IT Architecture
An IT architecture is "the organizing logic for applications, data, and infrastructure technologies, as captured in a set of policies and technical choices, intended to enable a firm's business strategy." Ross, (20003).
Trying to create a stable architecture in the face of constant business and technology change remains an important IT management challenge.
Your group should begin the presentation by explaining what an IT architecture is and is not, the importance of the topic to senior management, the four stages of IT architecture identified by Ross (2003), and any other important overview information you discover.
This presentation should then provide at least 2 in-depth examples of an organization's IT architecture based on case study research. For each organization studied, provide the company background by including:
- Size of company in terms of sales and profits
- Major products the company sells
- General characteristics of their customers
- Organizational chart--who does the CIO report to?
- How many people work for the IT organization?
- What is the annual IT budget?
The IT Architecture portion of the case should include:
- Picture and good description of the organization's IT Architecture
- Who is responsible for IT architecture
- What are the perceived benefits and limitations of the IT architecture as described by IT managers you interviewed
- What plans does the organization have for the future of the IT architecture
- Map the organization's stage of IT architecture to Ross' four stages of IT architecture
- Lessons learned by the company
The group should end the presentation on best practices for creating a good IT architecture, then map how your cases fit into best practices. This is essentially a cross-case comparison that integrates your primary (case studies) and secondary (journal articles & books) research.
Good sources include:
Ross, J., "Creating A Strategic IT Architecture Competency," MIS Quarterly Executive, Vol. 2, 1, 2003, pp. 31-43.
Broadbent, M., and Weill, P., "Management by Maxim: How Business & IT Managers Can Create IT Infrastructure," Sloan Management Review, 1997, pp. 77-91.
Weill, P., Subramani M., Broadbent, M. "Building IT Infrastructure
for Strategic Agility, MIT Sloan
Management Review, Fall 2002. Vol. 44, Iss. 1; p. 57
|
1. |
|
Building
Enterprise Information Architecture: Reengineering Information Systems
-- by Melissa Cook, Hewlett-Packard Professional Books; Paperback |
|
2. |
|
Patterns
of Enterprise Application Architecture -- by Martin Fowler, et al;
Hardcover |
|
3. |
|
The
Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture -- by James McGovern, et
al; Paperback |
|
1. |
|
Leveraging
the New Infrastructure: How Market Leaders Capitalize on Information
Technology |
I am sure that your group will have many creative ideas, so please feel free to discuss them with me.