Module 4: L1

Question 1

IT deployment requires investment. What is the central question an organization must ask themselves w/r to investing in IT?

Answer 1

What will the payoff be, i.e. what is the extent of the contribution of IT to strategic goals?

Question 2

For IT investment to be worthwhile, it must increase the organizations productivity. What are some examples of this (5x listed)?

Answer 2

1. Increase sales
2. Improve personnel performance
3. Reduce delivery time
4. Enhance problem solving
5. Make better info more available

Question 3

All improvements connect directly to the bottom line - profit for organization or public benefits. What are some features listed to this point (4x listed)?

Answer 3

1. Reference is performance before the investment
2. May need to do several of these at the same time
3. Some IT solutions improve and some worsen
4. Must determine precisely (not all IT is equal)

Question 4

An organization needs to ask themselves - is this the right IT for my organization? Why is this so (3x points)?

Answer 4

1. There may be a technology shortfall
2. Capability may fail to provide adequate support
3. Doesn’t fit business strategy

Question 5

An organization needs to ask themselves - is this the right strategy? Why is this so (3x points)?

Answer 5

1. There may be strategy shortfall
2. Business strategy fails to take advantage of available means
3. Opportunities provided by IT are missed

Question 6

Strategic alignment is ____________?

Answer 6

Strategy capitalizing on technology and technology supporting strategy

Question 7

Misalignment is a sum of what two things?

Answer 7

1. IT shortfall
2. Strategy shortfall

Question 8

IT & Strategy alignment is a process. What are some best practices for management to ensure this alignment (4x listed)?

Answer 8

1. Translate strategy into processes
2. IS and IT must be part of strategic thinking
3. Implementers must communicate w/ strategists
4. Create shared IT vision throughout

Question 9

We need a way to measure the alignment of IT & Strategy. What are some best practices/features of this statement (4x pts)?

Answer 9

1. Must be done at the level of IT impact
2. IT generally is measured at point of implementation
3. Strategy must be broken down to that level
4. It’s the only way to gauge the alignment

Question 10

Within the IT & Strategy alignment, there are some points regarding resources and capabilities brought up in the lecture. What 3x were mentioned?

Answer 10

1. Deploy resources and processes for desired effect, “work smarter not harder”
2. Identify firm-specific capabilities for competitive advantage
3. Develop case for combos of competences and resources