Deliverable 7 T Strategy Plan For A Business Competency Eval

Deliverable 7 T Strategy Plan For A Businesscompetency Evaluate Eff

Develop an IT strategy/plan for your chosen business, including establishing mission, vision, and strategic goals, and detailing how activities will be planned, executed, and measured. Create a presentation for the Executive Leadership Team that clearly communicates how the plan will improve efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability. The plan should cover the following sections:

1. Summarize the business and industry, discuss the leadership style suited to a changing environment, and explain how leadership principles can address IT challenges.

2. Produce an organizational chart showing the hierarchy between the IT department and other key positions, summarize decision-making processes in response to change, and identify stakeholders impacted by changes.

3. Evaluate the current MIS architecture, explain how it supports business objectives, determine the best IT systems implementation model, and develop a disaster recovery plan with automated recovery procedures.

4. Conduct a systems analysis to identify IT requirements aligned with business goals, and inventory current IT resources to assess impacts of proposed changes.

5. Create a baseline of the existing MIS infrastructure capacity and capabilities, select and justify an appropriate systems lifecycle methodology for architecture modifications based on the company's needs.

6. Outline how to implement changes to the MIS architecture from a change management perspective, demonstrate an understanding of change control processes, and prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for executive approval.

Paper For Above instruction

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations must leverage innovative information technology (IT) strategies to maintain competitive advantage, ensure operational efficiency, and foster sustainable growth. As the newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a cutting-edge enterprise, my first mandate is to craft a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with the business's mission, vision, and strategic objectives, serving as a blueprint for technological advancement and organizational resilience.

Business and Industry Overview & Leadership in a Changing Environment

The industry under review is the dynamic e-commerce sector, characterized by swift technological changes, heightened customer expectations, and intensifying global competition. The company's mission centers on providing seamless online shopping experiences, leveraging innovative logistics and customer service solutions to outperform competitors. Its vision underscores becoming the premier digital marketplace in the region, with a focus on agility, technological integration, and customer-centricity.

In such a fast-paced environment, transformational leadership is highly effective. This leadership style inspires innovation, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, and encourages employees to embrace change proactively. Transformational leaders communicate a compelling vision, motivate teams, and develop a shared sense of purpose, which is crucial in navigating the uncertainties inherent in IT evolution. By empowering staff to engage in innovative problem-solving, leadership principles facilitate a resilient and adaptive IT ecosystem capable of responding swiftly to emerging opportunities and threats (Bass & Riggio, 2006).

Organizational Structure & Decision-Making in Change

An effective organizational chart is depicted as a hierarchical framework where the CIO oversees the IT infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and data analytics divisions, each led by experienced managers reporting directly to the CIO. The IT department collaborates closely with other functional units such as Marketing, Operations, and Customer Service. Decision-making in this model is centralized at the executive level for strategic initiatives but promotes decentralization for operational or tactical adjustments, ensuring agility.

Change, whether planned or unplanned, impacts decision-making by necessitating rapid communication, resource allocation, and risk assessment. In planned changes, decision points are predefined within project management processes, whereas unplanned events—such as cybersecurity breaches—require immediate decisions driven by incident response protocols. Internal stakeholders impacted include employees, management, and department leaders, while external stakeholders encompass customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies. Engaging stakeholders effectively minimizes resistance and fosters a shared commitment to technological changes (Kotter, 1997).

Existing MIS Architecture & Support for Business Objectives

The current Management Information System (MIS) architecture employs a layered model comprising data sources, middleware, application servers, and user interfaces. Cloud-based solutions complement on-premise data centers, enhancing scalability and accessibility. The architecture supports business objectives by enabling real-time data analytics, improving supply chain efficiency, and enhancing customer engagement through personalized interfaces. The integration of mobile platforms and IoT devices positions the company at the forefront of technological innovation.

The optimal IT systems implementation model here is a hybrid approach, combining cloud services for scalability and agility with on-premise systems for data security and compliance. This model facilitates flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and resilience. A comprehensive disaster recovery (DR) plan is established, incorporating automated backups, failover systems, and cloud-based replication to ensure rapid restoration of critical systems, thereby minimizing downtime and data loss during disruptions (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2016).

Systems Analysis & Resource Inventory

Conducting a systems analysis reveals that core business processes rely heavily on ERP, CRM, and supply chain management systems. The requirements include real-time analytics capabilities, increased automation, and enhanced cybersecurity protocols. Inventory of current IT resources indicates a robust hardware infrastructure, including servers, networking equipment, and workstations, alongside software licenses and cloud subscriptions. The impact of implementing change involves potential downtime, training needs, and integration complexities that require meticulous planning and stakeholder engagement.

MIS Infrastructure Baseline & Lifecycle Methodology

The existing MIS infrastructure operates at an average capacity utilization rate of 65%, with ample room for expansion. It features a scalable hybrid cloud environment with modular components suitable for phased upgrades. To manage architecture changes effectively, the selected systems lifecycle methodology is the Agile approach, which promotes iterative development, continuous feedback, and rapid deployment. Agile methodology is justified here because it aligns with the company's need for flexibility in responding to technological advancements and market dynamics (Highsmith & Cockburn, 2001). This adaptive approach also reduces risks associated with large-scale, rigid projects.

Change Management & Implementation Strategy

Implementing necessary changes to the MIS architecture requires a structured change management process. This involves assessing change impacts, securing stakeholder buy-in, and conducting comprehensive communication campaigns. A formal change control process will be adopted, with change requests documented, validated by a change advisory board, and prioritized accordingly.

An RFP will be drafted addressing key requirements such as scalability, security, vendor reputation, support services, and cost. The proposal will also specify project milestones, deliverables, and evaluation criteria, enabling executive leadership to make informed decisions. Effective change management minimizes resistance, ensures smooth transitions, and sustains organizational productivity during technological shifts (Cameron & Green, 2015).

Conclusion

Developing an integrated IT strategy rooted in strategic leadership, robust architecture, and disciplined change management enables the organization to adapt seamlessly to a competitive marketplace. By aligning IT initiatives with business objectives, leveraging modern systems, and cultivating a proactive culture of innovation, the company is positioned to enhance operational efficiency, foster growth, and sustain competitive advantage in the digital era.

References

• Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Cameron, E., & Green, M. (2015). Making Sense of change management: A complete guide to the models, tools, and techniques (3rd ed.). Kogan Page.
• Highsmith, J., & Cockburn, A. (2001). Agile software development: The business of innovation. Computer, 34(9), 120–127.
• Kotter, J. P. (1997). Leading change. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Rittinghouse, J. W., & Ransome, J. F. (2016). Cloud computing: Implementation, management, and security. CRC Press.
• Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2020). Management information systems: Managing the digital world (16th ed.). Pearson.
• O'Brien, J. A., & Marakas, G. M. (2011). Introduction to information systems (16th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information technology project management (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Weierson, J., & Senders, N. (2014). Strategic management of information technology. Routledge.
• Ross, J. W., Beath, C. M., & Weber, B. (2019). Technology strategy for managers. Harvard Business Review Press.