Strategic Planning for Information Systems

Question 1

Why plan IS developments?

Answer 1

Coordination, align with organisational aims, business objectives, organisation success.

Question 2

What is IS strategy?

Answer 2

Concerned with organisational needs.

Question 3

What is IT strategy?

Answer 3

Focuses on technological solutions.

Question 4

What is SISP and what might it give you?

Answer 4

Strategic Information System Planning. (IT + IS strategy) + (Alignment with corporate goals) = Business Advantage.

Question 5

List the benefits of SISP:

Answer 5

Strategic investment.
Investments support objectives.
Better information management.
IS can provide a competitive advantage.
Reduce maintenance costs.
Commits company to making it work.
Can prioritise investment.

Question 6

What are the 7 stages to the planning process?

Answer 6

1. Establish team.
2. Confirm objectives and where SISP is needed.
3. Situation analysis.
4. What do we want from this SISP?
5. How are we going to get there? (Timeline and goals)
6. Develop implementation plan.
7. Evaluate the project and align with company objectives.

Question 7

What are the 6 considerations of informatics strategy?

Answer 7

1. Mission.
2. Goal.
3. Strategy.
4. Policy.
5. Decision.
6. Action.

Question 8

Give an example of informatics strategy:

Answer 8

Mission: Be an industry cost leader.
Goal: Increase staff productivity 5% over 3 years.
Strategy: Reduce time taken to process transactions.
Policy: Improve system integration.
Decision: Introduce corporate wide system.
Action: Set up and resource implementation project.

(Flow chart on powerpoint)

Question 9

What might an SISP achieve?

Answer 9

Corrections to existing systems.
Enhancements to existing systems.
Major new information systems development projects.
Research projects.

Question 10

Give a current example of where an SISP may help:

Answer 10

Claims fraud is a huge issue in the insurance industry. Mainly handled manually. Employees spot patterns with experience. Because there are patterns an AI system could be implemented to assess claims and learn patterns humans may miss. Think about adv and disadv.

Question 11

How might companies determine a timeframe?

Answer 11

Discrete: A set time period to achieve specified projects.
Continuous: SISPs on an evolutionary basis where and when the company needs.

Question 12

Advantages of continuous approach:

Answer 12

Exposes issues quicker.
Alignment with objectives.
Keep up with tech changes.

Question 13

Disadvantages of continuous approach:

Answer 13

May lose sight of goals.

Employees may struggle to focus.

Question 14

What are the outputs of SISPs?

Answer 14

IDATO: Information requirements, data needed, applications (SISP mission), tech infrastructure, organisation (Mission).

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of SISPs?

Answer 15

Time consuming.
Costly (NHS).
May not be a full project.
Lack of managerial commitment.
Inflexible.