Deck 17: Delivering IT Functions: a Decision Framework

Question 1

In the past, organizations met additional demands for IT functionality by simply adding more systems.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The utility IT function delivery stage features functions that are interchangeable and indistinguishable.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

While some IT functions are well defined and common to most companies, others are unique, non-standardized, and not easily shared.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

All IT functions mature and evolve in the following order: Unique, Common, Standardized, Commoditized, and Utility.

Question 5

Insourcing involves IT personnel that are brought into an organization to supplement the existing permanent IT staff to provide the IT function.

Question 6

IT capabilities represent the specific activities that are delivered by IT in the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

Question 7

The most commoditized IT function is hardware management.

Question 8

The utility IT function delivery stage seeks to differentiate the organization in the marketplace.

Question 9

Network services, server farms, storage capacity and backup services are examples of the common IT function delivery stage.

Question 10

Public utilities operate in competition with other providers, whereas private utilities tend to be single providers overseen by regulatory agencies who govern supply, pricing, and size.

Question 11

In-house IT staff should always be assigned tasks that are in the unique-common maturity stages of the IT function delivery model such as strategy & planning, data management, and project management.

Question 12

The Business Analysis function acts as a liaison between IT and the business to align IT planning, match technology to business needs, and forecast future business directions.

Question 13

The Data Center Operations function manages all operations of the production data center and data storage environment including backup, DRP, security and access, and availability.

Question 14

A utility function typically consists of an amalgam of suppliers operating within an integrated network capable of generating sufficient resource to fulfill continuous on-demand requests.

Question 15

The Systems Analysis function acts as a liaison between IT and the business to align IT planning, match technology to business needs, and forecast future business directions.

Question 16

The business analysis function remains a relatively unique IT function that differs considerably from organization to organization.

Question 17

The standardized IT function delivery stage satisfies organizational needs by providing critical IT components but offers little ability to differentiate the business.

Question 18

Standardized IT functions can easily and effectively be transacted as commodity IT functions.

Question 19

With the rise of third party IT consulting, the most commoditized IT function is business analysis.

Question 20

It can be assumed that mature IT functions would be likely candidates for external delivery, while unique functions would be likely candidates for internal delivery.

Question 21

Which of the following IT function delivery stages provides strategic advantage and benefit to an organization?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 22

A ________ function is a commodity (such as electricity) delivered by a centralized and consolidated source.

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 23

Which of the following is considered an option for delivering IT functions?

A) In-house application development
B) In-source application development
C) Outsource application development
D) Strategic partnership application development
E) All the above

Question 24

Network services, server farms, storage capacity and backup services are examples of which IT function delivery stage?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 25

Using an Application Service Provider to deliver standard applications instead of developing custom applications internally is an example of which IT function delivery stage?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 26

The need for organizations to seek opportunities to create learning opportunities to keep staff abreast of developments in the market and develop new knowledge can be considered:

A) outsourcing management.
B) knowledge management.
C) training management.
D) artificial intelligence management.
E) partnering.

Question 27

________ represent the specific activities that are delivered by IT in the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

A) IT functions
B) IT capabilities
C) IT processes
D) IT systems

Question 28

The key management decision criteria used when considering the span of IT function delivery options are:

A) Response time and security
B) Flexibility and delivery
C) Capability and control
D) Flexibility and control
E) Capability and flexibility

Question 29

________ tend(s) to exist in the lower part of the IT function delivery model because the truly unique tasks of business/systems analysis, planning, data management, and project management tend to be limited to a single organization and its strategy.

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Partnerships
D) In-house development

Question 30

Which of the following IT function delivery stages provides common and well articulated tasks/activities, adheres to a set of standards developed and governed by external agencies?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 31

The following is a list of relatively new IT responsibilities, EXCEPT:

A) information and content management.
B) business transformation.
C) regulatory compliance.
D) enterprise and security architecture.
E) network management.

Question 32

________ is basically a strategy of leveraging the in-house IT staff on a temporary basis.

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Partnerships
D) In-house development

Question 33

Internet service providers (ISPs) as well as other telecommunication services are examples of which IT function delivery stage?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 34

________ should comprise a subset of partnerships.

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Partnerships
D) In-house development

Question 35

Billing/payment functions, check processing, forms management, facilities management, and disaster recovery planning are examples of which IT function delivery stage?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 36

Which of the following IT function delivery stages satisfies organizational needs but offers little ability to differentiate the business?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 37

The criteria to be used to decide between outsourcing and partnerships as delivery
Options should be:

A) response time, business exigency and security
B) flexibility, business exigency and delivery
C) capability, business exigency and control
D) flexibility, business exigency and control
E) capability, business exigency and flexibility

Question 38

Which of the following IT function delivery stages features that functions are interchangeable and indistinguishable?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 39

The following is a list of traditional IT responsibilities, EXCEPT:

A) information and content management.
B) operations management.
C) systems development.
D) network management.
E) application development.

Question 40

Business analysis, application integration, or knowledge-enabling business processes are examples of which IT function delivery stage?

A) unique
B) common
C) standardized
D) commoditized
E) utility

Question 41

What is knowledge enhancement? Why is knowledge enhancement important to the business?

Question 42

List and describe (3) strategies for deciding how to deliver IT functions.

Question 43

List and describe the (5) stages of IT function delivery.

Question 44

Is there a difference between a standardized IT function and a commoditized IT function? List some examples of each function and describe the difference between each IT function delivery stage.

Question 45

List and describe (4) different IT function delivery options for an organization.

Question 46

What is a unique IT function? Define the utility IT function delivery stage.

Question 47

What is an IT utility? List some examples of an IT utility and describe the utility IT function delivery stage.

Question 48

List and describe the (2) key management decision criteria used when considering the span of IT function delivery options.