Like the first edition, Competing in the Information Age: Align in the Sand, Second Edition, synthesizes for practicing managers the compelling, recent work in this area, with themes that focus on the continuous transformation in business, the adoption of information intensive management practices, the improvement of information processing, and the alignment of business strategy and information technology strategy. Information technology management is now considered a core competency among managers. Rapid advancements in technology, dynamic markets, and the changing business environment have created increased demand for professionals who can manage and deliver information systems. Information systems professionals, Chief Information Officers, Chief Knowledge Officers, as well as CFOs and CEOs, are required to lead and evolve information resources while partnering with corporate management. This book shows IT professionals how to help their organizations achieve success through alignment and deployment of business and IT strategies.

This text is aimed at the Capstone Course in graduate Management Information Systems. This text prepares students for the challenge of integrating the technology resource. In order to understand the industry today, one must understand the ways companies align, partner, and communicate through technology to grow their business. Managing the Information Technology Resource presents a set of powerful tools to ensure students' understanding of the strategies, tactics, and operational endeavors CIO's employ to assimilate technologies across the firm.

"This book provides a comprehensive presentation of current and emerging perspectives focusing on all aspects of managing IT HR from the view of both practitioners and academics located around the globe"--Provided by publisher.

The 5-year transformation at Guardian Life Insurance provides significant insights for organizations aspiring to enhance their IT-business alignment. Alignment is more than just organizational structure, there is no silver bullet; it requires effective governance, partnership, communications, value analytics, technical services, and people. Like most companies around the globe, Guardian recognized the importance of moving to a collaborative IT-business alignment relationship; IT-business alignment was a persistent pervasive problem that needed to be improved. In 2005, Guardian viewed IT as an ineffective expensive cost of supporting the business. Was improving the IT-business relationship as difficult as drawing 'a line' in the sand? Today, IT is enabling and driving demonstrable strategic business value. The approach that transpired this turnaround at Guardian will provide students and organizations with a clear understanding and set of lessons learned that can be applied to enhance IT-business harmony. More importantly, it will help organizations recognize the important role that IT and business leadership must play as they collaborate to address the important considerations necessary to attain a mature relationship. To demonstrate this transformation, the past and the current IT-business alignment maturity of Guardian has been benchmarked and analyzed to reveal the steps taken to enhance the impact that IT is having on the company. Were these initiatives all that are necessary to enhance the IT-business relationship? What are the important next steps to improve the relationship?