Chapter 15
Managing Global Systems
Dimensions of International Systems
Architecture
Major Factors Driving
Internationalization of Business
Business Challenges
Organizing International Information Systems
Types of Global Strategies
• Domestic Exporter (operations in country; export to
foreign)
• Multinational (part domestic; part foreign)
• Franchiser (some in domestic homeland; some
extended production outside)
• Transnational (one globe, one company)
Organizing International Information Systems
Types of System Configuration
• Centralized (home based)
• Duplicated (developed at home base; operations
foreign)
• Decentralized (each business unit has its own system)
• Networked (all participate in development and
operations)
Organizing International Information Systems
Types of Organizational Structure
• Centralized
• Decentralized
• Coordinated
Global Systems Strategy
• Define the core business processes
• Identify the core systems to coordinate centrally
• Choose an approach (either incremental, grand
design, or evolutionary)
• Make the benefits clear
▫ Don’t build for the sake of building
Implementation of Global Business
Systems
• Agree on common user requirements
• Introduce changes in business procedures
• Coordinate applications development
• Coordinate software releases
• Encourage local users to support global systems
Technology Issues and Opportunities
for Global Value Chains
• Standardization of a global computing platform
• Finding user-friendly and beneficial software
applications
• Connectivity