Reference no: EM133659351

Homework: GG Freightways (GGFRT) CIO Organizational Structure Memo Paper

Before you begin this homework, be sure you have read the "GG FreightwaysCase Study," as well as all materials in the course to date. You will also need to review any feedback you received on your IT Strategic Plan #2 homework.

Purpose of this Homework

This homework gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply the course concepts to address the organizational changes needed to evolve the information technology (IT) department into a true CIO organization to support the GG Freightways (GGFRT). This homework specifically addresses the following course outcome to enable you to:

Explain the roles and responsibilities of an information technology department to support an organization's IT strategy

CIO Organizational Structure Memo

For this homework, you will assume the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at GGFRT (i.e., you are Lance). Since you are GGFRT's first CIO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has asked you for a plan for the organizational changes you need to make. One of the first things you realize is that the organization that exists is just an ‘IT Department' and you know that what GGFRTneeds and has hired you to create an organization that fulfills the broad responsibilities of a Chief Information Officer. You know that your proposal needs to be convincing to the CFO in order for you to get the resources you need.

Task

You will develop a memorandum addressed to the CFO that explains how you want to change your IT Department into a CIO organization and why. Your memo will address each of the topics listed below, and should be written so that it flows well from one section to the next.In addition to the course materials, at least one external resource (resource other than those provided in the class) must be used.Two or more cited references will earn top credit. Use a separate References page to list just the references you have cited.

Include the following in your memorandum, ensuring that each section flows well to the next, and that the overall memo creates a compelling justification for your new organizational structure.

I. Introduction and Purpose: Open your memo with a brief (2 or 3 sentences) explanation of why you are writing it. For the introduction, provide some background on the current inefficiencies in the IT Department; thus, the need for reorganization. For the purpose, you are writing to the CFO who must approve the organizational changes.

II. Leadership Philosophy& Management Style: Since you are the CIO and a member of the senior leadership team of GGFRT, it is important for the other members of the team to understand your (i) leadership philosophy and (ii) the management style(e.g., Participative, Autocratic, Laissez Faire, etc.) you will use to meet the company's needs. This should be a short paragraph for each section that ties to the priorities and/or issues outlined in the Case Study and lays the foundation for the organizational structure you will propose below. Refer to course readings and presentations on leadership. This is also a good area in which to do some external research for specific leadership qualities and a management style you will utilize.This is your leadership philosophy and management style, so should not be written from the company and/or department perspective.

III. Internal IT Strategies: To show how your CIO organization will support GGFRT, you will present and explain three internal IT strategies. For Part II of your IT Strategic Plan, you provided at least one example of an internal IT strategy. Identify your internal IT strategy from the ITSP #2 homework, then add two more internal IT strategies, so that you have a total of three. The strategies you develop must address people, process and technology -one strategy for each. Describe each of the three strategies, identify if they address people, process or technology and explain how they will help improve the organization's effectiveness. Refer to the "Creating a Future Vision for the Chief Information Officer" from Week 2for an explanation of internal and external (business-enabling) IT strategies.A short introductory paragraph should be included before the table's content. An IT strategy is not the accomplishment of a business objective as that has a business, not IT focus.

Use the following table, copying/pasting it into your homework (add lines if needed):

IV. Current IT Department Structure: Use the information provided in the Case Study to draw an organization chart depicting the current roles and responsibilities of only the 25 IT Department personnel. You may take some liberties in how you align the staff that is described in the Case Study, but all IT staff positions or groups must be included in the structure. Be sure to introduce or explain your organizational chart in the section's introduction.Refer to course materials for an example of an IT organization chart. You may use the Shapes tool or the SmartArt tool to develop your organizational hierarchy chart, or you may paste in your chart from another drawing tool.Be sure that everyone listed on the chart is placed correctly in relation to whom they report and the people who report to them.

V. New CIO Organization: Explain in a paragraph or two how a CIO Organization is different from an IT Department. Included should be the (i) goals/responsibilities of an IT Department, (ii) goals/responsibilities of a CIO Organization, and then the differences between them.Integrate examples from the case study in your response. Be sure to create a transition from the previous section. This may be an area for you to do some external research (a reference should be provided for more credit).

VI. Key Services: List and explain three key services (personnel, sub-departments of the CIO Organization) that need to be included in your new CIO organizational structure. You may eliminate functions or positions from your current organizational structure if you believe it will improve your effectiveness and/or efficiency; these should be explained. You should also add (and explain) any functions that you will need in your new CIO organization. Be sure these services are appropriate to your IT strategies (section III) and note how each relates in your discussion.

Use the following table, copying/pasting it into your homework (add lines if needed):

VII. New CIO Organization Structure: Briefly explain what changes you will make and why. Draw an organization chart depicting your new CIO organizational structure. Be sure that the key services you listed are covered by the new organizational structure.Be sure that everyone listed on the chart is placed correctly in relation to whom they report and the people who report to them. (Follow the guidelines for drawing the organization chart given above for the current organization.)

VIII. Key Milestones: Your memo should include three key milestones (tasks or events) associated with accomplishing the changes that you see are needed to change the IT Department into a CIO organization. Each milestone should be briefly described (in a sentence or two) and a target completion date should be shown. In addition, for each milestone you should identify at least one issue or concern you have with accomplishing it.One example using a milestone not related to the organization might be: The milestone is to consolidate all servers into a new data center by February 2021. Some issues might be: (i) a secure data center must be located, (ii) it will require significant downtime for the corporate servers, and (iii) the initial cost will be high. An example related to the case study is presented below. Consider that the changes begin today; your milestones should be dated in the future. Ensure you list the key milestones in chronological order (excluding the example). *chronological order refers to steps that follow one another in time (e.g., one must purchase a server before it is used).

Use the following table, copying/pasting it into your homework (add lines if needed):

IX. Conclusion: Provide an appropriate closing to your memo. It should summarize some of the key points in the various sections as well as include a statement or two of follow-up with the CFO.