Managing the Information Technology Resource Instructor’s Manual
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CHAPTER 6 – PLANNING-RELATED IT PROCESSES______
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
Study of this chapter will enable the student to:
1. Understand why planning is important to IT organizations and why it differs from other types of
business planning
3. Understand strategic level IT planning processes
5. Understand operational level IT planning processes
6. Appreciate global considerations in IT planning
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter provides a detailed look at the three layers of IT planning: strategic, tactical, and
operational. Sixteen IT planning related processes are discussed. The differences each layer has on both
the IT planning process and the contents and execution of those plans is also described. Last, concepts
and empirical evidence of what constitutes a successful plan, as well as the issues IT management must
manage in each level of planning to avoid problems in plan execution are discussed.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Why Is IT Planning Important?
II. Strategic IT Planning
A. Business Strategic Planning
B. IT Strategy Planning
III. Tactical IT Planning
A. Application Planning
B. Data Planning
C. System Planning
D. Network Planning
E. Project Planning
F. Service Level Planning and Management
G. Recovery Planning and Management
H. Security Planning and Management
I. Audit Planning and Management
M. Vendor Planning and Management
N. Management Systems Planning and Management
IV. Operational Level IT Planning
V. Global Considerations and IT Planning
Managing the Information Technology Resource Instructor’s Manual
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EXAMPLES IN ACTION
• Project Charters – pp. 159-160
• What Happens When Business Doesn’t Want to Spend Enough for Disaster Recovery? – p.162
• Nine Steps to Promote Business Continuity Planning – p. 165
• Top 10 Factors that could Trigger Unethical Employee Behavior – p. 168
ANSWERS TO END-OF-CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Describe the types of plans formulated at the strategic level of the organization.
The business strategic plan defines the roles and expectations the organization has for the IT
2. What is the purpose of a business systems plan?
3. How would you develop an applications portfolio?
First, the organization should characterize its existing portfolio of applications along two
4. What techniques might you use to prioritize applications identified in your applications
portfolio?
The proposed applications can be prioritized by assessing their business impact and their ease of
5. What are the major elements of a project plan?
1. Introduction
2. Scope and objectives
4. Current environment
6. Glossary
6. Why is a recovery plan important?
7. What is IT management’s role in developing a business continuation plan?
8. Describe the major security threats to IT organizations and outline potential mitigation
approaches.
Some of the better-known security issues are:
1. Unauthorized access to systems
9. How should IT organizations plan for required skills?
A robust skills management plan should identify what skills the IT organization currently has,
what skills it needs to have (based on the IT strategic plan and the systems plan), when those
Managing the Information Technology Resource Instructor’s Manual
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ANSWERS TO END-OF-CHAPTER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How does your organization perform strategic-level IT planning?
2. Do you know what your organization’s business systems plan says?
3. Have you ever read your organization’s information systems plan?
4. Where does your organization most need improvement in its tactical-level planning?
Student responses will vary.
5. How often has your IT management formally assessed its management systems plan?
Student responses will vary.
6. What forms of security planning, business continuity planning, and privacy planning is your
organization mandated by law to perform and test?
Student responses will vary.