IT in Business: A Business Manager's Casebook

Part ThreeManaging the IS Resource

Philip Powell

This part is concerned with managing information systems. Information systems are difficult to manage both as projects and as a function. While planning can assist in reducing the chances of project failure, management of the IS function entails all the problems of managing a fast changing service organization. These problems are not helped by the poor perception of the IS function in many organizations and senior management's inability to understand its role. Key to improving this is learning lessons from one's own and other organizations.

The chapter by Greenwood and Grimshaw focuses on the role of implementation. Too often implementing – getting the new systems into the organization and making ...