Information systems design management: main aspects of IT culture

¶ … culture include the structural placement of the IT function within the organization, and the philosophical approach to the development, deployment, and use of IT. In terms of changing and transforming an organization, the philosophical approach to the use of IT is the most challenging. The philosophical approach is more abstract, and therefore demands deeper thought about the nature of information technology, the nature of information, the power issues associated with information, and the ethics of information technology. These issues are difficult to grapple with as an individual, and in a group setting, philosophical issues are even tougher to come to terms with. Most organizations are diverse and highly complex. Therefore, it might be hard to find consensus on the philosophical approach to the development, deployment, and use of information technology.

At the same time, information technology has an important philosophical component that must be addressed by managers at some point during the development of the organization. The organization's mission statement, statement of purpose, and ethical code will inform the organization's philosophy towards information technology. Similarly, the philosophical approach to the use of information technology might help the company find a new direction or create change, if it is necessary. The philosophical approach to the development, deployment, and use of information technology allows the company to change easier than the structural placement. A structure can easily become rigid.

The structural placement of the IT function in an organization is relatively simple compared with the philosophical approach to the development, deployment, and use of information technology. However, the structural placement of the information technology function in the organization is not without its own challenges. Managers might disagree about issues such as funding specialists within the information technology department. As a result, information technology experts become pulled in multiple directions by various departments. It is preferable to maintain a distinct information technology department that masters issues such as information security and systems management. The department managers can all meet for collaboration, something that will foster communication that helps improve information technology architecture and implementation.