IT and E-Business

Question 1

What is the difference between IT and IS

Answer 1

IS - umbrella term

IT falls within the umbrella

Question 2

Aligning IS with Bus Strategy. IS / IT typically falls under functional strategy however what can it also do

Answer 2

Be a trigger for new corporate and bus strategy.
May be a competitive necessity
Internal / external / strategies developed amd new opps to adopt in strategy planning

Question 3

How can one id the crititicallity of IT

Answer 3

McFarlan Grid

Low Current / Low Future - Support
apps that help perform but not crititical to business. e.g accounting software

Low Current High Future - Turnaround - apps that may be of future strategic importance
- retailer moving online

High current low future - apps crititical to sustaining current
Banks

High high - strategic - apps critical for future success

Question 4

Mc Farlan Grid - forces that move orgs on the grid

can be what ?

Answer 4

Internal - matching IT to orgs ops and strategy e.g improve productivity - value chain useful tool here

External - changes in comp environment- use Porters

Question 5

Earls descibed IS / IM and IT Strategies. Whats a high level overview

Answer 5

IS strategy 
DIv / SBU and function based
Demand orientated 
Business focused 
Anwers the what - how aligned to bus needs 

IM Strategy
Org based
Relationship orientated
MGMT focused
Answers - which way, who does it and where located
Earls - planning, organising, controlling, technology (the methodologies, security practises, and data mgmt techniques)

IT Strategy 
Activity based 
Supply orientated 
Technology focused 
Answers the how - HW / Comms / office automation etc

Question 6

Is/it and Porters 5 forces

Answer 6

Use Porters to analyse SWOT

Either defending against forces or attacking in your favour

Question 7

IS / IT and Porters Generic Strateies

Answer 7

If strategy is known should be able to define a role of IS / IT

Question 8

Data processing costs typically goes through stages. Discuss

Answer 8

Known as Nolans stage hypothesis
Follows and S Curve
Initiation - startup
Contagiion - scale up
Control - Planning and methodologies introduced (dev stage of med/ large co
Integration Stage - across IT functions
Data Admin stage - emphasis now on information requiredment e.g BAnk
Maturity stage - IS / IT now in line with bus planning
Amazon / Airlines etc

Question 9

IT / IS can also impact Value chain

Answer 9

No question