copyright © 2004 sherif kamel information systems planning sherif kamel the american university in...

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel

Information Systems Planning

Sherif Kamel

The American University in Cairo


Outline

Objectives IS planning – the process What is an information system plan? Planning Qs for information systems IS plan as part of the business plan Challenges, principles and users role in IS planning Conclusion


Objectives

Improved organisational performance through IS/ITo Alignment of IS/IT with organisational goalso Competitive advantage

Establish a rational and flexible platform for the future Provide basis for budgeting and context for medium term

decisions regarding infrastructure development and renovation


Information systems planningthe process

The work of planning, building and managing information systems includes:o Identifying the customero Determining the product of the business processo Finding a balance between

Business process Participants Information Technology Results expected by the customer


What is an information system plan?

Information systems planning is the part of business planning concerned with deploying the firm’s information systems resources including:o Peopleo Hardwareo Software


Planning Qs for Information Systems

At the strategic level…o What are the expectations?o Which vendors will perform major functions that are outsourced?o What needs to be done to accomplish the desired goals?o What are the major completion dates?o What technology will be used or needs to be available to do the

work?o What capacities need to be present so that the firm can compete

in the future?o How will business processes change in terms of detailed

operation and controllable results?


Planning Qs for Information Systems

At the project level…o Who will work on each project?o Who will decide how the business process will operate?o Who will support and manage the IS after it is in operation?o What capabilities are required for the IS?o What will be the individual steps in the project?o When the individual steps will be completed?o How will the system development techniques be used to produce

the desired results?o How will the different units work together in the project?


IS plan as part of the business plan

CompetitionResourcesAmbitions

HistoryAbility to change

Business Plan

Sales and marketing planProduction plan

Finance planHuman resources plan

Information system plan

GoalsObjectivesPriorities


It is important to…

Align business goals and systems plans Continuously change Materials (hardware and software) Sharing responsibility both (top-down and bottom-up) Clarify the strategy Understand that IS is part of the organizational structure

at large and not a support function or service


Challenges in IS planning

Difficulty in foreseeing and assessing opportunitieso It is usually difficult to foresee who IS innovations will develop

SABRE reservation system of American Airlineso IS should be reviewed periodically and should be designed to be

flexible and extendable

Difficulty assuring consistency with organizational plans and objectiveso Issue of developing an information architecture and infrastructure

that spans across departmental boundaries within an organization


Challenges in IS planning

Difficulty in building systemso IS are complex and involve many organizational, political and

technological tradeoffs; failures in IS development include: London stock exchange Bank of America

o It requires consistent and rational IS investment and visionary management


Challenges in IS planning Difficulty maintaining IS performance

o Customer expectations is key including: Cost, quality, responsiveness and reliability of

products and services produced Business processes within IS may lack productivity,

flexibility of security Problems could arise from occasional inaccuracy

Difficulty collaborating with system builderso Business and IT professionals frequently disagreeo While IT professionals analyze and design useful IS, business

professionals are more into non-systematic solutions and business processes


Principles in IS planning

Support the firm’s business strategy with appropriate technological architecture, standards and policies

Evaluate technology as a component of a larger system Recognize life cycle costs, not just acquisition costs Design IS to be maintainable Recognize the human side of technology use Support and control the technological system


User roles in IS planning

Sponsorso Senior managers recognizing the importance of an information

system and make sure resources are allocated for building and maintaining the IS Most important resource is people = users of the IS

Championso Individuals who recognize the importance of IS and exert efforts

to make sure that the IS is recognized as vital by others in the organization (promoters of the technology and innovations)

IS steering committeeso Experts who make sure that IS effort reflects business priorities

across the organization


Conclusion

IS plans…o must look towards the futureo must be intrinsic to business planningo penetrates many aspects of our life

Information systems is…o high-expenditure activityo critical to many organisationso needed by our economic contexto affect all levels of managemento involve many stakeholderso affected by the management style

copyright © 2004 sherif kamel information systems planning sherif kamel the american university in...

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