PRELIM NOTES

Managing Information Resources & Technologies To serve customers well… companies need to be proficient in half a dozen key areas: reduced cycle times, reduced asset levels, faster development of new products, improved customer service, increasing empowerment of employees, increased knowledge sharing and learning. Information technology is a critical resource for accomplishing all these goals

The major resources for any organization The fourth major resource required for shaping and operating an organization are: 1.People 2.Money 3.Machines 4.IT

Definition of IRM Information Resource Management (IRM) is the foundation for managing data, information, knowledge to maximize the quality, usability and value of their information resources. The management (planning, organization, operations and control ) of the resources (human and physical) concerned with the systems support (development, enhancement and maintenance) and the servicing (processing, transformation, distribution, storage and retrieval) of information for an enterprise.

Managers and IT Need of the day is “Right information, in the right place, in the right format and at the right time” An Integrating concept that ties together the Environment Levels of management Business areas Information resources users Mangers at all levels for identifying, acquiring, and managing Information Resources needed to satisfy Information resources

Managers and IT

Poor IS Performance or IT Pitfalls: Botched development projects Escalating costs with no apparent economic benefit Organizational disruption Technical glitches

Performance Problems in Information Systems

Management Involvement and Governance Successful information systems performance requires involvement of business managers in IS governance.

Organizations and IT – Organization is a Sociotechnical system. – This concept emphasizes that to improve an organization’s performance, managers must: 1.Enhance the technical side in an organization. 2.Pay more attention to the IT department in an organization 3.Be sure that all employees in an organization have the basic information about the using of IT and how to employ it to serve the customers

Organizational Impact of IT Basic Components of an Organization

IRM Concepts or Five Major Dimensions of IRM

Strategic Management The IS function must manage information technology so that it makes major contributions to the profitability and strategic objective of the firm. IRM focuses on developing and managing information systems that: – Improve operational efficiency – Promote innovative products and services – Build strategic alliance and information resources

Chief Information Officer (CIO) A senior management position that oversee all use of information technology in the organization and bring them into alignment with strategic business goals. CIO concentrates on long-term planning and strategy To act as the IT conscience of the organization

Functions To forge and carry out a vision of IS as a vital corporate resource. To bring systems out of the back room and into the competitive marketplace. To coordinate an increasingly decentralized IT. To serve as a driving “engine of change.”

Operational Management The IRM concept that managerial functions and techniques and organizational structures common to business can be used to manage information technology.

Resource Management From an IRM point of view, data and information, hardware and software, telecommunications networks, and IS personnel are valuable resources that should be managed for the benefit of the entire organization. The success or failure of an information services organization rests primarily on the quality of its people. Human Resource Management of IT – Recruit qualified personnel – Develop, organize, and direct the capabilities of existing personnel – Train employees – Design career paths and set salary and wage levels

Technology Management Also called Emerging technologies or Advanced technology groups (ATG) ATGs typically report to the chief information officer and are staffed with former senior systems analysts and other specialists in information system technology Their job is to monitor emerging technology developments that high potential payoffs to the firm.

Distributed Management Responsibility for managing technology is increasingly being distributed to the managers of an organization at all levels and in all functions. IRM is not just the responsibility of an organization’s CIO.

Managing End User Computing User Services or Client Services Functions to support and manage the organization’s explosion in end user or workgroup computing. Provides both opportunities and problems for business unit managers Help desks Establish and enforce policies

Managing Internet Access Managing internet access within organizations is a major new management responsibility. Providing internet access to employees raises several challenging managerial issues: – Network capacity – Legitimate work-time use of internet by employee – Liability for the contents of employee s – Developing company standards for internet