2.4.5 Should ICT strategy be integrated or disjoint with the corporate strategy?

Our research interviews highlighted an acknowledgement of the current pressures and benefits that an integrated strategy could deliver. Support for disjoint strategies was found to be more concerned with individual business unit success, independence and responsive capacity. However, an integrated strategy, allowing improved ICT planning and resourcing can provide an opportunity to deliver improved ICT services that can overcome negative arguments.

The premises for academic autonomy, and the local responsibility for ICT, are understood and ICT requirements for research projects provide an example of such a case. However, there are also arguments for greater integration highlighted by an example of compromised student experience resulting from the proliferation of different systems that students are required to engage with.

Strategic ICT requires an integrated and harmonised approach to the demands and needs across an institution for the benefit of the institution. Such an approach must receive and understand the case for exceptions, but at an enterprise level not via autonomous actions. This can be better achieved through governance and improved communications assisted by a Chief Information Officer (CIO).