Managing Information: Information Technology Architecture Infsy 540 Dr. R. Ocker.

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?