Strategic Information System Plan (SISP), as defined by Allan Warr, is the process of deciding upon the direction, development and policies for an organization’s use and management of information and networking technologies. It also involves the developments of Information Technology infrastructure, determining the application for the information system and the improvements to the management and sourcing of Information System/Information Technology resources. Today, public and private sectors of most large organizations are practicing the Strategic Information System Plan approach.
As I defined IS plan and strategic IS plan in my previous post, Information System Plan can also be compared with strategic information system plan. In developing an IS plan, one thing we need to do is projecting the firm’s objectives and formulized the policies and authorization and above all is you must identify what specific project you want in the future. An IS plan should be useable, timely, maintainable and flexible so that for some circumstances it can be modified if needed. As I mentioned on my post on the fourth assignment on management information system subject that was based on an article written by Somendra Pant and Cheng Hsu, strategic information system plan is a management function not a technical one. SISP is typically the analysis of a corporation’s information and processes using business information models as well as the evaluation and analysis of the possible risk, current needs and requirements. It is used to determine the best targets for purchasing and installing new Management Information System and help an organization maximize the return on investment (ROI) in their information technology.
Now, if I would be hired and given the task to develop a Strategic Information System Plan for a certain company and required to provide a list of questions that I would probably ask in the meeting for the discussion on the direction of the company. Here the list of question with its corresponding explanation why I derive that question and how important the information can be taken on answering those questions.
1. What are the vision, mission, goals and objectives of your company?
Explanation: When you do a strategic information system plan or any plan for the benefit of the company, it is necessary that as a developer I should know what are the organization’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. It is important to know how the management visualizes their company and what the company wants to be in the future and determine the reason why the organization exist and identify what are the things they aim to achieve which is also necessary to be successful.
2. Can you specify the project that you want in the future?
After knowing the firm’s vision, mission, goals and objectives, as a developer I must know what kind of project they want me to develop. Knowing the type of project, what are the things they want to add for the system and what are the things that they need to make their work easier are very important before I start creating a strategic plan for their information system. Part on the project specification is to recognize the company’s current state, needs and the things that their company lacks.
3. Is your company willing to provide the sufficient budget for this project?
The main risk in developing an information system for the company or even just planning for it is the budget or cost. Often times, the organization has various needs that they aim that their information system would cater but they don’t have the sufficient budget. The bigger the project a developer does, the bigger the expense the larger need for budget allocation. It essential to make sure that the company has enough budget ensure that the strategic information system plan would be of great success and in implementing the information system will also be successful.
4. Who composed the company? Who are the top-management officers?
It is necessary to know who those people on the highest ranks are so that for unexpected circumstances with relates to the company, as a developer I will know who are those people that I can approach. And I must also know who composes the company before working on the firm.
5. What are your plans for your company?
Though I will develop a plan for the company, it would be more convenient if I know what the officer’s plans are for the company so that we could work together for the success of the organization and be competitive.
6. How do you handle change?
Even if the company don’t have a strategic information system plan yet, changes come from time-to-time and with that I assume that the company have its own strategy on how to face those changes. In the real world of business, coping up with change is a great challenge for the firm. Knowing their methods will also help me as a developer in the development of the strategic information system plan.
7. What are the changes that affect their company?
Companies develop a strategic information system plan that will serve as a tool in coping up the changes that occurs such as information technology, globalization and rapid organizational change. Asking would simply ask for the reason why they want to have an information system plan.
8. What are the things that need to be assessed?
The capabilities of every employee especially on the IT department and even the employer must be assessed to know if the available information technology is ready to use and know the needs of the costumer and the status of the industry.
9. What is the allotted maximum length of time for the development of the strategic information system plan?
Developing a Strategic Information System Plan is not that easy. It needs extensive data gathering and thorough analysis. It needs time for the feasibility analysis, risk management and gathering of data, information and requirements.
Strategic planning is a competitive advantage for a firm. Organizations use information systems for strategic purposes and to improve the firm’s services. Changes always exist and with the rapid growth of information technology every firm aims to be competitive not only in business but also with the information technology present in the company. That is why Strategic Information System Planning is essential for a company to develop.
As I defined IS plan and strategic IS plan in my previous post, Information System Plan can also be compared with strategic information system plan. In developing an IS plan, one thing we need to do is projecting the firm’s objectives and formulized the policies and authorization and above all is you must identify what specific project you want in the future. An IS plan should be useable, timely, maintainable and flexible so that for some circumstances it can be modified if needed. As I mentioned on my post on the fourth assignment on management information system subject that was based on an article written by Somendra Pant and Cheng Hsu, strategic information system plan is a management function not a technical one. SISP is typically the analysis of a corporation’s information and processes using business information models as well as the evaluation and analysis of the possible risk, current needs and requirements. It is used to determine the best targets for purchasing and installing new Management Information System and help an organization maximize the return on investment (ROI) in their information technology.
Now, if I would be hired and given the task to develop a Strategic Information System Plan for a certain company and required to provide a list of questions that I would probably ask in the meeting for the discussion on the direction of the company. Here the list of question with its corresponding explanation why I derive that question and how important the information can be taken on answering those questions.
1. What are the vision, mission, goals and objectives of your company?
Explanation: When you do a strategic information system plan or any plan for the benefit of the company, it is necessary that as a developer I should know what are the organization’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. It is important to know how the management visualizes their company and what the company wants to be in the future and determine the reason why the organization exist and identify what are the things they aim to achieve which is also necessary to be successful.
2. Can you specify the project that you want in the future?
After knowing the firm’s vision, mission, goals and objectives, as a developer I must know what kind of project they want me to develop. Knowing the type of project, what are the things they want to add for the system and what are the things that they need to make their work easier are very important before I start creating a strategic plan for their information system. Part on the project specification is to recognize the company’s current state, needs and the things that their company lacks.
3. Is your company willing to provide the sufficient budget for this project?
The main risk in developing an information system for the company or even just planning for it is the budget or cost. Often times, the organization has various needs that they aim that their information system would cater but they don’t have the sufficient budget. The bigger the project a developer does, the bigger the expense the larger need for budget allocation. It essential to make sure that the company has enough budget ensure that the strategic information system plan would be of great success and in implementing the information system will also be successful.
4. Who composed the company? Who are the top-management officers?
It is necessary to know who those people on the highest ranks are so that for unexpected circumstances with relates to the company, as a developer I will know who are those people that I can approach. And I must also know who composes the company before working on the firm.
5. What are your plans for your company?
Though I will develop a plan for the company, it would be more convenient if I know what the officer’s plans are for the company so that we could work together for the success of the organization and be competitive.
6. How do you handle change?
Even if the company don’t have a strategic information system plan yet, changes come from time-to-time and with that I assume that the company have its own strategy on how to face those changes. In the real world of business, coping up with change is a great challenge for the firm. Knowing their methods will also help me as a developer in the development of the strategic information system plan.
7. What are the changes that affect their company?
Companies develop a strategic information system plan that will serve as a tool in coping up the changes that occurs such as information technology, globalization and rapid organizational change. Asking would simply ask for the reason why they want to have an information system plan.
8. What are the things that need to be assessed?
The capabilities of every employee especially on the IT department and even the employer must be assessed to know if the available information technology is ready to use and know the needs of the costumer and the status of the industry.
9. What is the allotted maximum length of time for the development of the strategic information system plan?
Developing a Strategic Information System Plan is not that easy. It needs extensive data gathering and thorough analysis. It needs time for the feasibility analysis, risk management and gathering of data, information and requirements.
Strategic planning is a competitive advantage for a firm. Organizations use information systems for strategic purposes and to improve the firm’s services. Changes always exist and with the rapid growth of information technology every firm aims to be competitive not only in business but also with the information technology present in the company. That is why Strategic Information System Planning is essential for a company to develop.
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