Strategic Information Technology (saylor.org)

Offered by Saylor.org,
Strategic Information Technology (saylor.org)

This course focuses on the allocation and use of technology resources across an entire firm as part of the larger organizational strategy. Because firms do not have an unlimited supply of capital, they must decide when and where to deploy new information technology. Firms must not only focus on when to deploy IT, but also if they should deploy them at all!

Management Information Systems introduced you to the subject of Management Information Systems (MIS). The focus of that initial course was on the “nuts and bolts” of information systems: how they work, how you create them, how to secure them, and so on. Understanding that basic information has prepared you to move to the next level, understanding how information technology can be used as part of an organization’s overall strategy. That is what this course is all about.

This course focuses on the allocation and use of technology resources across an entire firm as part of the larger organizational strategy. Because firms do not have an unlimited supply of capital, they must decide when and where to deploy new information technology. Firms must not only focus on when to deploy IT, but also if they should deploy them at all!

This brings up the bigger question about technology: can the use of IT bring a sustainable competitive advantage to an organization? There are those who say “no;” others say “of course!” In this course, we will explore the differing opinions out there on this topic.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Explain the relationship between information technology and competitive advantage.
Explain the relationship between information technology and business processes in an organization.
Explain how an organization can leverage data for strategic planning through the use of data warehouses and business intelligence.
Identify different online technologies,and explain how each can be used to improve their business and contribute to their competitive advantage.
Describe how a technology strategy should be developed.

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