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.

1. Briefly, summarize the assessment and the apparent problems.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Answer preview

Westjet airline is presented as one of the airlines in Canada that recorded significant success in terms of rapid growth. As reported, the airline started in 1996 with only three Boeing 737-200 aircraft that were flown to only five western cities of Canada. By 2011, the airline had grown to manage a fleet of more than 90 of Boing Next-generation 737, and it served 18 countries and 85 destinations across the world. Further, the success…