The Role of OR in Information Systems Strategy Development

Stakeholder influence in public sector information systems strategy implementation—The case of public hospitals in South Africa

In 1989, Sainsbury's, the largest UK supermarket chain, developed a new information systems (IS) strategy. To obtain management ownership of the strategy and commitment to implementation, it adopted a participative approach using “soft” OR methods. The resulting strategy was projected to cost $73 million and give annual benefits of $64 million. Five years into the strategy the outcome can be evaluated. Inevitably the strategy has evolved. Implementation has taken longer and costs are more than estimated; but benefits are exceeding expectations. The results indicate the effectiveness of the decision-making process used, showing that qualitative OR approaches can be used to good effect and can sometimes be subjected to quantitative assessment.

Research in the field of strategic information systems planning (SISP) has primarily focused on information systems (IS) strategy formulation. Despite the great effort put into understanding and executing SISP, organisations still grapple with effectively translating strategic information systems plans into effective implementations. Effective IS strategy plan implementation is fundamental to the survival, profitability and shaping the future of an organisation. Contextual conditions are acknowledged as having a major bearing on the success of IS implementations in organizations. Since limited attention has been given to this situation of concern with respect to SISP, this study aimed to understand how contextual factors influence strategic IS plan implementation. A triangulated research design of an exploratory nature was employed, using qualitative data collected from 11 professionals across 6 organisations. Within each organisation, data was collected through semi-structured interviews from a business person and an IS person involved in strategic IS plan implementation. Company strategic IS plans were also studied. The results of the data analysis enrich understanding of how factors related to the SISP practice context, the IS function context, the stakeholder and management context, the organisational context and the environmental context shape strategic IS plan implementation.

When technology is used for good in addressing sustainable development goals, fundamental human rights are adhered to. In the context of technology, we can discuss privacy, data rights and cybersecurity as three areas that are integral in maintaining the freedom and dignity of the individual. In a rush to bring developing nations on par with developed nations, the rapid deployment of technology is often seen as the answer to the achievement of all 17 sustainable development goals. We have seen, for example, biometric systems deployed in India through the Aadhaar biometric ID system versus the adoption of basic mobile technologies in Africa, providing e-payment capabilities. How can we know whether the deployment of new technology will help or inhibit the liberation of peoples, for example, to conduct mobile commerce? This paper emphasizes the need for three ethical elements- privacy, data rights and cybersecurity- in the deployment of new technologies and provides examples throughout history that demonstrate positive or negative applications of technology.

This paper presents a methodology for linking planning and strategy for Information Systems in the firm with the Goals of the firm and its Critical Success Factors in its lines of business. The approach starts with the effects of business and economic conditions within which the firm is operating and is likely to operate in the future. From the firm's goals and these limiting conditions, it leads the management through identification of the needs for IT capabilities and services to the various businesses and supporting functions. The management or users of IT then identify their needs and the changes in their needs for IT. These needs are then addressed by the managers of IS in terms of how they can meet their users' needs. Finally, a coherent IT strategy is developed from the above steps, showing the linkage between needs and IS strategies. Two case studies from our consulting practice are presented, along with metrics for the results of the strategies.

Putting Soft OR Methods to Work: Information Systems Strategy Development at Richards Bay

This study, from the resource-based view, analyzes the different typologies of information systems IS strategy and their effects on firms’ innovation differentiation strategy and performance. Disti...

This paper documents key learnings from BP's experience in managing the risks associated with deploying LoSal waterflooding technology over the past five years. The paper covers the management of technical risk, operational risk, organisation and resourcing risk, and the risk of failing to secure adequate engagement with decision-makers. The learnings described in the paper cover experiences gained over multiple projects over different stages of project cycles, including the application of LoSal EOR in onshore and offshore settings, in existing waterflood operations as well as new projects. On the technical side, the derivation of quality coreflood data, and its calibration with both pilot and single well chemical tracer test data have been key for building confidence in the magnitude and uncertainty of the LoSal response. Operational risk management has been essential for securing approval for implementation of LoSal EOR. Risks evaluated include loss of injectivity, operability of desalination facilities, and the interface with produced water management. A common learning is the need for building contingency into project design to cover all of these risks. Organisation and resourcing have required careful consideration, and have been addressed by having a central team conduct LoSal EOR evaluations for multiple assets, in order to make the best use of scarce/critical skills. Finally, organised and thoughtful engagement with decision-makers has been critical. Securing approval has required a careful and sustained effort, because the concept of LoSal EOR is relatively new, spans multiple disciplines, and often enhances, but does not always enable, new project economics. Following a careful approach to risk management, LoSal waterflooding has been internally approved for two new offshore projects, key steps in building confidence for the wider application of the technology.

Innovation in surgical technology and techniques: Challenges and ethical issues

This paper explores the development and implementation of a new information systems strategy at a service industry company based at three offices in southern England. The paper reports on a straightforward methodology used for developing the information systems strategy, the package selection process, implementation issues and overall costs and benefits to the company. It also reflects on how the project has helped move the company forward in terms of organisational development and e-business capability.

Information system strategies in the UK Insurance Industry

The Department of Energy has about 7,000 surplus buildings that will eventually require deactivation and decommissioning (D and D). The estimated cost of D and D for the Department`s surplus facilities is over $11 billion with an additional $20 billion to stabilize, deactivate and decommission facilities which are currently active. The Office of Environmental Management is responsible for assuring that adequate technologies are available to address these D and D needs. Through the development and widespread deployment of new technologies, the Department has established a goal of reducing D and D costs by approximately $1 billion by 2006. Environmental Management uses Large-Scale Demonstration and Deployment Projects to identify and promote deployment of improved technologies throughout the Department. These projects are intended to provide an opportunity to compare the cost and performance of new or improved technologies against established technologies. To date, the projects have demonstrated many technologies which offer cost and performance improvements over established technologies. Environmental Management uses a concept of Integrating Contractor Teams to manage each project. The objective of the audit was to determine if opportunities exist to increase D and D technology deployments within the Department and to reduce the cost of managing technology demonstration projects.

The implementation of information system strategies in UK companies: Aims and barriers to success

The rise of 5G mobile network and the increasing of the number of connected devices with the deployment of new technologies, make the operator thinking of using new network architecture to meet the requirement of such situation. Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) is a network that become the infrastructure of next generation, with the new evolving technologies, such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN). Network slicing enables the orchestration of Radio Access Network (RAN) resources, by isolating the physical network to virtual slices each of them reserved for determined application or services. Besides, implementing optimization method on C-RAN infrastructure led to a large number of profit chances. This paper will explain in depth the importance of such technologies and methods in Virtualized C-RAN.

Recently, European Union advocates the smart Solid-State Lighting (SSL). The key factors are a smart-control scheme and an interaction with other networks, such as communication networks and traffic monitoring sensor networks. Public lighting represents a significant share of city total electricity costs, accounting for up to 60% of the budget. The adoption and deployment of new technologies, such as SSL that is based on Light-Emitting Diodes (LED), offer great opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. When combined with smart light management systems, SSL can save up the electricity used for lighting and significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs compared to current lighting installations. Moreover, streetlights are the infrastructures erecting beside or in the middle of the streets, so they seem to be the ideal observers of the traffic situations. Even though, other functional sensors, e.g., for measuring temperatures, CO2 and even particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), could be integrated in the smart-streetlights. Nowadays there are no sensors embedded in commercial available streetlights, except for the infrared motion sensor used only for pedestrian detection since their range is limited to about 10 meters, as well as there are limited networking capabilities, both in data-rate and functionalities, e.g. it is possible the dimming of only the entire file of streetlights. Hence, the idea to develop aWireless Sensor Front-End (WSFE), which is capable of working as motion sensor, namely a Doppler radar sensor, to monitor the road traffic as well as transceiver to communicate with the other network nodes. Such kind of WSFE could enable many streetlights futures, for example the lighting can be adapted to the traffic conditions and the presence of pedestrians on the sideways. Meanwhile, the communication function can build up a wireless network that can be used to manage the streetlight infrastructure and to collect information on traffic conditions, sensor reading, network status and so on. This thesis proposes a 24GHz 4-channel Phased-Array (Ph-A) front-end for smart-streetlight applications. The design exploits a 90nm Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology to benefit of the low-cost offered by CMOS technology. The architecture of the selected front-end allows the implementation of transceivers as well as Doppler radar sensors. Furthermore, the Ph-A technology is applied to the Doppler radar sensor in order to realizemulti-lane road scanning and pedestrian detection. The intercommunication between streetlights is based on a time-sharing mechanism and uses the same FE reconfigured as transceiver.[...]