Effective Strategic ICT Implementation Plans And Planning

Information and Communication Technology Implementation Plan

Information systems or IS are the formal, organizational and socio technical systems that are eventually designed for the collection, processing, storing as well as distribution of information (Laudon & Laudon, 2016). There are four major components of the information system, which are technology, procedure, organizational structure and people. The information system refers to the software that is being utilized for running a specified computer based database.

A major emphasis is provided on the information system for having a definite boundary, processors, inputs, outputs, users and even the communication networks. The process of decision making, operations as well as management is supported with the help of information system (Bajdor & Grabara, 2014). The following report outlines a brief discussion on the strategic urbanization of information system and planning. The implementation of information and communication technology strategies will be provided in this report.

Discussion

1. Strategic ICT Implementation Plans by Several Organizations

The proper utilization of information and communications technology or ICT is important and noteworthy for all types of organizations (Gallagher & Sixsmith, 2014). The effective implementation of information and communications technology is responsible for keeping a flexibility on the existing network infrastructure of the respective organization.

According to Klukas, Chen and Pape (2014), there are several important and noteworthy effects of ICT implementation on the business operations since it reduces the complexity to a higher level. Moreover, the security as well as confidentiality of information or trade advantages is also another important factor of information and communications technology implementation plan. The various organizations have implemented their strategic ICT plan for bringing some of the major advantages within their businesses. One of such effective as well as efficient strategic plan of ICT for the organizations.

The above provided image clearly demonstrates one of the effective example of strategic information and communication technology implementation plan. Several popular organizations in the world are using this plan within their business. This particular strategic ICT plan helps to properly achieve five important or vital objectives. These objectives are as follows:

1. i) Reduction of Waste and Project Failure: The first and the foremost objective of this type of plan is to reduce the wastes as well as project failures. As per Vaishnavi and Kuechler (2015), this is responsible for properly stimulating the overall economic growth of the organization and hence the organization could enjoy subsequent profit.
2. ii) Creation of Common ICT Infrastructure: The second important and significant objective of the strategic ICT implementation plan is the proper creation of the common infrastructure of information and communications technology (Bilbao-Osorio, Dutta & Lanvin, 2013). The large and the popular organizations, often have to maintain their network with a common infrastructure.

iii) Utilizing ICT for Changes: The next vital as well as significant objective of this type of plan is to utilize the technology for bringing some of the major changes within the business and make the business more flexible.

1. iv) Strengthening Governance: The overall governance of the organization is also managed with the presence of this type of strategic ICT implementation plan.
2. v) Delivering Better Services in Cost Effective Manner: ICT implementation plan is also responsible for delivering better public services in an extremely cost effective manner.

The main steps for another effective strategic ICT implementation plan is given below:

1. i) Providing Community Access to Technology: According to Lee, Son and Kim (2016), the first and the foremost step in this particular strategic ICT plan is to provide community access to the technology. Since, ICT is highly protected, proper access should be given to the organizational employees for removing the issues effectively.
2. ii) Using Technology for Enhancing Processes: The second step is to use the technology for the purpose of enhancement of several processes. These business processes are required to be enhanced and hence it is done eventually.

iii) Using Processes Strategically: After the business processes are being enhanced properly, the next step is to use them strategically (Holtgrewe, 2014). This particular step helps the businesses in understanding the strategic implementation.

1. iv)  Bringing Innovations in the Business: In the fourth step, innovations are brought with the strategic implementation of ICT within the business. This is possible for the process utilization.
2. v) Using Technology for Transformation: Finally in the fifth step, technology is used for major transformations in the business and providing effectiveness to the business.
3. 2. Comparative Analysis on Similarities and Differences in the Plans

As per Bloom et al. (2014), a fundamental requirement of the organization can be stated that the information and communications technology has to be properly aligned for bringing major success within the business. Hence, the organization should be aware of the several subsequent issues of business management for relating to the information and communications technology or ICT.  Each of the strategic information and communication technology implementation plan consists of their own advantages and disadvantages and these are quite different from one another (Keller & Heiko, 2014). These strategic ICT implementation plans are made for bringing proper changes and effectiveness within the business and hence are made on the basis of organizational structure.

Comparative Analysis of Strategic ICT Implementation Plan

The above mentioned two strategic ICT implementation plans comprise of several similarities and differences amongst one another. The comparative analysis between the two mentioned strategic information and communications technology implementation plans are given below:

Key Parameters	1st Strategic ICT Plan	2nd Strategic ICT Plan
1. Use of Technology	The 1st strategic ICT implementation plan uses technology for bringing and delivering changes within the company.	The 2nd strategic ICT implementation plan utilizes technology for enhancing their business processes (Stahl, Eden & Jirotka, 2013).
2. Enables Changes	The 1st strategic ICT implementation plan enables as well as delivers changes to the business and hence making it more popular and effective.	The 2nd strategic ICT implementation plan enables innovation within the business for better efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Reduction of Project Failure and Waste	This is the first and the foremost objective of the 1st strategic information and communications technology implementation plan, where the project failure and waste reduction is eradicated.	This particular factor is absent in the 2nd strategic information and communications technology implementation plan and hence with this plan, often the project becomes a failure.
4. Providing Proper Access to Technology	With the 1st strategic information and communications technology implementation plan, the employees do not get the chance to get proper access to the respective technology.	The 2nd strategic information and communications technology implementation plan provides proper access to technology for the organizational staffs.
5. Strengthening of Governance	It is the fourth factor of the 1st strategic ICT implementation plan, by which the organizational governance is made stronger.	The organization could not provide a governance of its entire structure with the help of the second strategic ICT implementation plan and thus the organization often faces major issues.

Table 1: Comparative Analysis of Strategic ICT Implementation Plan

3. Factors Affecting the Successful Implementation of the Strategic ICT Plan

The strategic ICT implementation plan could be successfully implemented after taking into consideration few important and significant factors (Jones et al., 2014). The most significant and noteworthy factors for this type of successful implementation of ICT implementation plan are given below:

1. i) Organizational Factors: The first and the foremost important or vital factor for proper implementation of strategic ICT plan is organizational factor. A basic alignment is required for the business operations and their execution.
2. ii) Operational Factors: Business operation is the next factor for successfully implementing the strategic ICT plan since they are responsible for effective business operations.

iii) Structural Factors: The third factor for the proper implementation of strategic ICT plan is the structural factor (Luo & Bu, 2016). The several strategies regarding IT infrastructures are made and hence these are extremely important for the business.

1. iv) Technological Factors: The next factor that affects the strategic ICT plan is technological factor. This particular factor reflects the technical considerations of the business and hence is important.
2. 4. Evaluation of Findings and Proposal of Strategy

The communication with the customers is enhanced with this type of plan and thus the customers are satisfied with the products. Another important advantage of such plans is that it provides efficiency and effectiveness to the business operations and business culture. Due to the better security, it is quite easier for the organizations to implement these plans without any type of complexities.

However, a proper structure is to be followed for implementing these types of plans within the business (Bloom et al., 2014). There are various types of strategic ICT plans that are being used by several organizations in the world. These have become popular for the efficiency and effectiveness it provides to the business. The above mentioned two plans of ICT have demonstrated the effectiveness of bringing changes and innovation to the business after the implementation of such plan.

The strategy for the organization with ICT plan is to align the business operations efficiently. Moreover, the organizational management should communicate with the rest of the employees and be completely action oriented. This would help them to learn about the flaws or errors and hence achieve their goals and objectives. The business planning and growth are also affected by this strategy.

5. Critical Justification of Proposal Ensuring Successful Implementation of the Initiative

The alignment of business operations is extremely effective since it helps to manage the organizational structure properly. The business processes and activities could be tracked easily by this particular strategy and the organizational and structural factors would be enhanced for each and every organization. Moreover, the technological factors would also be enhanced and the organization would be getting an upgraded version of technology without any complexity. Hence, the above mentioned strategy would be extremely important and significant for successful implementation of the strategic information and communications technology plan.

Conclusion

Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that ICT or information and communication technology mainly stresses on the role of several unified communications as well as significant integration of telecommunication, systems audio visual systems and many other systems. These help in enabling the users to subsequently access, transmit, manipulate and store the confidential information. The significant convergence of the telephone networks, audio visual systems and computer networks is easily completed with the information and communications technology.

This type of convergence could be done with the use of a single unified system, signal management and distribution. Most of the popular and significant organizations have implemented information and communications technology within their business to complete the strategic urbanization. The business operations could be easily executed and the future ICT needs should be aligned with information system. The above report has clearly outlined the effective as well as efficient strategic implementation plan of information and communications technology with relevant details.

References

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Bilbao-Osorio, B., Dutta, S., & Lanvin, B. (2013, April). The global information technology report 2013. In World Economic Forum (pp. 1-383).

Bloom, N., Garicano, L., Sadun, R., & Van Reenen, J. (2014). The distinct effects of information technology and communication technology on firm organization. Management Science, 60(12), 2859-2885.

Gallagher, S., & Sixsmith, A. (2014). Engaging IT undergraduates in non-IT content: Adopting an eLearning information system in the classroom. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 11(2), 99-111.

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Keller, J., & Heiko, A. (2014). The influence of information and communication technology (ICT) on future foresight processes—Results from a Delphi survey. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 85, 81-92.

Klukas, C., Chen, D., & Pape, J. M. (2014). IAP: an open-source information system for high-throughput plant phenotyping. Plant physiology, pp-113.

Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2016). Management information system. Pearson Education India.

Lee, A. R., Son, S. M., & Kim, K. K. (2016). Information and communication technology overload and social networking service fatigue: A stress perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 51-61.

Luo, Y., & Bu, J. (2016). How valuable is information and communication technology? A study of emerging economy enterprises. Journal of world business, 51(2), 200-211.

Stahl, B. C., Eden, G., & Jirotka, M. (2013). Responsible research and innovation in information and communication technology: Identifying and engaging with the ethical implications of ICTs. Responsible innovation, 199-218.

Vaishnavi, V. K., & Kuechler, W. (2015). Design science research methods and patterns: innovating information and communication technology. Crc Press.