Chapter 13 • Leading the Information Systems Function 5597.Describe how a company policy could minimize a specific
business risk associated with user computing.
8.What are some of the key concerns associated with managing
an IS organization’s personnel?
9.What types of mechanisms can be used to help increase col-
laboration across business and IS leaders?
10.What is a balanced scorecard approach, and why might it be
useful for measuring overall IS performance?
11.What are some of the global IS management challenges that
face IS leaders today?
12.What are some of the potential benefits from outsourcing
arrangements that need to be carefully assessed?
13.What are some special issues associated with managing an
offshore outsourcing arrangement?Discussion Questions
1.What mixture of education, skills, and experiences might be
considered when an organization chooses an executive to
fill a chief information officer (CIO) position? Why might
the importance of these characteristics not always be the
same?
2.This chapter emphasizes the need for strong business/IT rela-
tionships for managing IT. Describe what you think con-
tributes to a strong cross-unit relationship and whether or not
you think it may be more important for managing IT than
managing other business functions.
3.What circumstances might lead an entire organization (or
business unit) with a federal IT governance design to change
to a centralized IT governance design?
4.Identify some examples of “shared services” organizations
that include IT. What are the primary advantages associated
with this business model.
5.Find an article on a green computing initiative. What poten-
tial benefits were associated with the initiative, and were they
achieved?
6.Some chargeback systems can lead to negative “tensions”
between IS and business leaders. Why do you think this hap-
pens, and what might an IS leader do to alleviate them?
7.Describe a circumstance under which you think it will be dif-
ficult to enforce a corporate “standard” for purchasing anewer user technology—such as a BlackBerry or iPhone (or
other type of handheld device or PDA).
8.If you were employed as a salesperson, but were asked to
work from your home (as a telecommuter) on days that you
were not out in the field, what would you like, and dislike,
about this arrangement—and what could the company do to
address some of your “dislikes”?
9.If you were a chief marketing officer, what metrics might you
use to evaluate the performance of the IS organization in your
company?
10.Research some ads for IT professionals in a company
and/or geographic location that you would like to work in.
Which types of jobs would you be the most interested in,
and why?
11.Develop a list of pros and cons for an IS leader to consider
when deciding whether or not to outsource (a) its computer
and network operations (e.g., data center, networks,
helpdesk) and (b) a large software development project.
What are the differences (if any) between your two lists, and
why?
12.Select one of the special challenges discussed for managing a
global IS organization. What types of education and training
programs would you like to participate in to help you better
prepare for this type of challenge?Bibliography
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