IT Dominance
Users expresses unhappiness. Portfolio of development opportunities firmly under IT control. No strong user group exists.
User Dominance
Growth in duplication of technical staffs. Dramatically rising communications costs because of redundancy. Duplication of effort and input everywhere because different data, hardware, and communications will not allow seamless movement.
General management not involved but concerned.
Drivers Toward User Dominance
? Pent-up user demand
? The need for staff flexibility ? Growth in the IT services industry ? Users’ desire to control their own destiny ? Fit with the organization
Drivers Toward a Centralized IT Structure
? Staff professionalism
? Standard setting and ensuring system
maintainability ? Envisioning possibilities and determining feasibility ? Corporate data management ? Cost estimation and analysis
Coordination and Location of IT Policy
? IT Responsibilities
? User Responsibilities ? General Management Support and Policy
Overview
IT Responsibilities
? Develop and manage the evolution of a longterm architectural plan. ? Develop a process to establish, maintain, and evolve company standards. ? Establish procedures that consider outsourcing options when new IT projects are proposed. ? Maintain an inventory of installed or planned-tobe-installed information services. ? Identify career paths for IT staff.
IT Responsibilities – Contd.
? Establish internal marketing efforts for IT support. ? Prepare a detailed checklist of questions to be answered in any hardware/software acquisition to ensure that relevant issues are raised. ? Identify and maintain relationships with
preferred systems suppliers. ? Establish education programs for potential users. ? Set up an on going review of legacy systems to determine when they should be redesigned and/or replaced.
User Responsibilities
? Clearly understand the scope of all IT activities supporting the ? ? ? ? ?
user. Appraise the amount of user personnel investment required for each new project. Ensure comprehensive user input for all IT projects that will support vital aspects of the unit’s operations. Ensure that the IT-user interface is consistent with a new technology’s strategic relevance to a business unit. Periodically audit system reliability standards, communication services performance and security procedures. Participate in the development and maintenance of an IT plan.
General Management Support and Policy Overviewthat an appropriate balance exists between ? Ensure
IT and user inputs. ? Ensure that a comprehensive IT strategy is developed. ? Manage the inventory of hardware and software resources, and assure the corporate view extends to purchasing relationships and contracts. ? Facilitate the creation of standards for acquisition, development and operations activities.
General Management Support and Policy Overview – Contd.
? Facilitate transfer of technology from one unit to another.
? Actively encourage experimentation.
? Assume responsibility for developing an appropriate planning and control system to link IT firmly to the company’s goals.
doc_679503701.ppt