Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global IT Management Sherif Kamel The American University in Cairo

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel  Global information flow (Globalization) o It is the movement of information across international boundaries in any form  National laws and traditions (Localization) o Making judgments and taking action based on narrow or personal features, rejects the concept of shared global culture  Adaptation (GloCalization) o Adapting to cultural differences about technology, different languages, and currency fluctuations, etc… Information flows

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global IS infrastructure  Global environment o Business drivers and challenges  Corporate global strategies  Organizational structure  Management and business procedures  Technological platform

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Why globalize IT management?  Businesses see tighter integration with customers, suppliers, and partners as a way to alter the marketplace to their advantage and to realize global outreach using unconventional methods.  Bundling of particular information services with traditional products and services is seen as an opportunity to achieve competitive advantage.

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global business drivers  Global communication technologies  Developing a global culture  Emergence of global social norms  Global knowledge base  Global markets

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global business drivers  Global workforce o Electronic immigrants  Global operations and production  Global economies of scale  Global coordination o Virtual office and telecommuting

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Challenge of global information systems 1.Language differences o National laws often forbid businesses to run systems in foreign languages 2.Cultural differences o Many and are clear in the work environment. o Ethics is also a major important element o Some countries severely restrict businesses from collecting and maintaining personal data

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Challenge of global information systems 3.Economic o Scientific information is a national resource and source of income for corporations with conflicting interests o Governments do not allow the exchange of information. o Different countries treat trade secrets, patents, copyrights differently 4.Legal barriers to international data transfer o Different nations have different approaches to the privacy issue. 5.Standards o Because of different standards, records may not be compatible  Zip codes, phone #…, km versus mile, dates

Copyright © 2004 Sherif Kamel Global information systems  Centralized o locally developed and locally updated  Duplicated o locally or remotely developed and remotely updated  Decentralized o locally developed and remotely updated  Networked o virtually developed and updated