Although information technology is advancing at a blinding pace, there is nothing easy or mechanical about managing an IT facility. Some of the challenges the managers face as they adapt technology to their organisations needs:

$1.$

The Information Systems investment challenge: How can organisations obtain business value from their Information Systems?

$2.$

The strategic business challenge: What complementary assets are needed to use information technology effectively?

$3.$

The globalization challenge: How can firms understand the business and system requirements of a global economic environment?

$4.$

The information architecture and infrastructure challenge: How can organisations develop an information architecture and information technology infrastructure that can support their goals when business conditions and technologies are changing so rapidly?

$5.$

The responsibility and control challenge: How can organisations ensure that their Information Systems are used in an ethically and socially responsible manner?

$6.$

Who will build, operate, and maintain the Information Systems? This is a critical issue because management wants to minimize the cost of IT while maximizing its benefits. Some alternatives are to outsource portions, or even all, of the IT activities, and to divide the remaining work between the IS department and the end users.

$7.$

How much infrastructure? Justifying information system applications is not an easy job due to the intangible benefits and the rapid changes in technologies that often make systems obsolete. Justifying infrastructure is even more difficult since many users and applications share the infrastructure that will be used for several years in the future. This makes it almost impossible to quantify the benefits. Basic architecture is a necessity, but there are some options.

$8.$

Is the situation going to change? Yes, the pressures will be stronger as time passes. Therefore, the IT role will be even more important.

$9.$

Globalization. Global competition will have an impact on many companies. However, globalization opens many opportunities, ranging from selling and buying products and services online in foreign markets, to