Strategic Planning for Information Systems
Chapter One
The Evolving Role of
Information Systems and
Technology in Organizations:
A Strategic Perspective
Today, most organizations in all sectors of industry, commerce and
government are fundamentally dependent on their information systems.
In the words of Rockart '[i]nformation technology has become inextricably
intertwined with business'. In industries such as telecommunications,
media, entertainment and financial services, where the product is already or
is being increasingly digitized, the existence of an organization crucially
depends on the effective application of information technology (IT). With
the emergence of e-commerce, the use of technology is becoming just an
accepted, indeed expected, way of conducting business. Consequently,
organizations are increasingly looking toward the application of technology
not only to underpin existing business operations but also to create new
opportunities that provide them with a source of competitive advantage.
In order to manage information systems and information technology
(IS/IT) strategically, it is helpful to understand how the role of
technology-base ... read full excerpt from Strategic Planning for Information Systems ebook
