STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS

A strategic management plan is a tool used by organizations to provide a direction and framework to support their business objectives. A successful plan generally contains four components, namely: (1) an analysis of the current situation facing the organization, its positioning in the industry and the factors in its internal and external environment, (2) a concise statement of the organization's mission and objectives, (3) competitive strategies to be undertaken and resources necessary to accomplish goals, and (4) an effective system to measure performance and success (Kotler, Bowen & Makens 2008). Similarly, Buhalis (2003) suggests that an effective strategic management plan for information systems responds to the questions: (1) “Where are we now?” (2)”Where do we want to go?”, (3) “How do we get there?” and (4) ”How do we know we got there?”. In all of these areas, ICT plays a critical role in providing the information & communication channels through the right mix of hardware, software, netware and humanware to create a competitive advantage for the company (Buhalis 2003).


References:

Buhalis, D 2003, E-Tourism: Information Technology for Strategic Tourism Management, Pearson Education Limited, Essex.

Kotler, P, Bowen, J & Makens, J 2006, Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism, 4th Edition, Pearson Education International, New Jersey.

Strategy of internet city in Dubai by Farid Faraidooni

Dubai which is the largest city in the UAE. The Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum initiatives created high-tech, zero-tax business environments for the world's leading companies. And conceived Dubai Internet City—a facility that offered a high-quality infrastructure and environment for leading ICT companies to operate globally and regionally. Dubai Internet City was constructed in one year, with Cisco Systems® providing technological vision and expertise. Dubai Internet City achieved financial status in just two-and-a-half years. Dubai is one of the most attractive global business centres in the world. Today it is a strategic base for multinational companies targeting markets extending from the Middle East to India and from Russia to South Africa.
Dubai sought to extend this value proposition to the global ICT industry. It offered a world-class business environment for ICT companies to innovate and grow. Dubai Internet City was established in the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone—a tax-free commercial site set up to support the development of knowledge-based industries. Over the past three years, Dubai Internet City has been developed to provide a complete business and community infrastructure for ICT companies. In addition, there are 220 luxury residential villas. The total investment to date by the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority in the project stands at US$700 million. This will see the creation of Dubai Pearl, a development of hotels, office buildings, movie theatres, restaurants, boutiques, and shopping malls. New-Generation Transport Technology, the technology platform created at Dubai Internet City is one of the most advanced metro Ethernet environments in the world. Cisco was with us from the very beginning in designing the metro Ethernet infrastructure. Faraidooni says. "We worked very closely together to develop ideas, and then worked through the planning, implementation, and commissioning stages." Dubai Internet City has encouraged clients to embrace the new technology through a learning program.

Strategy of Carnival Corporation Cruise Ship by Harris Corporation

Carnival Corp is the one of best world Cruise Company who leads the cruise lines in USA, Europe and Australia. On August 19, 2009 the company desired to continue the multi-year contract of high speed internet, advance voice and data service with Harris. Harris is the international Communication and information technology in Melbourne, Florida. The company provides the best of communication product, system and service during voyage on the fleet. For 10 years, that Carnival Corp used the service of Satellite Communication of Harris Company.

Now the new sign contact will be covering the Costa Cruise in Italy, the worldwide destination cruise and also the first class European cruises. The services including with bandwidth, a modern all-IP address network and operation support of onboard tools. The high quality speed internets for joining online with trustily service during journey.Surfing on internet is the important part of everyone life including the passengers and the ship crews. They need to use the internet especially when they are not on the main land. Hence, they were expected to access on the internet for working or entertaining. Harris is the right company that Carnival Corp trusts to make a contract with. The company offers the VSAT system for all maritime community such as remote land-based installations, and autonomous buoy systems. Moreover, Harris Company has the best quality of high speed internet and communication.

The mention of Mr.Giuseppe DC Lace, Costa Cruise CIO and Vice president believe that the customers and all crews will be satisfied on a high quality internet control and excellence service by Harris.

To sum up, the Carnival Corp. The Company would to serve the full function of technology to the customers to easy access to the internet world. Also they concern about their employees to have available to use on high speed internet when they are on the ship. This is might be a good sign that which location they are, it is a good convenient for them and feel like they are at home.

Strategic Management in the Airline Industry

In the midst of the worldwide oil price hike, foreign currency fluctuations and stiff competition in the airline industry, major air transport carriers in the United States struggle to maintain profitability. Debra D’ Agostino, Deputy Director for Industry and Management Research (Americas) at The Economist Intelligence Unit and former online editor of the business and technology strategy journal, CIO Insight, presents a case study on how Continental Airlines, the fourth largest US airline, has used ICT to gain competitive advantage. While its competitors adopted a cost leadership strategy by dramatically cutting airfares, Continental used a differentiation focus strategy by concentrating on attracting and strengthening their business relationship with a loyal group of high-value customers who would be willing to pay more for superior customer service. The company consolidated the airline’s CRM systems to create a cross-enterprise database, allowing them to segment their market according to the customer’s value to the business. Aside from upgrading the company’s systems and management structure, the company is looking at improving knowledge transfer from the data systems to the human resource pool as a key factor to the full implementation of their IT strategy. Focusing on the company’s commitment to customer service and value for technology, Continental Airlines’ strategy aims to improve operational efficiency and strengthen its positioning in the industry.