1. The IT Environment Section 4 ICA11v1.0
Vocational Education and Training
Training Toolbox Series
ICA11v1.0
Information, Digital Media & Technology
Cert I, II and III
The IT Environment
Section 4

2. The IT Environment
The IT Department

3. Table of Contents The IT Environment Section 4 – The IT Department
Centralised Information Systems Slide - 04
Decentralised Information Systems Slide - 05
Distributed Information Systems Slide - 06
Advantages – Centralised and Decentralised Slide - 07
The Central IT Organisation Slide - 08
The Functional IT Organisation Slide - 09
Best of Both Structures Slide - 10
Communication and Interaction Slide - 11
Clients Slide - 12

4. Centralised Information Systems
The IT Environment
Centralised Information Systems
Centralised IT management allows top management and the IT department a high degree of control over:
Hardware
Software
Procedures
Operations
Access to the system and information
USER
Mainframe
Centralised

5. Decentralised Information Systems
The IT Environment
Decentralised Information Systems
A decentralised system allows departments and remote sites a large degree of independence in how they set up and use the information system.
USER
Decentralised
“All Stand Alone”

6. Distributed Information Systems
The IT Environment
Distributed Information Systems
A ‘Distributed Information System’ has the benefits of both a centralised and decentralised system.
USER
Central
Distributed System

7. Advantages – Centralised and Decentralised
The IT Environment
Advantages – Centralised and Decentralised
Advantages of decentralised IT management include:
Better fit of information systems to the business needs
Quicker response to business demands
End user development of applications
Innovative use of IT
Delegation of authority
Advantages of centralised IT management include:
Standardised hardware and software
Easier training
Common reporting systems
Effective planning of shared systems
Strategic planning
Efficient use of IT personnel
Tighter control by top management

8. The Central IT Organisation
The IT Environment
The Central IT Organisation
In a centralised IT organisation the CIO or CTO could be overseeing several departments within the unit.
These departments might include:
Systems Implementation and Maintenance
Information Centre
Communications
Data Administration
Research and Development
Web Technologies

9. The Functional IT Organisation
The IT Environment
The Functional IT Organisation
In a functional type structure each business unit would normally have their own IT specialist.
This specialist would report to the business unit’s manager. IT
Specialist
Organisation’s
Unit
Department

10. Best of Both Structures
The IT Environment
Best of Both Structures
Small companies or organisations typically use the centralised approach because their IT staffs are small.
Medium to large companies rarely use a fully centralised structure or a fully functional structure.
Most use elements of both.

11. Communication and Interaction
The IT Environment
Communication and Interaction
IT managers need clear communication from management in three basic areas:
Business planning
Systems planning
Systems development
Business managers need the following from the IT department:
A broad understanding of the business activities
Prompt response
Simple, jargon-free explanations
System limitations
Accurate budgeting
Single point of contact

12. Clients The IT Environment
In the IT environment the client is the user of the information systems established and maintained by IT professionals.
The term client is also used in a hardware context.
Internet
Intranet
Extranet
Organisation’s
IT System
Clients

13. The IT Environment
End of Section 4