International Information Systems Management and strategy

1. International Information Systems Management and strategy IS for Management

2. International IS • Growth leads to the need to consider issues in managing globally versus locally • geographic versus functional divisions • managing a “stateless” (multinational) firm • Challenges (can also be opportunities): • managing change across cultures, international laws • operating a coordinated international network • strong central leadership while maintaining overall flexibility to meet opportunities IS for Management

3. International IS • Global coordination, enabled by IS include • Systems development • Accounting, finance • Production, marketing, distribution • International markets • cultural specific consumer needs • dynamic economies, statutes, business practices • pace of change leads to a moving target market.. • Success in IT: software and cellular phone distribution, online trading, Internet expansion IS for Management

4. International IS • Deploying international information systems: • develop awareness and understanding of global business drivers • develop a strategy suitable for the environment • review impact on existing organization structure • how will an international IS affect management • build a suitable technology infrastructure/platform IS for Management

5. International IS Overall strategies • Domestic exporter (e.g., local mousepad exporter) • heavy centralization in home country for manufacturing, etc. • Multinational (financial management at home; e.g.., GreatWestLife) • decentralized production, distribution to suit market • Franchiser • design at home, rely on foreign personnel for further production (e.g., Burger King) • Transnational • stateless, truly global firm (e.g., Arthur Andersen) IS for Management

6. International IS and strategyReading materials from the Web • Alignment checkhttp://www.cio.com/archive/111599_ford.html • How to avoid global website disastershttp://www.cio.com/forums/global/edit/111400_disaster_content.html • All the web’s a stagehttp://www.cio.com/archive/100100_stage_content.html • ROUNDTABLE: STRATEGIC PLANNING - Bigger Picture http://www.cio.com/archive/101599_round.html IS for Management

7. Assigned Reading:Alignment check • Know your mission statement • aligning IT to business - a moving target • To what extent is IT a core competence • Ford Co., a global company found that although designing cars was essential to maintaining core competence, designing CAD systems was not. • Internal providers of IS services must be competitive with outsource organizations. • Centralize enterprise technology infrastructure decisions to reduce Total cost of ownership (TCO) • some “emerging markets” areas may need flexibility. IS for Management

8. Assigned Reading: How to avoid global website disasters • 39% of of internet users seek non-English content (IDC report) • Difficult issues faced by content providers and ecommerce sites include: • language, impressions, commerce culture • local representation, service assistance • insufficient network infrastructure, internet appliance and software variations • unfamiliarity with local statutes, business practices • Importance of “local” knowledge IS for Management

9. Assigned Reading: All the web’s a stage • The Internet provides extended distribution of content, but will your”spin”be received properly? • Examples of unintended messages are possible via colors, symbols, credit policies, etc • How do you deal with varying business practices from one country (or even Province!) to another • Trade barriers and import/export restrictions • Central control and local empowerment • central branding, systems, but local distribution decisions IS for Management

10. Assigned Reading:The Bigger Picture • The evolution of the role of IT professionals impacted by • business focus from products to “solutions” • migration from “product” to “customer” orientation • vagueness of business goals could also increase risk of ineffective systems • improperly targeted • too broad of a scope • a global 7/24 economy that evolves continually • strategic supply chain management • increased dependence on IT for wealth creation • shift from efficiency to innovation IS for Management

11. Assigned Reading:The Bigger Picture - The new role of IT profession • Implementing new technologies will continue to be major role • Long-range planning increasingly important as IT increases its importance as a strategic tool • Control versus ownership of knowledge management of the customer • IT-profession is dead versus duty as plumbers. • Ultimately, the IT profession Business model enablers IS for Management

12. International information systems Global organization traits supported by IS • Think globally - understand impact to export markets, cultures • Compete locally in everywhere market served • Utilize local expertise and knowledge • Integrated network - work as one entity • Free flow of information for responsive and resourceful decision making IS for Management