Part I, Chapter I
Management In The Information Age
CHAPTER REVIEW
Chapter I introduces the topic of information technology management and lays the foundation for the material in subsequent chapters. Information technology creates opportunities and challenges for the most people in the industrialized world. Managers in particular are heavily impacted by the advances in technology because information technology alters the practice of management.
Chapter 1 discusses the management task in the presence of advances in information technology. It discusses the evolution of information technology within the firm and outlines the essential difficulties for IT managers and for the firm. Management issues surrounding the maturation of information technology are developed; critical success factors for managers of maturing IT organization are presented. Chapter 1 concludes with a model for studying IT management.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Why information technology is important and what it means for IT managers in particular.
Why expectations are important and what role they play in IT management.
The relationship of information to organizations in general and to the IT organization in particular and the role of the typical IT function in the firm.
What factors make the IT managerís job challenging.
How firms and organizations within them mature in their adoption and use of information technology.
What current issues surround information technology and why management and enterprise-wide issues are prominent.
What IT managersí critical success factors are and how IT managers can use this knowledge for success.
DETAILED LECTURE OUTLINE
WHY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS IMPORTANT
It has a large impact on employees, managers, and firms.
It is a relatively recent and rapidly changing influence.
IT creates opportunities and challenges for people.
IT is vital to industrialized societies.
The dispersion of the technology is very rapid.
EXPECTATIONS
Information systems raise challenges for managers.
Expectations held by executives are critically important.
IT managers must take a technology leadership position.
IT managers must manage expectations.
Expectations govern the assessment of performance
Sound process and general management skills are required.
ORGANIZATIONS AND INFORMATION
THE IT ORGANIZATION IN THE FIRM
Is usually a functional organization like marketing, etc.
Sometimes operates as a business within a business.
THE ROLE OF THE IT ORGANIZATION
The IT organization supports many other functions of the firm.
It provides applications and services to the firm.
IT acts as staff to others who provide IT services.
STRUCTURES AND INFORMATION
Levels of management and span of control.
Information characteristics vs. levels of management.
Sources and uses of information.
Strategic, tactical, and operational activities.
Structured and unstructured decisions.
Information technology in altering structure.
THE CHALLENEGES OF IT MANAGEMENT
Many IT managers have difficulty managing successfully.
General management skills are essential for success.
COMPLEXITY
The evolving technology introduces complexity.
Opportunities and challenges are increasing.
PERVASIVENESS
Information technology is spreading rapidly through the firm.
Telecommunications and microcomputers are leading the way.
APPLICATIONS
Application programs are becoming much more sophisticated.
Large data bases are associated with the applications.
BUSINESS CONTROLS
Controls are increasingly important as technology disperses.
ENVIROMENTAL FACTORS
International factors are playing a larger role.
Governmental action and political concerns are increasing.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
Strategic concerns are highly significant.
IT organizations must be responsive to current trends.
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
Technology alters the work environment.
Structural changes result from technology adoption.
ORGANIZATION ADOPTION AND USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
STAGES OF GROWTH
Stages-of-growth concept provides some predictability.
It is useful in IT planning.
It relates to new technology introduction.
Stages include:
initiation
contagion
control
integration
data administration
maturity
CURRENT ISSUES SURROUNDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
The practice of managing technology is maturing.
IT managers face technology and management issues.
Management issues are more important than technology issues.
General management issues are the most critical.
THE CONCEPT OF CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
CSFs are necessary conditions for success.
CSFs apply to the IT managerís position.
Business and policy issues are highly important.
Strategic and competitive issues (long range).
Planning and implementation concerns (intermediate).
Operational issues (short range).
There may be others specific to the firm.