Importance of Info Systems Flashcards
Why is IS important in modern society?
Essential for communication, growth and productivity in modern society. Impact is ubiquitous (health, defence, education, commerce etc..).
What are some causes of IS failures (and the 2 most important)?
The main cause of failure is poor alignment between developers and users, and perhaps waterfall methodology.
Other reasons include poor PM, poor communication, inexperience, insufficient testing, too ambitious, etc…).
What are 2 examples if high profile IT project failures and why they failed?
1) FiREControl Program, sought to reduce it’s control centres, failed to deliver any of it’s requirements due to poor PM’ing which resulted in £469m of wasted public money.
2) National Program for IT (NPfIT), sought to reform how the NHS uses information, failed due to poor requirements capture and resulting in an estimated £12.7b loss.
Describe the NpfIT project and suggest some causes of failures?
1) Created in 2002, and meant to reform how NHS uses information, make it paperless and to connect the NHS.
2) Largest IT program failure, estimated cost £12.7b; Full cost unknown, supplier absorbed costs.
3) Urgently dismantled due to delays and gov’ concluded that “it isn’t fit to provide the modern IT services the NHS needs.
4) Reasons for failure: Poor req capture, poor negotiating capabilities, poor PM, failure to understand complexity, issues in persuading ‘trust’ and to foster usage.
Why are IS poorly understood by the public?
IS is a relatively new discipline; it’s very complex and fast changing.
