Week 3- The strategic framework and enterprise re-engineering

Source / Reference:
1) Sullivan, C.H. Jr.: "Systems Planning in the Information Age," Sloan Business Review, 1985


Subject: 
How can we adopt appropriate information system planning approach?


Response:
The answer is by analyzing strategic framework.
To adopt appropriate information system planning approach , the analysis on the context of the organization should be carried out first.

Week 3 lecture introduced strategic framework to analyze the external and internal context of an organization. The result of the analysis can be used to know what information system planning approach should be adopted.

Before talking about strategic framework, let me introduce different information system planning approach mentioned in paper written by Sullivan.[1]

PEST analysis is for analyzing the external macro-environment in aspects of political, economic, social and technological. 

SWOT analysis is for analyzing internal and external micro-environment. The former includes strengths and weaknesses while the latter includes opportunities and threats. 

Sullivan’s framework focus the IS/IT perspectives in the internal environment. The analysis is based on infusion and diffusion factors. Infusion is the degree to which IT has penetrated a company in terms of importance, impact, or significance. Diffusion is the degree of decentralization of IT control.

Hence, the analysis framework can be represented in below:

After analysis of both external and internal environment, we can have better understanding on influences of different information system planning approaches in organizations.  It is because analysis enables us to know where our organization stands to adjust approach to fit our circumstances.

It is really important to note that environment is changing continuously. Therefore, organizations should change or modify the approach in response to their context change in order to maintain the competitiveness in the industry.

After attending lecture and reviewing online resources, I have learnt different analysis frameworks and information system planning approaches. Result from the analysis for the external and internal environment is the crucial factor in choosing appropriate approach in current circumstances, which will determine the competitiveness of an organization in the industry.