Question 1

Describe the concept of 'business value'. In your attempt, you should illustrate how IT/IS can help to deliver business value.

Accepted Answer

'Value' has a different meaning for different stakeholders - conflicting definitions of business value. Main ones use value (are properties of products and services that provide utility); and exchange value (is a monetary amount exchanged between the firm and its customers or suppliers when use values are traded); and between value creation and value capture.
Good students will clearly link the concept of business value to IT/IS and introduce the following or similar concepts - value chain, the supply chain and CRM, B2B, B2C and so on.

Question 2

Critically review the properties of a Strategic Information System (SIS), and discuss how a SIS might remain strategic. Give examples where appropriate.

Accepted Answer

A strategic information system is an IS that gives a company competitive advantage. It enables the company to provide a service that other companies cannot provide, or it enables processes to be carried out in an efficient way which gives the company an advantage in speed or flexibility. Not a specific type of system - relates more to a different/particular type of use/usage
Describe/discuss classic examples of SIS such as SABRE airlines reservation system and the American Hospital Supplies ASAP system
However, SISs do not remain unique for very long. Competitors will soon copy the system and provide the same service, in which case the competitive advantage is lost. An SIS can only remain strategic if it is linked to business processes which cannot be copied by competitors. This may involve:
• unique solutions to problems,
• patentable technology,
• an organisational culture, or set of attitudes without which the IS is not effective,
• a way of organising teams and a set of organisational knowledge which is unique,
• size. politics and context of the organisation,
• linking the SIS to the core competencies.
Overall there is a need to 'keep an SIS strategic'

Question 3

Distinguish between an Information Systems (IS) Strategy and an Information Technology (IT) Strategy, and explain why such strategies are needed as part of the overall organisational strategy.

Accepted Answer

• IT Strategy focusing on the technological architecture (the `How´)
• IS Strategy concerned with linking developments with business needs (the `What´)
• Better students will touch on IM Strategy (business value and tactics)
• Excellent studetns will touch on an information strategy- life blood and feeds all the other systems.

Question 4

Critically review Luftman's Strategic Alignment Maturity Model as a tool for assisting organisations to achieve an alignment between the strategic goals of the organisation and the current and future IT infrastructure of the organisation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critically review Luftman's Strategic Alignment Maturity Model...

Question 5

Choose Geographical Information Systems (GIS) OR Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), as a strategic option. Critically discuss how you (as the Director of IT/IS of a large house building firm) would manage the strategic option you have chosen.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose Geographical Information Systems (GIS) OR Radio...

Question 6

Critically evaluate whether or not an IS Strategy may help an organisation to achieve a competitive advantage. If an IS Strategy can help an organisation achieve a competitive advantage - how might an organisation sustain such an advantage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critically evaluate whether or not an IS...

Question 7

Write a briefing paper for an audience of senior business managers regarding the state of Strategic Information Systems Planning within the IT/IS/IM profession.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Write a briefing paper for an audience...

Question 8

Compare and contrast Geographical Information Systems (GIS) with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Your answer should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, as well as issues which you regard as important when attempting to consider deploying these technologies as strategic weapons in business today.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast Geographical Information Systems (GIS)...

Question 9

What approaches could an organisation adopt when attempting to develop innovative uses of IT/IS?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What approaches could an organisation adopt when...

Question 10

Despite the widely held perception that IT/IS systems can 'add value' to business, there have been a number of well published IT/IS failures (for example, the London Ambulance Service, the London Stock Exchange's Project Taurus, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Project Trilogy and Nike's Project Integrated Enterprise Software).
Discuss what may lead to the dramatic failure of strategic information systems planning efforts, and suggest what mechanisms should be part of any strategic information systems planning effort to minimise the risk of failure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite the widely held perception that IT/IS...

Question 11

Discuss why Public Sector Organisations may experience difficulties in developing an Information Systems Strategy. As part of your answer you should suggest solutions to the difficulties you discuss.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss why Public Sector Organisations may experience...

Question 12

Discuss why SMEs may experience difficulties in developing an Information Systems Strategy. As part of your answer you should suggest solutions to the difficulties you discuss.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss why SMEs may experience difficulties in...

Question 13

Critically contrast the classical (e.g. John Ward's BISS Approach) and evolutionary approaches (e.g. Michael Earl's Multiple Methodology) to developing an Information Systems Strategy following SISP principles and guidance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critically contrast the classical (e.g. John Ward's...

Question 14

With reference to your studies on Information Systems failures, analyse the typical problems that might be expected to arise within Information Systems projects. Illustrate your answer with reference to literature and any relevant examples. Suggest remedies to the problems you have identified.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With reference to your studies on Information...

Question 15

Discuss the role which Michael Porter's Five Forces Model and Value Chain Analysis can play when developing an Information Systems Strategy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the role which Michael Porter's Five...

Exam 2: Analysis and Value Chain Analysis As Tools for Developing an Information Systems Strategy