Question

Information Systems planning is highly related to corporate strategic planning. If you are responsible for the information systems planning process in an oorganization that does not have a formal corporate planning process, what might you have to do?

Answer 1

If a company does not have a corporate strategic planning, then it does not have any definite business objectives. The company lacks the focus in order to achieve the corporate goals and objectives. This means that the company does not have a clear vision for the future. The resources would not be used to the optimum. This also leads to having an unclear organizational structure. The communication might not be effective.

If I am responsible for the information systems planning process in an organization that does not have a formal corporate strategic planning, then the first step that I would take is to help the management with creating a clear vision and mission statement to have a focus for the future. The vision of the company forms the basis of the company’s objectives. Hence, clear cut objectives need to be set by the management. I would prepare report in terms of the information systems planning that synergizes with the corporate strategic planning. Through effective strategic planning process, the information systems can be mapped as to how the company can achieve its objectives. This is also a change management hence all the pre-requisites for the information systems planning needs to be done. The information systems planning improve the efficiency of the organization to achieve its goals. Without a corporate strategic planning, it is highly impossible to define and strategize for the information systems planning. Since the business environment is a fast changing environment, the corporate strategic planning needs to be flexible enough to accommodate those changes. Similarly, the information systems planning also need to be flexible to accommodate the changes in the corporate strategic planning. For an information systems planning to be effective, it is important to know the requirements of the company to achieve the corporate strategic objectives. Thus, corporate strategic planning is pertinent for the information systems planning.