Making Information Technology Strategic

Making Information Technology Strategic
by By Victoria Griffith http://www.strategy-business.com/press/16635507/13243?tid=230&pg=all
This article suggests that if information technology is embraced as an integral part of strategy, rather than shoved aside as a back-office function, it can be a leading driver of corporate growth.
This article reflects the impotence of the concept of IS strategy triangle in the text book chapter 1. The concept states that business strategy is the overriding strategy and IS strategy has to support and integrate with it.
The article provides seven ways to wntegrate I.T. with business strategy:
1, Draw I.T. leaders into the company's elite decision-making circle.
2,Improve communications between C.I.O.'s and C.E.O.'s. C.I.O.'s should drop the jargon and talk about revenue-producing initiatives. C.E.O.'s must listen.
3, Consider appointing an I.T. head with a business background. Someone with engineering knowledge alone may not be able to think strategically.
4, Adopt a team approach to I.T. projects. Teams should consist largely of members from the business side.
5, Get the entire corporation behind the strategy. This can be done through demonstrations, videos and other internal public relations techniques.
6, Present I.T. as a corporate priority.
7, Measure I.T. success by profits, not cost. This requires viewing technology as revenue driver, rather than cost center.