INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION With a weakened global economy, consumer confidence at record lows, and widespread layoffs unlike anything we have seen in over eighty years, information technology is taking on new roles in the business world. CIO's are relying more heavily on IT in order to reduce operating costs, increase productivity and give their companies a competitive edge. Historically viewed as an expense and liability, IT is now being thought of as strategic business enabler. Management of IT and the associated strategy, funding and security are top of mind for many in today's challenging environment. Executives are under more pressure than ever to maximize return on their technology investments. However, our research has revealed that there are several key concerns that appear to be trending throughout corporations as they determine the exact roles IT should play.
READINGS
Members of the group read several chapters from the textbook, Information Technology for Management: Improving Performance in the Digital Economy (Turban and Volonino, 7th Edition), as well as numerous articles on various information technology subjects. A topic which received a significant amount of attention throughout our readings is the importance of aligning IT strategies with the business priorities of the company, and how this is critical to the success of an organization. An important component of this alignment is ensuring that the IT division in involved in the development of business strategies. A company’s business strategy is basically the overall direction or plan of the business. Information Systems (IS) strategy defines what information is required and what systems are needed to support the business strategy. Information Technology (IT) Strategy determines how services are delivered by the organization. IT-Business