Diverse Nature of Strategic Systems Management

Reflection

This course has delved into the uniquely diverse nature of strategic systems management. Before the commencement of this semester, I had no idea about Information systems and its strategies. Now, I’ve been able to determine the role general managers play in information system decisions, explain in depth how the information systems strategy triangle works, the correlation between decisions of information systems, organizational design and business strategy. The real life examples were of great help in the first chapter of the slides provided, it made me understand the correlation between IS and the real world.

The second chapter taught me a lot about information usage and its changes during the years/eras. It’s importance and value. I also learnt about the value chain and the importance of strategic alliances and the risks of information resources. I learnt that using IS for strategic advantage requires more than just knowing the technology. I leant all the risks associated with using IS to gain strategic advantage and how Value chain analysis show us how IS add value to the primary activity of a business.

The third chapter entailed the impacts and use of information technology in an organization, Identification of the types of organizational structures that tends to be most willing to embrace technological change and sophistication and how IT has changed the way managers monitor and evaluate. I was able to determine the ways IT affects managerial control mechanisms, how organizational and culture should be taken into account when designing and using IS.

The fourth chapter dealt with the working environment and how IT has changed its nature. It also talks about virtual organizations and how they work, and how managers need to manage virtual teams and the challenges it creates. I learned how technology has played a major transformational role in work is done and hoe virtual organizations permit workers to work anywhere and anytime. The fifth and the most interesting chapter entails how business change is commandeered by IT, the chapter explained how an enterprise system works and how it is used to implement organizational change. It defines TQM and BPR, and explained how they are used to transform a business. In total, I’ve so far enjoyed this course and the way it’s being taught, I would love to learn more, thanks to my lecturer to doing an excellent work.