--- title: "Planning for business/IT strategies" subject: "Information System" chapter: 5 key: "semester_8/information_system:planning-business-it-strategies" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/planning-business-it-strategies site: BCT Engineering --- # Planning for business/IT strategies Information System · Chapter 5: Planning for IS - Asked in: 2074 Magh, 5+3 marks - Video: [Business-IT Strategy Alignment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23umK1pBZy8) — Alan Wong - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/planning-business-it-strategies - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/information_system/chapter-5 ## Question Explain the role of planning in the development of business / IT strategies architectures and application. What do you mean by Operational Information Systems? ## Short answer Planning aligns IT with business by translating business strategy into an IT strategy, defining architecture, and selecting applications. It allocates resources and manages risks. Operational information systems support daily structured activities like billing, payroll, and inventory management with high volume and accuracy. ## Answer #### Role of planning in business/IT strategies, architectures and applications Planning links the business strategy with the IT strategy so that technology supports business goals. - **Business strategy:** the plan decides the markets, products and competitive position (cost leadership, differentiation). - **IT strategy:** from the business strategy, planning works out what IT must provide: which systems, how much to invest, whether to build or buy, and the level of service. - **IT architecture:** planning defines a blueprint of the technology platform, data, applications, networks and people, so that systems fit together and can grow. - **Applications:** planning identifies the applications (ERP, CRM, e-commerce), sets their priority, and avoids duplication and isolated systems. - **Resource allocation:** budget, staff and time are matched to the highest-value projects. - **Risk and change:** planning reveals dependencies and risks early and gives a roadmap for change. - **Evaluation:** it provides targets against which success is measured. ```text Business strategy | v IT strategy | v IT architecture | v Applications ``` #### Operational Information Systems Operational information systems support the day-to-day, routine activities of an organization at the operational level. They process transactions, keep records and produce routine reports. - Examples: transaction processing systems (billing, payroll, order entry, inventory, ticket booking), office automation systems. - Characteristics: structured, repetitive, high volume, detailed data, used by clerks and supervisors, short time horizon, high accuracy needed. - They supply the data that management and decision support systems use. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the main role of planning in linking business and IT strategies? A. Making IT independent of business goals B. Linking business strategy with IT strategy so technology supports business goals C. Replacing business strategy D. Reducing all IT spending Answer: B. Planning ensures technology supports business goals. (Key point: Role of planning) 2. What does planning define for IT architecture? A. A blueprint of platform, data, applications, networks and people so systems fit together and can grow B. Only the colour of screens C. A list of customers D. Only the budget Answer: A. The architecture blueprint ensures integration and growth. (Key point: Architecture) 3. How does planning help with applications? A. It identifies applications, sets priority and avoids duplication and isolated systems B. It forbids ERP or CRM C. It allows duplication D. It ignores priority Answer: A. Planning identifies and prioritises applications while avoiding duplication. (Key point: Applications) 4. Which is a characteristic of operational information systems? A. Unstructured, long-term strategic decisions by top executives B. Structured, repetitive, high-volume, detailed data used by clerks and supervisors C. Used only for forecasting D. Low accuracy required Answer: B. Operational IS handle routine transactions with detailed data and high accuracy needs; they supply data to MIS and DSS. (Key point: Operational IS) ## Related in Information System - [Data mining and business knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Adata-mining-business-knowledge) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Cloud technology for small business](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Acloud-for-small-business) — Information System, chapter 8 - [Geographic Information System](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Agis-characteristics-uses) — Information System, chapter 1 - [Strategic information system and benefits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Astrategic-is-benefits) — Information System, chapter 1, asked 2× - [MIS vs DSS information and processing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Amis-vs-dss-information-processing) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Elements of IS planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ais-planning-elements) — Information System, chapter 5 ## Related in other subjects - [Role of reference architectures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fsoftware_engineering%3Areference-architecture) — Software Engineering, chapter 3 - [Risk response planning strategies](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Arisk-response-planning-strategies) — Project Engineering, chapter 5, asked 3× - [Multimedia application development life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Aapp-development-life-cycle) — Multimedia System, chapter 1, asked 4× - [Client role in pre-tender stage planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aclient-pretender-planning) — Construction Management, chapter 2, asked 2×