This case presents a great example of IT governance and the relationship between information technology and corporate strategy where the executive had to persuade both senior management and the IT group to apply a new IT governance model that was vital for WestJet Airlines in realizing its strategic goals.
- Briefly, summarize the assessment and the apparent problems.
- Explain how Smith can help senior management better understand the importance of IT’s role in the organization regarding its existing operating systems and future systems and the implications of that role in gaining approval of Smith’s transformation of IT.
- Offer evidence/arguments that major changes in IT at Westjet were essential and that Smith’s governance model would enable Westjet to achieve its strategic goals.
WestJet Airlines: Information Technology Governance and Corporate Strategy is the article the questions is from
Answer preview
According to Smith, the IT department had an immediate role in applying strategies that would lead to the company’s revenue growth. There were problems in the IT section, and changes that Smith proposed were essential to deliver customer satisfying services and consequently help meeting organizational goals (Munro & Khan, 2013). Due to the absence of the IT professional in the previous executive, there was a poor linkage between the IT department and other units such as marketing and sales, finance, airline operation, and Westjet Encore. Restructuring the IT section to encourage a corporate culture would strengthen the relationship between the groups and collectively work to achieve a business goal (Munro & Khan, 201). Secondly, the present data center was risky in case of a catastrophe. She thought establishing a backup data center was critical to ensure the smooth running of the IT function for the airline even during attacks. Thirdly, the operation of IT activities during the day could result in difficulties for the company if faults occurred. Her intention to install a 24-hour IT support would reassure the confidence to deliver good IT experience to customers any time
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