Managing Information:Information Technology
Architecture
Infsy 540
Dr. R. Ocker
Strategy
What is a business strategy?
Strategy
What is the relationship between IT and the business strategy?
managers’ dilemma
managers’ dilemma: cannot leave important IT decisions to
computer professionals to make alone, but managers are not technically competent to make the “right” decisions without technologists
managers’ dilemma dilemma resolved by developing an
information technology architecture
bridge between strategy and technology
defines a company’s IT infrastructure
includes policies and guidelines that govern the
IT resources
• computers, data, software, communications facilities
Link IS plan to business plan Linkage achieved if
– corporate business plan states information needs
– IS plan refers to requirements of business plan & is checked against plan
– non-IS managers participate in IS planning process and vice versa
– corporate & IS planning calendars are in synch
Strategy
IT must support the business strategy 3 dimensions of support
– content– timing– people involved in planning process
Information Technology Architecture
provides a structure to facilitate decision
making about technology investment
and use
Architecture is the metaphor
Architecture is the metaphor - building IT infrastructure
to build a skyscraper:– owner starts with vision of building– works with architect who translates vision
into a plan
Architecture is the metaphor
builders uses plan to construct building owner does not have expertise in
structural engineering, but must have clear ideas of what and how the building will be used.
Must understand some basics of design in order to communicate vision to the architect.
Architecture is the metaphor to build an IT architecture: executives start with a vision of “doing
business”– vision has certain implications for information
requirements don’t have technical computer expertise do have clear idea of business strategy must communicate this to IT
architect/planner
Architecture is the metaphor
general managers must be able to effectively integrate IT into their vision for the organization’s competitive strategy
Components of an IT Architecture
1. Information technology inventory 2. Functional use of the IT 3. Strategic plan for the IT
1. Information technology inventory
answers the question “what do we have?”
basic building blocks of an IT architecture– hardware– software– data– communications links
1.Information technology inventory
this level is the “hard” technology from which most
general managers are far removed
general manager should have a basic familiarity
with computer systems to bridge the gap between
his/her world and that of the IT architect;
IT architect must have a good understanding of
the business and the organization
2. Functional use of the IT answers the question “how do we use it?” baseline blueprint - IT components and
functions already in place planned blueprint - prescription for future IT
investments and designs general manager and IT architect
communicate on this conceptual level 3 functional categories: applications, data
and communications
3. Strategic plan for the IT past - general managers were unfamiliar with
technology and delegated IT architecture decisions to “gurus”
however, these experts in technology often had little knowledge of business strategies
now - can’t afford this approach; technology too expensive and too important
business strategy must drive IT architecture strategy
Developing an IT Architecture
designing and building an architecture is an ongoing business process
goal - to reach consensus between the IS organization and the business leaders - not easy to do
Developing an IT ArchitectureSteps: 1. articulate business strategy and
implications for IT architecture start from the top with the overall
business strategy and its functional IT requirements
2. baseline the company architecture baseline blueprint - assess existing IT bottom-up approach
Developing an IT ArchitectureSteps: 3. determine key architecture questions outline set of questions to be answered,
such as:– what technologies do we have?– are these the right technologies?– how does the current architecture support
our business?– are we getting a strategic advantage from
our architecture?
Developing an IT ArchitectureSteps: then look into the future to the planned
blueprint:– in what technologies should we invest?– how should it be structured?– how will it give us a competitive
advantage?– should we outsource any functions?– etc.
Developing an IT ArchitectureSteps: 4. design a planned architecture
blueprint decide what the architecture should be
Developing an IT ArchitectureSteps: 5. initiate the architecture plan two approaches - revolutionary vs.
evolutionary revolution - radical replacement of old
technology evolution - new technology layered on
top of existing infrastructure; old systems gradually replaced over time
Understand?
Questions?
