1. The Information Systems Planning Process
Meeting the Challenges of Information Systems Planning
Olive Nyathira
Tim Kamau
Daniel Kamara
Winnie Mbaluka

2. Introduction
Strategic information systems planning (SISP) has been defined as the process of identifying a portfolio of computer-based applications that will assist an organization in executing its business plans and realizing its existing business goals.
Strategic IS planning is assessing the information needs of an organization and defining the systems, databases and technologies that best satisfy those need.
SISP helps organizations use information systems in innovative ways to build barriers against new entrants, change the basis of competition, generate new products, build in switching costs, or change the balance of power in supplier relationships
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3. Objectives of SISP
Improve communication between computer users and MIS departments,
Increase top management support for computing,
Better forecast and allocate information system resource requirements,
determine opportunities for improving the MIS department
Identify new and higher payback computer applications.
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4. Objectives continued….
Identification of strategic information systems applications – those that can give the organization a competitive edge,
Development of an organization wide information architecture
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5. Why SISP is important
Systematic approach in dealing with future uncertainties (many in the IS/ICT sector).
It focuses efforts and resources on long-term, general objectives and yet provides a foundation for short-term activities.
Provides a framework for action (planning involves thinking ahead and designing future action.
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6. Elements of SISP
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7. Why SISP?
To ensure that IS both complements and assists in the achievement of the business goals
To ensure that the use of scarce resources are maximized/optimized within a business
To maximize the benefits of emerging ICT
To take account of the different viewpoints of business professionals and IT professionals
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8. Who Performs SISP? IS planners and systems analysts
Variety of stakeholders (i.e. sponsor, users)
Top management commitment leads to successful SIS
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9. Where and When SISP?
Any organization that has interest in getting the best out of its IT investments
When facing problems
Grabbing opportunities that are presenting themselves daily
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10. How SISP? Look at business structure, function, processes, culture
Look at existing and available IT
Develop policies
Plan schedules for migration, design, implementation and maintenance
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11. SISP Approaches 1.) Business-led approach
Business plans are the base upon which IS plans are built – business planning is the driver
2.) Method-driven approach
Use of consultant and external experts who use formal techniques or methods and drive SISP
3.) Administrative approach
Emphasis on resource planning and viability of IT/IS
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12. SISP Approaches continued….
4.) Technological approach
Mapping the activities, processes and data flows of the business leading to the formulation of a business model
5.) Organizational approach
IS decisions is the outcome of continuous integration between the IS function and the organization
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13. SISP Approaches continued….
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14. 5 Approaches Summarized
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15. SISP Issues 1.) Implementation issues
Implementing projects and the data architecture identified in the plan requires extensive analysis (continuous process)
Detailed documentation throughout implementation is vital
Adapting prioritization in developing needed databases/systems
2.) Leadership issues
It is difficult to secure top management commitment for implementing plans
Success of the methodology is greatly dependent on the team leader
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16. SISP Issues continued…
3.) Resource Issues
Methodology lacks sufficient support
Planning process is sometimes too long and expensive
Integrating the role of human resources development and training (qualified team members)
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17. Carrying out SISP 1.) Choose Methodology
Business Systems Planning (BSP)
PROplanner
Information Engineering
Method/1
2.) Embark on major, intensive study
Identify and prioritize portfolio of applications
Define databases, data elements, supporting network
Prepare schedule for developing and installing
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18. Conclusion
Effective SISP is a major challenge facing business executives today. It is an essential activity for unlocking the significant potential that information technology offers to organizations. This chapter has examined the challenges of SISP.
Strategic information systems planners are not particularly satisfied with SISP. After all, it requires extensive resources. Top management commitment is often difficult to obtain. When the SISP study is complete,
further analysis may be required before the plan can be executed. The execution of the plan might not be very extensive. Thus, while SISP offers a great deal – the potential to use information technology to realize current business strategies and to create new ones – too often it is not satisfactorily done. In fact, despite its complex information technology ingredient, SISP is very similar to many other business planning endeavors. For this reason alone, the involvement of top management and business planners has become increasingly indispensable.
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