Information Technology for Management - Essay Example

IT Infrastructure Management Reflection Introduction In modern environment, I have learnt and seen the fundamental role that technology has played and it does continue to play in all aspects of people’s social and business lives with more and more individuals relying on the power of technology to not only work and transact business but also to entertain, socialize, interact, learn and communicate. Not even business organizations have been exempted from the huge impact of technology. Technology has taken a great role in enabling businesses, ranging from business activities such as financial processing, enhancing production, and enhancing distribution to transacting with the customers, which all have had some degree of reliance on technology (Turban, 2008). To illustrate the fundamental role technology plays in modern business environments, majority if not all businesses both large and small literally have in one time or another bring their business operations and work processes to a halt when any of their technology systems are down. This signifies the interconnectedness that exists between business processes and technological systems in contemporary business and market environments that are characterized by competitiveness and instability. For this reason, it becomes fundamental for the information technology team in any organization to develop new ways that ensure technology infrastructure runs as smoothly as possible and ensure all the aspects of technology platform operate effectively and efficiently. This report is a reflection blog on IT infrastructure management. Good IT manager’s know how to analyze technology trends and the IT governance blog is a good way to build a knowledge base, assist in developing business intelligence, project management and knowledge management and succession planning as well as discussing the issues of IT governance that may arise during the integration of new technology into a firm’s ICT infrastructure. What have I learnt? In my understanding of an effective IT infrastructure management model, it is one that ensures that the IT infrastructure is aligned to the business mission, goals and objectives of the organization and it is able to enhance the capacity of the set business plans and strategies to ensure the set goals and objectives are met. In addition, an effective IT infrastructure management model ensures that the business progress is effectively monitored and evaluated to ensure productive strategies are maintained while those that are not performing, are sufficiently improved in order to effectively respond to emerging business issues, changes and challenges (Choubey). It is important that I mention that the Information Technology infrastructure has allowed businesses to effectively and efficiently counter issues and challenges in modern business and market environments where political, social, legal, economical, ecological and technological forces are always shifting, by ensuring intelligent data management. As highlighted in the course content, the ability for the IT manager to integrate new technology into a firm’s ICT infrastructure is critical in ensuring that the new technology is attuned to existing ICT infrastructure and therefore, generate continuity both in infrastructure and in business. More importantly, I conclude, this ability becomes handy in ensuring that the new technology is able to align adequately and appropriately to the set business goals and mission and in so doing, facilitate achievement of anticipated business outcomes of a firm. Effective IT infrastructure management is no longer about managing the hardware and the software, but it now, encompasses business oriented IT processes that engages the back office, the front office and the middle office where all the stakeholders of a firm such as customers, suppliers, employees, the management, shareholders and the government among others are involved (Reynolds, 2011). Important lesson learnt is that through IT infrastructure management, all the business units and business functions are streamlined and they become easily managed and monitored to ensure challenges arising from any business units or functions are resolved wherever and whenever they arrive, which helps in prevention and effective management of business risks as indicated by (Choubey). For instance, varied business departments in a firm such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, productions and operations, engineering, and research and development are interlinked and streamlined through the use of IT and Information systems. The streamlining, inter-linkage and continuity facilitated by IT infrastructure ensures that there are no duplication of efforts, they foster flow of information across and along business functions and units, they facilitate interoperability of the firm’s entities and more significantly, they ensure effective and adequate allocation of resources, which safeguard against resource wastage or misallocation of resources. I have discovered that among resourceful and effective ways of enriching a firm’s IT infrastructure management is by the IT manager, engaging and using IT governance blog in order to develop a sound knowledge base and business intelligence which are crucial in developing proficient interface between business and information systems (Lee, 2009). Developing and interacting using an IT governance blog should be approached carefully to ensure the information collected from such places are not only feasible and relevant but also, productive, credible and safe to use. As it may, the use of IT governance blog is a rich resource for innovative ideas on the use and application of IT in business and it is a viable platform for identifying new technology trends and new IT systems. In addition, it offers varied types and forms of information on pertinent technological issues, which are adequately used by the IT management in solving technological issues and making decisions (Lee, 2009). I have learnt that successful alignment of IT with business occurs when an IT manager is able to identify existing and changing technology trends, which are crucial for the managers in establishing new safety measures and systems for safeguarding a firm’s business information systems, which culminates to enhanced performance, productivity and safety of the business. Identifying new trends in technology ensures that the flow of information across and along the organizational structures is streamlined while ensuring the data, procedures, hardware and software are safe and secure (Turban, 2008). This is because, second to the human resource, information is a significant resource to an organization. Improper handling of information has the potential to weaken business strategy, competitiveness and put the business future at risk, particularly when sensitive business information falls on the wrong hands. Such risks to information can effectively and adequately be dealt with by developing a comprehensive, well thought out, pertinent IT infrastructure management plan as supported by Lee, (2009). Primarily, being on the know about new trends ensures that the IT team is on the front in integrating modern technology that enhances business goals of an organization (Bansal, 2009). As noted by Bansal, (2009), the inability for the IT manager to monitor, and their failure to be aware, of development in technology has the ability to influence negatively on the strategic and financial position of the firm in the market environment. Using IT governance blog, an IT manager can watch out for crucial technology information that has the potential to influence the performance of the business both in the short term and in the long term. Such as inventions and innovations in technology such as products and systems, government spending on technology, adjustments in business processes due to technology and the rate of technology transfer (Lee, 2009). Through knowledge sharing and development in business intelligence facilitated by the use of IT governance blog through information sharing, an IT manager becomes better equipped and well positioned in identifying revolutionary impact technologies, which offer business opportunities. This is important because, revolutionary impact technologies can either offer opportunities or become a distraction in achieving business goals and therefore, ample knowledge and business intelligence is required (Turban, 2008). Among recent revolutionary impact technologies that have had huge influence on products, people, processes, services, distribution and communication systems include Facebook, teleconferencing, ebay and Google among many others. Conclusively, the core factor in effective IT governance is the development of a control environment for productive actions to foster efficient, effective and safe utilization of information technology. Such an environment is impacted by the actions, attitudes and awareness of the stakeholders in relation to controls within the firm. What is still unclear? Among one of the major challenges that I have identified that I face and it continue facing IT managers is finding the best way to efficiently use existing or current IT infrastructure in the excellent, proficient and productive way possible. In addition, knowing how to ensure the IT team are multi-skilled to be able to support and deal with multiple technology platforms within different environments. Finding the best way for doing this is crucial because more often than not, organizations incur many costs when they buy or procure new technology, only to realize later that effective utilization of the existing IT infrastructure would have produced similar or better results (Turban, 2008). Nevertheless, I have learnt that through the use of an IT governance blog, one can have broader and easy access to varied IT managers/ experts who have different experiences, skills and proficiency. Who can share and inform others on the best ways to utilize existing infrastructure in order to derive the infrastructure’s full potential and safeguard against additional costs as suggested by Lee, (2009). What do I need to follow up on? According to Reynolds,(2011), in strategic business management, it is crucial that following the formulation and implementation of business strategies, that the business management team does monitor and evaluate the progress of the implemented strategies to ensure that the implemented business strategies are progressing as anticipated and if not, recommend and effect necessarily changes. The same case does apply during management of IT infrastructure. It is important to not only create and implement the IT infrastructure but also, it is crucial to continuously monitor and evaluate the infrastructure to ensure that it is functioning effectively and efficiently and if not, necessary changes to the infrastructure are made (Turban, 2008). These changes may range from removing existing IT infrastructure completely and replacing it with a new one, replacing part of the IT infrastructure and using new parts or improving on the existing IT infrastructure using new technology. It is important as earlier mentioned, for the new technology to match and effectively align to the existing IT infrastructure and more importantly, be attuned to achieving the set business goals and objectives. This is an area that am particularly interested in and therefore, I expect to do additional research on the monitoring and evaluation of IT infrastructure, in a bid to enrich my knowledge on the best ways to do so and equip myself with skills of applying theoretical knowledge into real life business scenarios. Where to from here? Having dwelt in breadth and depth on the benefits of aligning IT to business, I seek to critically analyze the downside to aligning IT to business. What other topics I have read or accessed to help me make sense of it all? Learning on the varied benefits generated by digital enterprises has opened my mind and eyes to new insights on how effective adoption of the right type of information systems, for the right function has the potential to place a business a strategic position financially and performance wise. In relation to automation of manual processes, it does not only ensure efficiency but also cut on costs generated by duplication of efforts, information insecurity and so doing ensuring overall business success (Turban, 2008). Conclusion Effective IT infrastructure management is important in enhancing and ensuring the benefits and security of the business. That is, it facilitates appropriate handling and protection of the hardware, data and software, which are needed to operate the business on a daily basis. During the course, what has been apparent is that technology platform has made the modern customer more sophisticated and more aware of not only their place and rights in the business economy, but also, they are continuously in search of places where they can acquire better quality products and services that give them value for money. This I can attribute to the ease and speed at which customers are able to access information, use it, store and retrieve it. On the other hand, I have learnt that technology platform have provided modern businesses with systems and mechanisms of enhancing their competitive advantage. This is particularly so where IT infrastructure facilitates important business aspects and processes such as innovation, risk management, change management, knowledge sharing and automation of business processes among other, which are essential for the success and sustainability of contemporary businesses. As argued in the blog, identifying new trends in technology and using IT governance blog are rich resources for IT managers in developing effective, efficient and productive business oriented IT strategies, plans that ensure achievement of business goals and objectives of the firm. References Bansal, S. 2009. Technology Scorecards: Aligning IT Investments with Business Performance. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Choubey, M.K. IT Infrastructure and Management (For the GBTU and MMTU). New Delhi: Pearson Education India. Lee, L.L. 2009. It Governance in a Networked World: Multi-Sourcing Strategies and Social Capital for Corporate Computing. Sidney: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Reynolds, G. 2011. Ethics in Information Technology. London: Cengage Learning. Turban, E. 2008. Information technology for management: transforming organizations in the digital economy. New York: Wiley. Read More