Transforming IT Department into CIO Organization

Introduction and Purpose

For this assignment, 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 GGFRT needs 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.

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.  Remember to use the APA formatting rules and correctly cite and reference your sources with APA format. Use the Grading Rubric to be sure you have covered everything.  

Please 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.  

1.Introduction and Purpose – Open your memo with a brief (2 or 3 sentences) explanation of why you are writing it.  Provide some background on the current inefficiencies in the IT Department; thus, the need for reorganization.

2.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 (1) leadership philosophy and (2) 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.

3.Internal IT Strategies – To show how your CIO organization will support GGFRT, you will present and explain three (3) internal IT strategies.  For Part 2 of your IT Strategic Plan, you provided at least one (1) example of an internal IT strategy.  Identify your internal IT strategy from the ITSP #2 assignment, then add two (2) more internal IT strategies, so that you have a total of three (3).  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 2 for an explanation of internal and external (business-enabling) IT strategies.