Strategic Management of IT Notes
Subject Overview
The sixth MIS group elective, covering the role of IT in strategic management planning approaches, IT-enabled competitive advantage via the value chain, IT as a strategic resource and inter-organizational systems, and digital transformation success factors in industrial strategy. A 4-credit elective theory paper.
Subject at a glance
4
Units
17
Topics
4
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Role of IT and Executive Support Systems in decision making
- types of strategic management planning approaches (ad hoc, data collection, organization chart, top-down, bottom-up)
- planning for strategic IT applications
Top-down
From business strategy to IT
May miss operational needs
Bottom-up
From user needs upward
May lack strategic focus
Ad hoc
Respond as needs arise
No coherence
Study guide
This unit covers IT in decision making, executive support systems, planning approaches (ad hoc, data collection, organisation chart, top-down, bottom-up) and planning strategic IT applications. Compare the planning approaches.
- Value chain and Porter's Value Chain Model
- value chain analysis and its advantages
- understanding linkages and interrelationships
- approach to IS/IT strategy formulation
Primary: inbound logistics
Primary: operations
Primary: outbound logistics
Primary: marketing and sales
Primary: service
Support
Infrastructure, HR, technology, procurement
Study guide
You study Porter's value chain, its analysis, linkages and the approach to IS/IT strategy formulation. Draw the value chain of a company and mark where IT adds value.
- Turning technology into business transformation
- IT as strategic source and competitive advantage
- risks of using IT strategically
- inter-organizational systems (IOS) and competitive advantage
- the strategic grid
Support
Low current and future impact of IT
Factory
High current, low future impact
Turnaround
Low current, high future impact
Strategic
High current and future impact
Study guide
You study IT as a strategic resource, business transformation, competitive advantage, the risks of strategic use, inter-organisational systems and the strategic grid. Place a company's systems on the strategic grid.
- Fundamental characteristics of industrial dynamics
- visioning IT's strategic role
- diversification strategies through digital transformation
- success factors and implications
- factors for shifting to digital and AI transformations
- 1
Vision for IT's strategic role
- 2
Assess digital maturity
- 3
Prioritise use cases
- 4
Build data and AI capabilities
- 5
Scale what works
- 6
Measure business value
Study guide
You study industrial dynamics, the strategic role of IT, diversification through digital transformation and the factors for shifting to digital and AI. Evaluate the digital readiness of a company.
Why Strategic Management of IT Matters
Aligning IT with business strategy is a core responsibility of CIOs and IT managers, and a valued perspective for any technology leader.
How to Prepare for Strategic Management of IT
- Analyse how a company uses IT for advantage.
- Learn the value chain and strategic grid.
- Follow digital and AI transformation stories.
Strategic Management of IT: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strategic grid?
It classifies a company's IT portfolio by how important current and future systems are to its strategy.