INFORMATION SYSTEMS
STRATEGY AND
MANAGEMENT
2021 – 2022
Sarah P
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
, 1st Master International Business
Information Systems Strategy and Management
ISSM & The role of IS/IT
Definitions
A system is ‘a set of inter-related components that work together in a particular environment to
perform whatever functions are required to achieve the system’s objective’.
– Donella Meadows
An information system is ‘a system that gets the right information to the right person in the right
place at the right time’.
– Keith Gordon — Modelling Business Information, BCS
Information (and Communication) Technologies
I(C)T refers specifically to technology, essentially hardware, software and telecommunications
networks, including devices of all kinds: computers, sensors, cables, satellites, servers, routers, PCs,
phones, tablets; and all types of software: operating systems, data management, enterprise and
social applications and personal productivity tools.
IT facilitates the acquisition and collection, processing, storing, delivery, sharing and presentation of
information and other digital content, such as video and voice
Information Systems Information systems
(IS) are the means by which people and organizations, increasingly utilizing technology, gather,
process, store, use and disseminate information.
The domain of interest for IS researchers includes the study of theories and practices related to the
social and technological phenomena which determine the development, use and effects of
information systems in organizations and society.
It is thus concerned with the purposeful utilization of information technology, not the technology per
se. IS are part of the wider domain of human language, cognition, behaviour and communication.
Page | 1
, 1st Master International Business
The changing role of IS/IT
Michael Porter’s Value chain
Process classification framework
“Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don’t think anybody
can talk meaningfully about the one without talking about the other.”
Page | 2
, 1st Master International Business
Some definitions of “tech company”
• “A company that sells technology” — e.g. Samsung
• “A company that is driven by technology” — e.g. Google
• “A company with technology as its main differentiator” — e.g. Netflix (initially)
• “A company that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for its technology” — e.g. Uber
→ Today, almost every company is a tech company to some extent.
The changing of the role of IS/IT
Support the business Enable the business Be the business
physical retailer E-commerce Platform
• Support processes • Enable online • Purely digital
• core processes • Support offline • Business
ASCO after a cyber-attack
• Asco builds airplane parts.
• Admin systems down, but also computer controlled production machines.
• Weeks of downtime for 1500 employees.
• Cost / Loss of millions of Euros.
• About 6 months needed to become fully operational again.
“We switched over to pen, paper, WhatsApp and Gmail.”
“Tech giants are taking over as they are mastering traditional business more quickly than the world's
established companies are mastering software delivery.”
— Mik Kersten, ‘Project to product’, 2018
Business strategy & IS/IT strategy
Strategic alignment model
Strategy execution
• Driver: Business Strategy
• Role of Top Management: Strategy
Formulator
• Role of IS/IT Management: Strategy
Implementor
• Performance Criteria: Cost/Service Center
Page | 3
