Information Technology Management Essay

It is familiarly argued in the Information Systems literature that a major reason why organizations fail to exploit Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) supremacyfully is beca using up of the lack of coalition between the Information Strategy, the handicraft enterprise Strategy and the Organizational Strategy. The provisions according to nurture sytem literature correspond to the real happenings in the real world. According to Campbell David, 2004, technological advancement has been embraced throughout various aspects of billet, academics, finance and governance.The report addresses one key dower of breeding system that is considered as a challenge by organizations and business entities in the aspect of using information technology. The key value here is coalition between information, organization and business strategy. A major concern in this paper is to explain the term concretion in the context of information technology. The paper addresses reasons that ma ke alignment one of the key values organizations seek to achieve. In this first issue of alignment the major concern is roughly legal proceeding carried on in fiscal institutions.Information technology has been adopted in the recent past as a tool for executing and reviving business strategies in monetary institutions. The development of certain business strategies has been enhanced by consideration of values that correspond to alignment. Alignment is therefore, the capacity by a business much(prenominal) as a financial institution to demonstrate a strong positive relationship between latest information technologies and the generally accepted financial guidelines. It calls for customer satisfaction, market share and product innovations.These measures are all essentials in value and adopting such determines the stability and the outcome of a financial institution. Before alignment financial institution directs to assemble all available information technology and carry on with fe asibility study. This is because the effectiveness of a com set aparter straightforwardly depends on its capacity to improve or malign the organizational units. Factors to consider before alignment Planning- the original process has to be planned and agreed upon by the fill outrs of the financial institution.Auditors should also be involved in this exercise for audits, re-examinations and readjustments of the whole project. Relation to benefits alignment must be of benefit to the financial institution since it is a costly exercise. It is of no use to adopt latest technology if the problem is controllable by changing some management practises. This is according Culp Christopher, 2001. For example, out fixs like sugar and revenue do not call for information technology rather the size and organizational structure and number of staff that dictate the demand for redundant computers.Alignment must stick to its purposes to overcome all obstacles as resistance to change may come from ma ny sources including the employees and customers. Advantages of alignment The latest technologies such as client sever internet, data warehousing has positive implications which include first, incremental profit gains. Second, internal alignment in an organization remains a success factor in employees ability to perform effectively and become a cutting edge provider of value to customers. Third, alignment acts as business intelligence solutions for organization that alleviates in management and efficient customer satisfaction.For example, e-banking software where customers can access their bank accounts at home without necessarily going to the banking halls. Fourth, former(a) than saving beat it is also considered a secure method than transporting money to banks. Fifth, business intelligence solutions have been important aspects in financial institutions as they help to sort out effectively volumes of legal proceeding within a short period of time. For example, pay roll software that is able to calculate thousand of employees monthly dues, deductions and contributions irrespective of their earning rates within a mater of trices.Computers have also been used to solve complicated business calculations and at the same time update them accordingly. Take for example where a customer gets a loan from a financial institution either on a reducing delight rate. The software will auto calculate the interests based on the number of years the customer will take to clear plus the principal hail and at the same time store the information. Sixth, alignment reduces the amount of paperwork used in various departments especially in printing, faxing and laminations.This is because nowadays office memos and other information are shared online by use of internet between departments and even branches. Seven, alignment has played a key role in marketing and publicize new products through the internet. A customer can place an order and at the same time pay by transferring fund s from a financial institution to account of the seller effectively. Disadvantages Alignment is a very costly exercise to an enterprise like financial institution in terms of prices and employee provision as it calls for massive training. System change over might also be rejected by both the employees and the customers.Sometimes computers breakdown and will emphatically slow the process in financial institution slowing down the entire process. This leads to a massive loss and failure to satisfy customer wants. For example, slowing or breakdown of machines in a Forex bureau dealing with foreign exchange will loose sales since currency changes value every minute. Business alignment methods Nowadays, many business transactions are relying on an efficient IT support system. It is remarkable to note the improved professionalism and responsibility in corporate and practiced fields.Many companies and especially in the financial sector have invested massively in business IT and corpora te ICT. This is a very important development in creation of personal responsibility in terms of accountability, capability and commitment. However, with the changing technology certain changes are felt through continuous exercise which cannot be exploited. New machines have to be budgeted or the old ones have to be upgraded from time to time. To achieve this objective the following steps must be put into consideration. First, planning which calls for writ of execution of traditional IT alignment techniques seen by many as the CEOs work.A successful IT/business alignment calls for a much interactive approach or dialogue between the IT managers. They need to clarify what the business expects, what it delivers and how to allocate (Watson Gregory, 2005). This is achieved through prioritization and putting into considerations the rules that empower and govern the IT department. A second plan or consideration used to bring about alignment is that IT should track, adapt and modify busine ss level supporters. At the same time the use of information technology in financial institutions or any other entities should be done with a purpose of supporting appropriate support of services. some other method is proper management of technological systems which helps to achieve the desired results through a consolidated service support by IT staff. A system need to be put in place to monitor and manage urgent or critical business services. The system should prioritize service requests to enable service delivery at promised levels and also track business processes at certain levels. It is important to note that worth methods are usually required to effectively manage the IT infrastructure and implement changes.The chief executive officer and his or her managers need also to ensure that the set organization standards and expectations are met through proper implementation processes. Certain considerations such as model should be considered for purpose of implementing alignment an d information technologies (Selznick Philip, 1952). This involves mapping of IT assets and planning for resources that support services at critical times. It identifies the resources involve to be assembled to deliver IT services. This is done at agreeable service while at the same time reducing be.A second consideration is mensuration whereby the IT department should come up with methods of data collection and operational procedures all based on areas of functionality. According to Chester Arthur, 1994, the measurement methods should correspond with technology and be business oriented. In addition, the measures should ensure a more real time resource allocation decision. The consideration of various measurement principles gives an entity or enterprise the capacity to be given its duties fast. The methods applied by different entities in business alignment are deemed to measure up to set standards and cut down on costs.Alignment of costs and deliver of services through technolog ical application gives entities the capacity to run their operations in a more efficient manner. Validity of alignment as a goal The role played by ICTs is paramount and evident in real life applications in business and organizations. As a goal, alignment is seen to support productivity and new innovation across the entire world. ICT play a very important role on trade development. Application of information technology is also seen as a tool for infrastructure development.Recently, the world economic performance has improved leading to global growth as a result of embracing information systems. The economic growth is seen to have an impact in both developed and developing countries with some developing countries recording a remarkable growth (Danis Wade, 2006). Most countries have recorded a positive growth of the gross domestic product. In addition international markets trade and industrial production has been boosted through alignment. Economic development has led to a smooth glob al supply chains that broaden the market.A number of advantages arise as evidence that alignment is a valid consideration in the scope of information technology. First, ICT is used for research to provide an organization with basic information about how to improve on performance. Organizations consider putting in place certain measures necessary to acquire information from competitors (Daghfous Abdelkader, 2006). The acquired information is essential as it helps entities to achieve their goals. Second, in the current world of changes, it is important for every organization to consider evaluating measures that support alignment to out perform their competitors.Application of ICT by entities thus promotes a common understanding of how transactions are carried within organizations at low cost. It is a future consideration that all entities should develop measures to fight threats of new entrants, threat candid by bargaining powers of buyers, sellers, threat of substitute products and barrier to entry. According to Herman James, 2000, embracing information and intercourse technology will help to do away with threats enforce by five forces.A third consideration is the fact of e-commerce which is a component of electronic business. The use of information systems in carrying on with business transactions online is a true reflection about the validity of alignment. The future of using information technology in the world especially in business transactions is very certain. The concept of globalization is playing a very big role in creation of favourable environment for trading. Creation of strong communication networks enables countries from different regions to carry on with business transactions online.This is one major development of information technology embraced by both developed and developing states. all state has the mandate to promote the application of information technology through application of the necessary measures. A fourth consideration that needs to be put in place is thorough training of individuals on how to use internet. This should be done in schools and other institutions that promote learning. Children at young age need to know how to apply technological information for purpose of establishing proper measures in business and other aspects of life.