Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global IT Management Sherif Kamel The American University in Cairo

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel

Global IT Management

Sherif Kamel

The American University in Cairo


Global information flow (Globalization)o It is the movement of information across international boundaries

in any form

National laws and traditions (Localization)o Making judgments and taking action based on narrow or

personal features, rejects the concept of shared global culture

Adaptation (GloCalization)o Adapting to cultural differences about technology, different languages,

and currency fluctuations, etc…

Information flows


Global IS infrastructure

Global environmento Business drivers and challenges

Corporate global strategies Organizational structure Management and business procedures Technological platform


Why globalize IT management?

Businesses see tighter integration with customers, suppliers, and partners as a way to alter the marketplace to their advantage and to realize global outreach using unconventional methods.

Bundling of particular information services with traditional products and services is seen as an opportunity to achieve competitive advantage.


Global business drivers

Global communication technologies Developing a global culture Emergence of global social norms Global knowledge base Global markets


Global business drivers

Global workforceo Electronic immigrants

Global operations and production Global economies of scale Global coordination

o Virtual office and telecommuting


Challenge of global information systems

1. Language differenceso National laws often forbid businesses to run systems in foreign

languages

2. Cultural differenceso Many and are clear in the work environment.o Ethics is also a major important elemento Some countries severely restrict businesses from collecting and

maintaining personal data


Challenge of global information systems

3. Economico Scientific information is a national resource and source of

income for corporations with conflicting interestso Governments do not allow the exchange of information.o Different countries treat trade secrets, patents, copyrights

differently

4. Legal barriers to international data transfero Different nations have different approaches to the privacy issue.

5. Standards o Because of different standards, records may not be compatible

Zip codes, phone #…, km versus mile, dates


Global information systems

Centralizedo locally developed and locally updated

Duplicatedo locally or remotely developed and remotely updated

Decentralizedo locally developed and remotely updated

Networkedo virtually developed and updated

Documents

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global IT Management Sherif Kamel The American University in Cairo