The Structure and Culture of the Organization - Essay Example

The team has been wonderful. We were able to allocate time for each task. We discussed on the topics very carefully and made sure that everyone was able to think about each raised point thoroughly. The topic we had was intriguing and we were able to acquire ideas especially coming from different perspective. The group had different views but we were able to conclude and consolidate our ideas. The paper was able to give the group a clearer picture of the topic. The team was able to interact in an academic level as well as on a friendly level. This, in turn, has resulted in a more productive and informative brain storming and report. IN the paper “Managing the Realization of Business Benefits from IT investments”, there are several points that I’ve observed. This article is actually more from the point of IT business analyst, because they have a more concrete experience on this. It seems to be from one IT business analysts to another. The paper focuses on the benefits of IT per se not only on the non users but to IT users as well. The article balances the figures that would be beneficial to non IT users, but is on the look out for one; and for the IT users who are seeking to improve the current benefits. “The primary purpose for constructing a BDN for a problem-based investment is to identify the most cost-effective and lowest-risk combination of IT and business changes to achieve the defined improvements—that is, to achieve the desired ends.” The paper works under the assumption that it is still in the organization’s decision whether the IT service will be beneficial. Another notion emphasize on the paper is that it may serve as an advertisement for IT. The presentation of the paper includes more on the benefits or the “undiscovered” benefits of IT. The paper presents examples of institutions that either not availing of IT or has availed of IT services but has not received any benefits for it. Through out the paper, it highlights that the change that must also come from the institution itself. Most of the parts of the paper not only promotes the IT industry but also imparts those improvements on the part of the host institution that should be employing IT services. Consequently, the paper is really proves the point that it comes from the perspective of IT business analyst because they show these interventions. The paper also provides insights on the leads and sales of IT. The paper was also able to provide advises on how IT advertising would be more attractive and direct to the customers. The paper is relevant for IT managers, or personnel but it should be more focused on how it can reach out rather than advise organizations. It should go beyond setting the targets, the ends and the means for the organizations. The paper should also be able to create a sense of action to work on achieving the benefits of IT in new heights. This article, I think would also be beneficial to IT directors because they would be able to decide on the enhancement of the company’s IT status. They would be able to explain the long-term and short-term benefits of IT. These people would also be able to put a direction on how the company should go next in terms of their IT equipments and systems. On an overall evaluation of this article, I can say that the paper is relevant and, in my opinion, commendable. For the whole subject, I can say that the groups did very well. The other groups presented very interesting topics; most of the groups are well-prepared. Some of them answered the questions for all the aspect of their report. I think they studied their reports quite well. There are some questions that were left unanswered but these areas are mostly for personal research if they would really want to know. The groups were also able to provide excellent backgrounds for their topics. Though some group have only very general information on their topics. The other group were also able to give further details about on their topics, so that the other groups will surely understand their topic. Moving on, the IT interaction model is relatively useful only as an analytical tool for a case study because it would be able to provide necessary points to consider for the study. The model addresses the interaction of an information system's features with five elements of the organization: (1) its external environment, (2) its strategy, (3) its structure and culture, (4) its business processes, and (5) its IT infrastructure. The model considers the consequences of this interaction for system use, for organizational performance, for the organization's personnel, and for the firm's future flexibility. Moreover, the model relates various aspects of the interaction process to the phases of the development and implementation lifecycles. 1 Like in the paper, “Bringing professionals onboard…” , the study was able to identify that the health care practitioners were somehow unwilling to accept the changes brought about by IT because they find difficulty in changing their ways. Some commented on the erroneous data they received without the se of IT, but the changes incorporated brings a certain order and ease, “more information, more accuracy in their evaluation of the patients”. The Gemini Project that was tackled in the paper boldly required changes in the practice of caregivers, doctors, nurses and other practitioners in handling, storing, sharing and using the patient’s data or records. By combining these various components, the model integrates the many aspects of the course, including such topics as technology basics, what businesses accomplish with information technology, how IT can change firm and industry structure, how organizations acquire new applications, how firms manage IT standards, and so forth. At the same time, the model serves as a formal foundation for the course. And the model builds practical skills, as well, since it can be used proactively in designing and implementing systems or reactively to evaluate what transpired after the fact. In particular, the model lends itself to use in case discussions and in student projects. 1 The same paper also tackled how the lack of knowledge in computers has slowed down the health professionals. They were complaining about the time they waste as to inputting all these data for the patients. Thus, also a decrease in the number of patients they would be able to see everyday. One even commented on their job as health providers not data encoders. In the model it includes how IT can change firm and industry structure. Thus, was made in this example. I actually agree with the various components of the model, this is exactly what the model have. It makes the students think in a pivotal way but with more coats of inputs. It practically covers all aspects needed in reading between the lines, around the lines and sometimes even beyond the lines. This model enables IT practitioners, or would-be practitioners to understand the basic up t the complex part of IT, including the business of IT. The model enables us to critique the center of the study better. It would also be able to give direction on which to focus at and expound on. In a business environment the IT interaction model can also be helpful because one would be able to be guided by the model, especially in tackling complex matters or issues. The model would be able to address the relationship of IT and business, thus bridging a gap on the knowledge on how to better utilize the IT industry. The interaction of an information system's features with one of the elements of the organization which is its strategy, was also put into a test. IT “bent and mended” with the organization, they needed the data of the patients to have notes and observations by the physicians, they allowed for free flow and / or standard forms. As the model has also predicted, the structure and culture of the organization has to be taken into account. Everyone in the organization has to come and work together to induce, influence and observe change. This model is a useful tool in bringing a clearer definition of IT to the business processes. The article “ Bringing Professional onboard…” was also able to present that the organizational politics may question the value of the system. Thus an IT personnel, whether the manager or director has to take into account the organization’s skepticism about the program. The IT infrastructure of every organization has to fit with the people from all walk of it. The infrastructure must be reflected in each member. Everyone in the organization must be willing to work towards change. And that everyone, not only the IT personnel must promote and encourage the IT change. Thus the pressure does not solely lie on the organization but to IT, who is challenged to transcend everyone’s expectations and better plan and manage the transformation of the organization. With all that the model provides and “predicted” , I can say that this model is very useful in analyzing case studies, and hopefully to the business environment as well. 1 http://www.bnet.fordham.edu/public/ics/msilver/itmodel.htm Read More