A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Anita Cassidy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0849350735 | ISBN-13: 978-0849350733 | Edition: 2

The foundation of a successful information systems strategic plan is the recognition that business direction and requirements must drive the IS strategy and computing architecture. A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning, Second Edition outlines a systematic approach to guide you through the development of an effective IS plan that is formulated from your company's business plan.

This volume outlines a quick and easy approach with concepts, techniques, and templates for analyzing, organizing, communicating, and implementing an IS strategy. This approach unites an organization in a collaborative effort resulting in a solid direction that has the support of the entire organization. Establishing this direction cultivates the support of management, enabling necessary strategic IS investments.

With a new look at the role of IS governance in strategic planning, this second edition reflects advances in technology and provides an improved and thorough planning methodology. The strategic planning process outlined in this book has been supplemented by lessons learned from applying the process in numerous companies, cultures, and environments.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Everyone needs an IT strategy but nobody knows exactly what one is, let alone how to build one. Anita Cassidy has written the definitive how-to book for a traditionally fuzzy field.
Bob Lewis, President, IT Catalysts

A well defined IT strategy provides the cornerstone for any IS organization wishing to distinguish itself as a value added business enabler. This is a clear and practical guide for developing such a strategy. Keep it handy, you'll be using it frequently.
Ruth Dessel, CIO, Metropolitan Council

I read the first edition and now luckily the second. Cassidy's methodology has been enhanced and lifted to the next level. This edition contains new real world examples, checklists, and templates. It is a must read (and follow) for all IT managers.
Keith Guggenberger, Senior Vice President of Operations , Starkey Laboratories

About the Author

Cassidy; Anita Strategic Computing Directions, Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA, --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Auerbach Publications; 2 edition (October 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849350735
• ISBN-13: 978-0849350733
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Design & Architecture
  • #91 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Information Systems

More About the Author

Anita is a nationally recognized industry leader in IT strategic planning. She is a senior-level Information Systems executive with over 30 years experience improving the value and performance of IT organizations. Anita has held the CIO and top IT positions in leading worldwide manufacturing companies and has provided strategic IT consulting to over 50 companies. She has a broad technical background, business experience, and is skilled in applying analytical techniques to solve business problems. Anita has a strong results and achievement orientation with a reputation for teamwork, open communication, passion, high energy, and innovation.

Anita is currently partner at ITDirections www.itdirections.com , which is an executive IT consulting organization providing companies with assistance to transform their organization, use technology for a competitive organization, and align with the business goals. Services include IT strategic planning, assessments, IT improvement & cost reduction, software selection, contract negotiation, and CIO leadership assistance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

184 of 192 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on Target! Great Examples for Constructing an IS Plan!, June 6, 1999

By 

Marc A. Valentino ([e-mail]) (Philadelphia, PA (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning (Hardcover)

My graduate IS/IT Strategic Planning course did not assign a text book on writing up an IS/IT Strategic Plan, so I had to track one down on my own. After reviewing at least a dozen books, I found Cassidy's to be the most practical with multiple and varied examples of the critical ideas, sections & components found within an IS Strategic Plan. There are many great examples of Mission and Vission statements and detailed sections on ROI analysis, executive summaries and the entire planning process, etc. The graphics & exhibits are easily understood and well organized, as is the entire book. In fact, other students actually purchased this book during the semester at my recommendation and our professor is looking to add this book as required reading for the course! It is especially good for those who have little to no experience putting together an entire IS plan from ground zero. Thorough, to the point, terrific examples and extremely well organized is how I would sum up this book. It will serve both students and IS/IT professionals extremely well.

86 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Thorough, Comprehensive, July 24, 2000

By 

Michael Puscas - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning (Hardcover)

I work for a large East Coast Utilities company. Our project team was charged with producing an "Information Systems Strategic Plan". A daunting task given multiple platforms, architectures, and technologies. Our team was experienced and knowledgeable, but lacked process direction.

We turned to Anita Cassidy's book and found it amazingly helpful. We found ourselves referring to it many times during the planning and implementation stages of the project.

Her book provides an authoritative reference which allowed us to cut total project time by 25%. We didn't need to argue about process, methodology, or research strategy. We went with Cassidy's suggestions and we were more than pleased with the results.

Cassidy's simple, straightforward approach is easy to follow, meaningful, and very applicable. If you have the task of assembling an IS Strategic Plan, then this book will give you the step-by-step methodology to do so.

Nice job Anita!

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proven approach and a detailed roadmap, August 25, 2002

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Information Systems Strategic Planning (Hardcover)

This book, like all of Ms. Cassidy's work, is straightforward, to the point and reads like a blueprint for success. In particular, she frames the objectives (Where are we? Where do we need to be? What's the best way to get there?), then gives guidance on answering the questions and a realistic and actionable plan for meeting the objectives.

Her approach is focused on business needs and linked to the overriding imperatives and strategies of that domain. She begins by discussing the business drivers and why strategic planning is necessary, then provides a phased approach to the strategic planning process itself. This approach captures the business and technical "as-is" and "to-be" pictures, performs a gap analysis, and a plan for going from "as-is" to "to-be". On the surface this appears to be common sense, but the devil is in the details, and she provides the details. That is what makes this book so valuable. More importantly, it's obvious that she has extensive experience in strategic planning because all of the subtle issues are addressed, and her advice is on the mark every step of the way.

Of course, one of the big issues in strategic planning is the question of what capital investments to make in software, either as an upgrade or entire replacement of company-critical systems, that align to the slected strategy. This book shows how to select the best fit to meet strategic plans, and how to capture the true costs and support requirements as a matter of due diligence.

This book is, in my opinion, one of the better ones on the topic, and is only exceeded by her most recent book titled "A Practical Guide to Planning for E-Business Success: How to E-enable Your Enterprise". That book contains substantially the same approach as this one, but is aligned to e-business. Regardless of which book you choose, you'll find Ms. Cassidy's approach to reflect best practices, and the advice interspersed throughout the book to be invaluable.