p. 204 · PDF 208

1-1-3 Implementation of Information Systems Strategy

(1) Structure for computerization promotion

A structure for computerization promotion is an organizational and operational structure for the implementation of an information systems strategy. In order to achieve overall optimization for an information system on the basis of a business strategy, executives (i.e., executive board) establish an information computerization committee to promote the implementation of the information systems strategy. Generally, the senior members of the committee are executives, and the members that actually run the committee are formed from the leaders of each department that are led by the CIO (Chief Information Officer). The information computerization committee is granted the appropriate authority and given the appropriate responsibility, and its mission is made clear. The information computerization committee monitors activities concerning information systems and revises/improves them, and then

p. 205 · PDF 209

establishes appropriate information infrastructure. Furthermore, as a structure that performs information systems planning, development, operation, and maintenance, the committee decides an appropriate organizational form for organizations including functional organizations, divisional organizations, matrix organizations, and project organizations. It also decides the responsible persons including the system owner, who is responsible for an information system, and the data owner, who is responsible for the data that the information system handles.

(2) Creation of a computerization plan

A computerization plan is the individual computerization plan for each information system that is created according to the total computerization plan. Information systems include mission critical systems that form the core of corporate activities, systems that perform integrated management of an overall company or business activities, and systems that contributes to unified operation between companies. These systems are developed from scratch in some cases, but it is necessary to consider the use of packaged systems as in business management systems, or such other systems.

Note: The creation of a computerization plan is performed as part of the information systems planning that is explained in the next section. The explanation in this section is to ensure understanding of the flow in which the overall plan is broken down into sections and implemented.

p. 206 · PDF 210

(3) Program management

Program management refers to activities that flexibly adapt the execution capabilities of an organization in response to changes in the external environment in order to fulfill overall mission (e.g., implementation of information systems strategy). The programs in the scope of program management are businesses in which multiple projects are organically integrated. When computerization is promoted according to an information systems strategy, multiple information system implementation (or development) projects are carried out at the same time. Program management is a series of activities that optimizes the relationships and integration between these projects to raise the overall value, and aims to fulfill the overall purpose.

(4) Framework

A framework is created in order to achieve a goal. In implementing an information systems strategy, efficient and effective promotion becomes possible through the use of a variety of frameworks. Typical frameworks include those described below.

In order to implement an information systems strategy, it is necessary to construct a process framework and control framework in business operations. A process framework is a standard

p. 207 · PDF 211

framework for business processes, and a control framework is a framework for internal control (i.e., activities that define business standards and rules, and perform management, monitoring, and assurance in order to eliminate internal violations of law and fraudulent behavior, mistakes, and errors, and ensure that a company is run soundly and efficiently).

(5) Quality control

Quality control refers to organizations, structures, and a series of activities (management processes) to ensure quality in an information system by using quality control frameworks and such other things to ensure compliance with standards concerning information systems and continuously monitoring the status of conformity.

(6) Information systems strategy implementation management

Information systems strategy implementation management refers to a series of activities that monitors the implementation status of an information systems strategy and ensures the implementation of the information systems strategy. It involves the evaluation and verification of information system utilization when an information systems strategy is implemented according to a medium- and long-term plan, and the evaluation of the information systems strategy from perspectives of changes in the environment that a company faces, IT technology trends, profit, and so on.

(7) System utilization promotion and evaluation

Even if information systems are implemented according to an information systems strategy, they will contribute little to management unless they are used effectively. Therefore, it is important to continuously implement system utilization promotion to improve the information literacy (i.e., the ability to use IT in order to utilize information securely, effectively, and efficiently) of employees, and in addition, to evaluate, investigate, and improve the usage situation of the information systems.

p. 208 · PDF 212