Case Assignment

Write a 4-5 page essay describing the IT governance structure and decision-making processes in your organization. Include a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of your organization’s circumstances and present and justify one specific improvement you would make to either the structure or a process; be sure to apply the concepts and use the terminology provided in the readings.

Assignment Expectations

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

• Precision: the questions asked are answered.
• Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.
• Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.
• Critical thinking: It is important to read the required readings posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your paper should include important concepts from these readings and incorporate YOUR reactions and examples that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts.
• Your paper is well written and the references are properly cited and listed (refer to TUI guidelines http://support.trident.edu/files/Well-Written-Paper.pdf)
• Your paper meets the page requirements not counting the cover page or the references pages.

Decision making and Information Politics

Assignment Overview

In this case we investigate the technology-related decision making in organizations.

• We start by introducing the objective of governance specific to the information technology function and services.
• Next, we offer to you the fundamental battle in technology management—the constant tug-of-war between centralization and decentralization.
• We then provide several examples of how real-world organizations have reconciled their choices in how to structure themselves.
• Next, we present an overview of decision making processes and some of the methods for making decisions.
• Finally, we present insight into the complexity of real-world choices highlight the politics of information

Before writing-up the essay for this case, read and review the following documents (we recommend in this same order):

1. Objective of IT governance: http://www.intosaiitaudit.org/intoit_articles/25_p30top35.pdf
2. Centralization versus Decentralization: http://www.ppcwg.org/images/files/Federated%20Model%20White%20Paper.pdf
3. Different models / Roundtable discussion: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EDU03184.pdf
4. IT Governance Structure for a public child-welfare agency: http://www.ppcwg.org/information-management-key-processes-governance-structure.html
5. University of South Florida IT Governance Structure: http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/policies-and-procedures/pdfs/policy-0-512.pdf
6. Overview of Decision Making: http://www.enotes.com/business-finance-encyclopedia/decision-making
7. Main methods of business decision-making: http://tutor2u.net/business/organisation/decisionmaking.htm