Part 1 requires you to write a statement of what you perceive the role of IT management in organizations. Part 2 requires you to address the IT management challenges that e-business brings.

Part 1. The role of the IT manager in organizations

IT management arose in the 1990s when it became clear that that software developers and hardware engineers had neither the insights nor interest in guiding organizations on the effective use of information technology to help them improve their business operations. Both software developers and hardware engineers focus on the technical aspects of computers and do not spend much time reflecting on the management implications of technology. The IT manager, in contrast, is primarily concerned with how information technology should be integrated into business operations.

Assume you have taken over responsibility to play the lead IT management role in Magnum Enterprises. Your boss, Rachel Heigl, is Magnum's CIO. The IT management group is comprised of six people who you will be supervising.

Ms. Heigl is an enlightened manager, and she believes that if you are to carry out your responsibilities effectively, you need to work with her in defining your IT management role. As a first step, she invites you to write a short statement where you describe what you see to be your role as head of the IT management effort at Magnum.

In writing your statement (5 pages long, single-spaced, using 12 point font with either Arial or Calibri font), describe how you see your role in integrating software, hardware, and business management capabilities. What challenges do you anticipate encountering as head of the IT management effort at Magnum? By serving as the centerpiece of software, hardware, and management capabilities, how the efforts of you
and your team make Magnum a better organization?

Part 2. Handling the e-business challenge at Magnum Enterprises

Six months after you take over the lead IT management role at Magnum, the CIO, Ms. Rachel Heigl, is pleased with your work. She has just attended a meeting of Magnum's executive committee (the committee comprised of the most senior managers of Magnum), where the CEO and Vice President of marketing have indicated that Magnum's mediocre e-business capabilities must be strengthened. As CIO, Ms. Heigl is
given primary responsibility in improving Magnum's e-business performance. She in turn puts you in charge of a small task force comprised of representatives from the operations, marketing, finance, and legal departments.

1. Why is it important to take into account the views of operations, marketing, finance, and legal when working on strengthening e-business capabilities? Be specific - no vague generalities, please.

2. Based on what you have learned in your readings, what are key technical challenges you will encounter in re-engineering the e-business function at Magnum? How can these be addressed (provide brief suggestions).

3. What are the key management challenges you will face?