Week 4 - FBI Case

Please read the FBI case study and review the framework of “organisational design variables” (chapter 3/fig. 3.1 of text) and the linked “managerial levers” (chapter 1/fig. 1.8). 

Imagine that you’ve passed a high level security clearance and have been appointed as the FBI’s new CIO (at the time of the case study). Which of the managerial levers would you focus on to help the FBI make more strategic use of IT?  (What would you do and why?)

Week 3 - TAL Case contd.

In your first case analysis, you used the information resources framework to explain how TAL created strategic advantage through VMI and MTM.  This question focuses on the value of one of these information resources - TAL's "information repository" (the data it collects from VMI/MTM).

Describe 1-2 opportunities that TAL's information repository might create in terms of the larger "value system" it operates in. (see fig 2.6 in the textbook. TAL is "the firm"). Consider TAL's upstream and/or downstream interactions with suppliers and/or buyers (the apparel retailers). 

Week 2 - TAL Case

This week's case outlines how TAL, a "no name" clothing manufacturer introduced two new information systems, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Made To Measure (MTM) to create strategic benefit. In your opinion, which of these systems resulted in the greatest competitive advantage for TAL? (Why?)