IS Strategic Planning for Operational Efficiency

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to argue that, despite the constant economic upheaval and incessant technological changes, strategic planning for information systems is still a useful and critically important exercise for all organizations. Eight tenets for successful IS planning are identified from prior literature and then “tested” with two case studies in which operational efficiency is the strategic IS goal. One of the unexpected findings is that a high-level written plan is not a requirement if the IS objectives clearly target a specific operational objective of the business. The paper also introduces the notion of exploitation and exploration strategies—the former is best when operational efficiency is sought and the latter is needed when competitive advantage is the primary goal.

[1]  Izak Benbasat,et al.  Factors That Influence the Social Dimension of Alignment Between Business and Information Technology Objectives , 2000, MIS Q..

[2]  Ton A. M. Spil,et al.  Dynamic and emergent information systems strategy formulation and implementation , 2002, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[3]  William R. King,et al.  Assessing the impact of integrating business planning and IS planning , 1996, Inf. Manag..

[4]  N. Goldsmith,et al.  Linking IT planning to business strategy , 1991 .

[5]  Henry Mintzberg,et al.  Rethinking strategic planning part I: Pitfalls and fallacies , 1994 .

[6]  Andrew Raskin,et al.  The Right Mind-Set for Managing Information Technology , 1998 .

[7]  W. R. King,et al.  Decision Processes for Developing Strategic Applications of Information Systems: A Contingency Approach* , 1992 .

[8]  Gomes Pj.  Is success a sin? A conversation with the reverend Peter J. Gomes. Interview by David A. Light. , 2001 .

[9]  Hans Lehmann.  Core competence and learning alliances – the new face of information management? , 1993, J. Inf. Technol..

[10]  J. Rockart,et al.  EIGHT IMPERATIVES FOR THE NEW IT ORGANIZATION , 1996 .

[11]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  Strategic information systems planning : the method/1 approach , 1992 .

[12]  Michael J. Earl,et al.  Experiences in Strategic Information Systems Planning , 1993, MIS Q..

[13]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  Key predictors of the implementation of strategic information systems plans , 2003, DATB.

[14]  George Philip,et al.  Managing expectations and benefits: a model for electronic trading and EDI in the insurance industry , 2005, J. Inf. Technol..

[15]  William R. King,et al.  Organizational Characteristics and Information Systems Planning: An Empirical Study , 1994, Inf. Syst. Res..

[16]  Irwin Brown,et al.  Testing and Extending Theory in Strategic Information Systems Planning Through Literature Analysis , 2004, Inf. Resour. Manag. J..

[17]  F. Sample.  Strategic information systems. , 1994, Medical group management journal.

[18]  Blake Ives,et al.  The information system as a competitive weapon , 1984, CACM.

[19]  William R. King,et al.  Integration Between Business Planning and Information Systems Planning: Validating a Stage Hypothesis , 1997 .

[20]  Robert D. Galliers,et al.  Towards the integration of e-business, knowledge management and policy considerations within an information systems strategy framework , 1999, J. Strateg. Inf. Syst..

[21]  Thompson S. H. Teo,et al.  An examination of major IS planning problems , 2001, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[22]  Carol V. Brown,et al.  Managing Information Technology , 1991 .

[23]  George Philip,et al.  Information systems management: role of planning, alignment and leadership , 2005, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[24]  M. Porter.  Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance , 1985 .

[25]  Charles M. Wiseman,et al.  Strategy and Computers: Information Systems As Competitive Weapons , 1985 .

[26]  William R. King,et al.  Assessing the impact of proactive versus reactive modes of strategic information systems planning , 2000 .

[27]  Kavin W. Moody,et al.  New Meaning to it Alignment , 2003, Inf. Syst. Manag..

[28]  Hubert Österle,et al.  Total Information Systems Management: A European Approach , 1994 .

[29]  James C. Wetherbe,et al.  Key Issues in Information Systems Management: 1994-95 SIM Delphi Results , 1996, MIS Q..

[30]  G. Philip,et al.  A new six 'S' framework on the relationship between the role of information systems (IS) and competencies in 'IS' management , 2001 .

[31]  Jerry N. Luftman.  Assessing It/Business Alignment , 2003, Inf. Syst. Manag..

[32]  Henry Mintzberg,et al.  Rethinking Strategic Planning Part II: New Roles for Planners , 1994 .

[33]  Michael J. Earl,et al.  Research Round-up:.: 1. Information Systems Strategy?Why Planning Techniques are not the Answer , 1996 .

[34]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  Rapid Information Technology Change, Coping Mechanisms, and the Emerging Technologies Group , 2001, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[35]  Peter B. DeBlois,et al.  Top-Ten IT Issues, 2008 , 2005 .

[36]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  Root Causes of Strategic Information Systems Planning Implementation Problems , 1992, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[37]  Nicholas G. Carr,et al.  Does IT Matter? Information Technology and the Corrosion of Competitive Advantage , 2004 .

[38]  William R. King,et al.  An empirical study of the impacts of integrating business planning and information systems planning , 1999 .

[39]  Tom G. Gough,et al.  An integrated framework for information systems planning and its initial application , 1993, J. Inf. Technol..

[40]  Henry Mintzberg.  The design school: Reconsidering the basic premises of strategic management , 1990 .

[41]  Ian G. MacDonald,et al.  Information Engineering , 2019, Information Systems Design Methodologies: Improving the Practice.

[42]  A. Lederer,et al.  Meeting the challenges of information systems planning. , 1992, Long range planning.

[43]  Michael Weber,et al.  Aligning Strategies, Processes, and it: A Case Study , 2000, Inf. Syst. Manag..

[44]  E. P. Michael.  Strategy and the Internet. , 2001 .

[45]  Nicholas G. Carr.  The corrosion of IT advantage: strategy makes a comeback , 2004 .

[46]  R. Hackney,et al.  Opportunistic strategy formulation for IS/IT planning , 1999 .

[47]  Bill Dickinson.  Be nimble, be quick , 1995 .

[48]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  The impact of organizational commitment, senior management involvement, and team involvement on strategic information systems planning , 2002, Inf. Manag..

[49]  Varun Grover,et al.  Profiles of Strategic Information Systems Planning , 1999, Inf. Syst. Res..

[50]  Albert L. Lederer,et al.  Critical Dimensions of Strategic Information Systems Planning , 1991 .

[51]  Ron Weber,et al.  An empirical test of the strategic-grid model of information systems planning , 1996 .

[52]  Grover S. Kearns,et al.  The impact of industry contextual factors on IT focus and the use of IT for competitive advantage , 2004, Inf. Manag..

[53]  Henry Mintzberg,et al.  The Fall and Rise of Strategic Planning , 1994 .