Chapter 11 - IS Management Flashcards
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
The title of the principal manager of the IS department. Usually reports to the CEO or COO. If the primary IS supports only accounting and finance activities, the CIO might report to the CFO.
The Major Functions of the IS Department
- Plan the use of IS to accomplish organizational goals and strategy
- Manage outsourcing relationships
- Protect information assets
- Develop, operate, and maintain the organization’s computing infrastructure
- Develop, operate, and maintain applications
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Heads the technology office. Evaluates new technologies, new ideas, and new capabilities and identifies those that are most relevant to the organization.
Operations
Manages the computing infrastructure, including individual computers, in-house server farms, networks, and communication media. Monitors the user experience and responds to user problems.
Development
Manages the process of creating new information systems as well as maintaining existing ones. Maintenance means either fixing problems or supporting new features and functions.
Size and structure of Development (in-house or not)
If programs are not developed in house, this department will be staffed primarily by business an systems analysts who acquire and install licensed software. If development is in-house the department will include programmers, test engineers, technical writers, etc.
Outsourcing Relations
This group exists in organizations that have negotiated outsourcing agreements with other companies to provide equipment, applications, or other services.
Data Administration
Protects data and information assets by establishing data standards and data management practices and policies.
IS planning functions
- Align IS with organizational strategy; maintain alignment as organization changes
- Communicate IS/IT issues to executive group
- Develop/enforce IS priorities within the IS department
- Sponsor the steering committee
Steering Committee
A group of senior managers from the major business functions that works with the CIO to set IS priorities and decide among major IS projects and alternatives.
Outsourcing
The process of hiring another organization to perform a service.
Popular Reasons for Outsourcing IS Services
- Management advantages
- Obtain expertise
- Avoid management problems
- Free management time
- Cost reduction
- Obtain part-time services
- Gain economies of scale
- Risk reduction
- Cap financial exposure
- Improve quality
- Reduce implementation risk
Outsourcing Risks
- Loss of control
- Vendor in driver’s seat
- Technology direction
- Potential loss of intellectual property
- Product fixes, enhancements in wrong priority
- Vendor management, direction, or identity changes
- CIO superfluous
- Benefits outweighed by long-term costs
- High unit cost, forever
- Paying for someone else’s mismanagement
- In time, outsource vendor is de facto sole source
- May not get what you pay for but don’t know it
- No easy exit
- Critical knowledge in minds of vendors, not employees
- Expensive and risky to change vendors
You have a right to:
- Computer hardware and programs that allow you to perform your job proficiently
- Reliable network and Internet connections
- A secure computing environment
- Protection from viruses, worms, and other threats
- Contribute to requirements for new system features and functions
- Reliable systems development and maintenance
- Prompt attention to problems, concerns, and complaints
- Properly prioritized problem fixes and resolutions
- Effective training
You have a responsibility to:
- Learn basic computer skills
- Learn standard techniques and procedures for the applications you use
- Follow security and backup procedures
- Protect your password(s)
- Use computers and mobile devices according to your employer’s computer use policy
- Make no unauthorized hardware modifications
- Install only authorized programs
- Apply software patches and fixes when directed to do so
- When asked, devote the time required to respond carefully and completely to requests for requirements for new system features and functions
- Avoid reporting trivial problems
