Session 2 Commentary
IT History
Stages of a
Technologys Growth
There are several
models that detail the growth and diffusion of a technology. In Nolan's
stage model early success leads to the proliferation that invariably leads to
a control of the proliferation by setting limits. In the Modified Model,
the emphasis is more on the growth within an organization where after the
initial investment that brings in the technology, the organization goes
through a period of experimentation and learning which leads to the setting of
management controls. Why? Just as in the Nolan model negatives
that require control become apparent in familiarization of the
technology.
Strains
between Management and IT Professionals
The following 7 items are often the big
bone of contention between the IT professionals and the IT managers.
Often, managers do not disseminate critical information in a timely
manner, do not let the professionals fully participate in the development
of systems (often a problem when the manager was promoted because the manager
was a great 'IT'er' What about the others -- underlined
IT Organizational Models (3 basic models)
Functional Model
Functional
Alignment:
Organizing IT personnel by functional knowledge and platforms
Project/Product Model
Project
Alignment:
Organizing IT personnel by tasks and services
Everyone understands departmental work
Disadvantages
Matrix Model
Matrix
Alignment:
Organizing IT personnel by functional and project approach simultaneously.
Each person reports to two managers simultaneously
Governance Issues
Pressure toward IT
Control
Pressure
toward User Dominance
Pressure toward Distribution
HRM in IS
Flamholtz Leadership Effectiveness Framework
The styles of leadership
Directive
Interactive
Nondirective
The situation
The Work Being Done
(programmable/ non-programmable)The People Doing the Work
(motivation/skill level/independence)Temporal concerns
(timeframe?)
Flamholtz Leadership Effectiveness Framework
Leadership Tasks
Towards the work being done
Goal emphasis and work facilitation
Towards people doing the work
Interaction facilitation, supportive behavior, personnel development
Balance in emphasis
Leadership Issues
There are 6 components to
the HRM function in IS.
IT- HRM Components (6) -- compare/contrast to framework ( class discussion Q)
1. Hiring -- not part of f/w
2. Turnover and Retention Strategies -- personnel development and the interaction facilitation (feedback, brokering interpersonal difficulties), supportive behavior
3. Career Development -- personnel development
4. Training -- personnel development
5. Compensation -- s/be justified based on supportive behavior (feedback), goal emphasis
6. Performance Appraisal -- supportive behavior)
Leadership Issues in IS Mgt
How CIOs role has evolved and where it is going? outsourcing, staffing shortage
How IS function is changing? is it just getting the infrastructure together?
SABRE system
Discussion Questions
- While the PC dispersed control of processing power out of the IS department, the network computer will return control to the department. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss.
-- Do we really need a major change in the way the information systems function is structured? Aren't the necessary changes just minor modifications to accommodate normal growth in computer uses?
-- The procedure-goal dichotomy does not add much beyond the clerical-management distinction. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your opinion.
-- Compare/contrast the the Flamholtz Leadership Effectiveness Framework tasks and the components listed for IT-HRM.
-- Looking at your worksite,
compare/contrast 4 different jobs on basis of degree of task programmability, and
compare/contrast the jobholders on basis of potential for job autonomy
with specific justifications (use aliases)
Then, describe the appropriate leadership style, and most likely mix of leadership tasks
Finally compare/contrast the ideal just built against the leadership behavior now in effect.Sturdivant Case -- ??
Sturdivant Case: What is the nature of Al Abram's work? How do you describe Al's potential for job autonomy? What leadership style does Bill Eden employ? Why? Is it effective? Why not?
Assignment
1
Each student
prepares a paper that is no longer than
6 pages, double line-spaced in a 12-point font with normal margins excluding
appendices such as references, tables and graphics. This
paper with page numbers and identifying info on all pages is due in Week
3.
The student analyzes a personally familiar IS organization
on its approach to IT human resource management, the style-situation fit, and
the effectiveness of its leader based on the Flamholtz framework.
Analyze the organization and compare/contrast the various IS
areas directed by the manager selected by advising the reader of the the
following in the paper:
for the IS area, advise the reader of the IS area's culture --
risk-taking or risk-averse, technological sophistication, who is
involved in major decisions
for each IS area, the nature of the work -- task-definition (well-defined,
vague, combination)
-- time critical,
-- skill level required,
-- level of coordination needed with
others in unit for effective execution
for each IS area,the nature of the people doing the work --
skill-level (high to low),
-- motivation (high to low),
-- independence tendency
the style used by the leader for each IS area
-- consistency of style used
-- overall style (directive,
interactive, nondirective)
the dominant tasks the leader performs for each IS area
the level of interaction between leader and each IS area
assess the style-situation fit for the leader
assess the balance of leadership task execution
assess the overall effectiveness of the leader
Hint: space is at a premium in this paper so answer the questions specifically, do not waste space reiterating aspects of the framework presented in the papers. If using an alias rather than a real person's name is more comfortable for you, then please use it.
Grading Criteria:
Grade |
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
The paper is dishonest |
F |
2. |
|
The paper completely ignores the questions set. |
|
3. |
|
The paper is incomprehensible due to errors in language or usage. |
|
4. |
|
The paper contains very serious factual errors. |
D |
5. |
|
The paper simply lists, narrates, or describes facts and includes several factual errors. |
|
6. |
|
The paper correctly lists or describes facts but makes little or no attempt to frame an argument using the Flamholtz framework |
|
7. |
|
The paper states an argument or thesis, but the argument or thesis does not address the question set. |
C |
8. |
|
The paper states an argument or thesis, but
supporting subthesis and factual evidence are: |
|
9. |
|
The paper states an argument on the appropriate topic, clearly supported by relevant sub-thesis and specific factual evidence but conclusions are inconsistent with framework. |
B |
10. |
|
The paper contains an argument, relevant
sub-theses, and specific evidence;: |
A |
11. |
|
The paper adequately states and defends an
argument and answers all alternative's concerns suggested by: |
Next Session:
Distributed Processing
-- when more than 1 interconnected
processor is operating at the same time.
architecture versus infrastructure -- blueprint versus implementation
attributes are based on answers to:
where is processing
done?
goal is to have processing done as close to user as possible
how are processors & other devices interconnected?
each processor in system c/send
data or messages electronically to any other processor in system
where is information stored?
can be distributed with duplication of data or without
duplication
what rules or standards are used?
operating discipline exists and is enforced systemwide
-- usu on open systems principles
distributing a system should be based on business considerations:-- answers to 3 qs.
1. are the operations interdependent?
2. are the businesses really homogenous?
3. does corporate culture support decentralization?
Look at the 2 guiding frameworks -- organizational and technical
Compare/contract 6 types of distributed systems
host-based hierarchy
decentralized stand-alone systems
peer-to-peer LAN based systems
hybrid enterprisewide systems
client/server systems
network-centric systems
Architecture:
The Enterprise Architecture Framework
Infrastructure
IT Investments (4 types) // value// views (utility,dependent, enabling)
is it ITs main role?
Managing Telecommunications
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Model -- 7 layers--