Information Technology Management Essay

It is commonly argued in the randomness establishments literary works that a major reason why organizations fail to mould learning and Communication Technologies (ICTs) triumphfully is beca usage of the lack of coalescency ming lead with the Information Strategy, the affair Strategy and the Organizational Strategy. The provisions according to development sytem literature correspond to the real happenings in the real earth. According to Campbell David, 2004, technical feeler has been embraced with come out of the closet various aspects of fear, academics, finance and governance.The paper addresses one key section of education system that is trusted as a ch e genuinely(prenominal)enge by organizations and argument entities in the aspect of using information engineering science. The key stinting value present is alignment between information, organization and business strategy. A major disturb in this paper is to explain the term alignment in the stage conformting of information engineering. The paper addresses reasons that make alignment one of the key value organizations seek to achieve. In this first issue of alignment the major patronage is about proceeding carried on in pecuniary institutions.Information technology has been take ined in the recent past as a marionette for executing and reviving business strategies in fiscal institutions. The development of certain(prenominal) business strategies has been enhanced by consideration of values that correspond to alignment. continuative is therefore, the capacity by a business much(prenominal) as a financial institution to demonstrate a strong positive kinship between latest information technologies and the generally accepted financial guidelines. It calls for node satis pointion, market sh atomic number 18 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 financ ial institution bespeaks to assemble all available information technology and carry on with feasibility study. This is because the effectiveness of a estimator squarely depends on its capacity to improve or malign the organisational units. Factors to consider before alignment Planning- the original sour has to be scheme and agreed upon by the managers of the financial institution.Auditors should also be involved in this exercise for audits, re-examinations and readjustments of the whole project. Relation to advantages alignment moldiness 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 round management practises. This is according Culp Christopher, 2001. For example, outputs like moolahs and revenue do non call for information technology rather the size and organizational mental synthesis and number of staff that dictate the demand for additional computers. connec tive must stick to its purposes to overcome all obstacles as resistance to change may come from many sources including the employees and guests. Advantages of alignment The latest technologies such as knob 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 choke a cutting edge erectr of value to customers. Third, alignment acts as business intelligence solutions for organization that helps in management and effectual customer satisfaction.For example, e-banking parcel where customers kitty access their bank accounts at home without necessarily going to the banking halls. Fourth, some another(prenominal) than saving period it is also considered a unafraid method than transporting money to banks. Fifth, business intelligence solutions shake been fundamental aspects in financial institutions as they help to sort out effectively volumes of transactions within a short period of time. For example, pay roll packet that is able to calculate thousand of employees monthly dues, deductions and contributions irrespective of their earning evaluate within a mater of seconds.Computers have also been use to sack complicated business calculations and at the same time update them accordingly. adjudge for example where a customer gets a loan from a financial institution either on a reducing interest rate. The software will auto calculate the interests based on the number of long time the customer will take to clear plus the principal center 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 federal agency in marketing and advertising new products through the internet. A customer can place an order and at the same time pay by transferring funds from a financial institution to account of the seller effectively. Disadvantages Alignment is a very costly exercise to an enterprisingness like financial institution in foothold of prices and employee training as it calls for massive training. System change over might also be rejected by both the employees and the customers.Sometimes computers break blue and will definitely slow the process in financial institution slowing down the entire process. This leads to a massive loss and failure to satisfy customer needs. For example, slowing or breakdown of machines in a Forex bureau dealing with foreign switch over will loose sales since currency changes value every minute. Business alignment methods Nowadays, many business transactions are relying on an efficient IT nurse system. It is remarkable to note the improved professionalism and respons ibility in merged and technical fields.Many companies and especially in the financial sector have invested massively in business IT and corporate 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 by-line steps must be put into consideration. First, planning which calls for implementation of tralatitious IT alignment techniques seen by many as the CEOs work.A successful IT/business alignment calls for a more interactive come out or dialogue between the IT managers. They need to clarify what the business expects, what it delivers and how to divvy up (Watson Gregory, 2005). This is achieved through prioritization and putting into considerations the rules that empo wer and govern the IT department. A second plan or consideration used to bring about alignment is that IT should overcompensate, set and modify business level services. At the same time the use of information technology in financial institutions or any other entities should be through with a purpose of supporting appropriate support of services.Another method is proper management of technological systems which helps to achieve the in demand(p) results through a consolidated service support by IT staff. A system need to be put in place to supervise and manage urgent or critical business services. The system should grade 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 principal executive officer and his or her managers need also to ensure that the set organization standards and ex pectations are met through proper implementation processes. Certain considerations such as model should be considered for purpose of implementing alignment and information technologies (Selznick Philip, 1952). This involves part of IT assets and planning for resources that support services at critical times. It identifies the resources needed to be assembled to deliver IT services. This is done at agreeable service while at the same time reducing costs.A second consideration is amount 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 execute its duties fast. The methods applied by different entiti es in business alignment are deemed to measure up to set standards and cut down on costs.Alignment of costs and deliver of services through technological 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 livelihood 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 cover information systems. The economic growth is seen to have an bushel in both developed and developing countries with some developing countries enter a remarkable growth (Danis Wade, 2006). Most countries have recorded a positive growth of the gross domestic prod uct. In addition external markets trade and industrial production has been boosted through alignment. Economic development has led to a smooth global supply chains that broaden the market.A number of advantages arise as evidence that alignment is a binding 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 requisite 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 discretion of how transactions are carried within organizations at low cost. It is a approaching consideration that all en tities 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 communication technology will help to do past with threats imposed 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 asperity of alignment. The future of using information technology in the world especially in business transactions is very certain. The concept of globalization is play a very big role in creation of gilt 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. Every stat e has the dominance 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.