Course in Information Technology: Strategy and Governance

At IIM-C we firmly believe that information is power. In the years to come the need for increased sharing of information will govern the changes in organizational structure. A basic understanding of information systems is thus mandatory. We endeavor to ensure that you drive the e-commerce revolution. These courses not only equip you with software tools but also impart an understanding of the hardware which will help you set design your own database. It's time you started your own dotcom at IIMC.

Introduction

The potential of Information Technology has been increasing in an exponential manner over the past few years. Organizations have been trying to use IT for meeting their strategic objectives. The ubiquity of information technology infrastructure and the plethora of IT applications available for implementation by firms has drastically reduced the gains that information systems can provide by their mere presence. What differentiates successful organizations from the less successful ones as far as gains from IT are concerned is the ability to use and manage IT, IT applications, IT projects, and IT environments well. Some organizations have succeeded in their attempts to wring the best out of IT despite weak IT management practices, while others have been facing difficult problems in their attempts to do so.

It is thus becoming increasingly important for managers - both practicing and aspiring - to know more about the possible strategic applications of IT in organizations in general. Specifically, they need to be aware of the different approaches to planning for and managing IT environments. This course aims to provide a broad understanding of IT strategy, its formulation, implementation along with providing students with some fundamental ideas on IT governance aspects. At the end of the course, students will be able to

1. appreciate nuances in planning for IT in organizations
2. create a broad direction with respect to IT use by a firm
3. formulate an IT Strategy and identify ways and means to implement it
4. delineate IT related decisions made by a firm and the associated impacts
5. identify suitable governance structures and the mechanisms suitable to implement it


Course Contents

Module 1: Introduction to IT Strategy and Governance
Module 2: What are the IT Decisions firms make?
Module 3: IS Strategy formulation
Module 4: IT Governance Archetypes
Module 5: Mechanisms to implement governance