Chapter 15 -- Managing International Information Systems

(This page last modified June 21, 1997. Please send comments to H.E. Dunsmore)

Teaching Objectives

• To provide students with an understanding of the drivers and challenges relevant to the development of international information systems.
• To introduce to students global strategies for developing business and to enable students to choose among them.
• To expose students to the ways differing information systems support different global strategies.
• To familiarize students with the most difficult problems in the development and implementation of international systems.
• To aid students in understanding the main technical alternatives in developing global systems.

Key Terms

International information systems infrastructure
Business driver
Global culture
Particularism
Transborder data flow
Domestic exporter
Multinational
Franchiser
Transnational
Core systems
Business processes
Cooptation
Legitimacy
Virtual private networks (VPN)

Chapter Outline

15.1 The Growth of International Information Systems

Developing the International Information Systems Infrastructure

The Global Environment: Business Drivers and Challenges

State of the Art

15.2 Organizing International Information Systems

Global Strategies and Business Organization

Global Systems to Fit the Strategy

Reorganizing the Business

15.3 Managing Global Systems

A Typical Scenario: Disorganization on a Global Scale

Startegy: Divide, Conquer, Appease

Implementation Tactics: Cooptation

Wrapping Up: The Management Solution

15.4 Technology Issues and Opportunities

Main Technical Issues

New Technical Opportunities

Internet Resources

Molex is discussed on pages 458-459.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel is discussed in the Window on Management on page 476.

For a lot of links to global business information, visit the International Business & Technology Website.

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