Strategic Information Management Challenges and strategies in managing information systems Third edition

Questions for discussion

1

What is the IT productivity paradox? Does it actually exist in your view,

and if so, to what extent is it sectorally based? Do you believe it will

remain a problem in, say, 5 years’ time?

2

Why is the evaluation and management of IT investment ‘shot through

with difficulties’? And what’s wrong with the maxim ‘what gets measured

gets managed’?

3

Critically evaluate the IT/IS evaluation and management cycle introduced

in this chapter. How might it be adapted so as to be integrated in an

ongoing IS planning process?

4

Reflect on the question of the evolution and management of different types

of IT investments mentioned in this chapter, and the ‘stages of growth’

concept introduced in Chapter 2. How might evaluation and management

of IT evolve from one stage to another?

5

Managing benefits are highlighted as a critical success factor by the

authors. Reflect on the differing roles an IT steering committee, individual

executives and managers might take in dealing with stock-outs for

example.

6

The authors introduce the issue of sourcing IT services. Why might

outsourcing IT services require ‘a considerable cultural change on

evaluation’? Reflect on issues introduced in Chapter 16 when considering

this question.

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