Abstract
Today’s information rich and knowledge-based business society relies heavily on Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) design to enable the business to operate effectively and create a competitive advantage. Firms must align their IS design and performance with the core business competencies and business goals of the firm. There are multiple paths towards this end and inefficiencies and conflicts may arise when the firm’s IS strategies diverge from the business goals. This is no different in the health industry where conflicts exist between IS infrastructure and development, and business goals. The existence of inflexible mainframe IS unable to support modern technology such as the Internet, telemedicine, wireless technology and real-time management software has compromised the business goals and business development in the health vertical to the extent that it has now fallen behind other comparable knowledge industries.
Key Terms in this Chapter
IS Effectiveness: The ability of an IS to meet the success criteria as determined by the firm.
Multidimensional Modeling: A process of business modeling based on rational/structured and personal/informal processes that are fluid, dynamic, and ongoing. This process considers the relationship among all components of the model bidirectionally and continuously.
Unidimensional Modeling: A process of business modeling based on rational/structured and personal/informal processes that are finite; it has a beginning and an end. This process considers the relationship among all components in one direction only and is a static process.
Strategic Information System Planning (SISP): The planning of an information system based on many described and measured processes and aligned with the business goals and competencies of the firm undertaken to increase the competitive advantage of the firm.
IT Misalignment: A difference in the developmental pathways of the IT department and the business goals and competencies of the (same) firm.
Laboratory Information System (LIS): An IS in a medical laboratory for data and record collection and storage, results handling and dissemination, and functional statistics generation.
Bidirectional Modeling.: A business or functional model in which data are exchanged to and from all components of the model in real time.
Cohesive Business Model: A multidimensional business model developed for information systems planning and measurement of IS effectiveness based on the clearly defined business goals of the firm and with an inherent capacity for change management. This model is fluid, dynamic, and ongoing.