A software tool for teaching and training how to build and use matrixes in strategic information systems planning

Abstract

Strategic information systems planning (SISP) allows an organisation to determine a portfolio of computer-based applications to help it achieve its business objectives. IBM ́s business system planning for strategic alignment (BSP/SA) is an important technique for developing a strategic plan for an entire company ́s information resource. BSP/SA has been described in terms of stages and the specific tasks within them. Tasks are usually done manually and require some experience. This work was thus aimed at presenting a computer-based application that automates two of the most important tasks in BSP/SA methodology: process-organisation matrix (POM) and processes-data classes-matrix (PDM). Special emphasis was placed on analysing, designing and implementing systems development life-cycle for developing the software. An important part of the analysis consisted of conducting a literature review and the semi-structured interviews with some experts in SISP. A special contribution of the present work is the design and implementation of statistical reports associated with each matrix. Automating this task has facilitated students being able to analyse POM and PDM during SISP workshops forming part of the Information Systems Management course (Systems Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia). Results arising from the workshops have also been improved