Understanding IS Department Functions and CIO's Role in IT

This essay provides an overview of the Information Systems (IS) department's major functions within an organization, emphasizing its role in data preservation, system database management, and facilitating inter-organizational collaboration through technology. It highlights the importance of the IS department in safeguarding customer information, employee records, and financial documents. The essay also delves into the concept of a steering committee, explaining its purpose in overseeing projects and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The CIO's role within the steering committee is discussed, focusing on their responsibilities in work distribution, providing strategic advice, and monitoring initiatives. The document concludes by referencing relevant literature on information technology governance and strategic information management.

Running head: IS DEPARTMENT AND CIO’S ROLE
IS Department and CIO’s Role
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1IS DEPARTMENT AND CIO’S ROLE
Question no. One
Major functions of the IS department
The Information System (IS) department is considered to be one of the most important
parts of the organizations. It is very evident that the companies have many private and
confidential data that they have to preserve as a part of their record keeping. This is why the
employees of the IS department must be very cautious when they are on work (Galliers &
Leidner, 2014). They have to give their best effort as they have to protect all the data for the
company. The system database of the company has to be looked after by the IS department. The
system database has to be updated regularly and maintained properly by the experts in
Information technology. The experts of the department should design the database properly and
this should be an elemental issue in the well being of the company.
The effective working of the IS department will also help the organizations to collaborate
with other organizations through the use of technology like video-conferences. The complex
business organizations can opt for the video and voice data trafficking inside the various
organizations. The various things like the information regarding the customers, keeping
employee files, inventory records and safeguarding the several financial documents. This will
increase the need for the efficiency of the IS department in the best ways (Laudon & Laudon,
2013). The IS department also plays a pivotal role in the marketing operations as well. The IS
department makes sure that no unauthorized person gets any access to the database of the
company.

2IS DEPARTMENT AND CIO’S ROLE
Question no. Two
Describe a steering committee and explain the CIO's role with regard to it.
The Information and Technology department of the organizations look after all the issues
related to the technology. It is very important that all the projects can be looked after properly
and plans can be implemented in order to make the projects successful ones. The steering
committee is formed within the organizations to ensure that all the projects are being looked after
and implemented properly (Ali & Green,2012). The companies set out some goals and objectives
for their future success. These goals and objectives have to be met and the organizations adapt
some processes that will make the organizations successful in their endeavors. The steering
committee is formed within the organizations to select the best employees for the works. Some
selected people can be able to complete the tasks being assigned to them only. This will help
them to complete the works properly to achieve the goals of the company (Whittington, 2014).
The CIO will make sure that the distribution work is done smoothly and according to the
capabilities of the employees. The CIO might preside over the steering committee and provide
the valuable advice to them according to the need of the hour (Whittington, 2014). The CIO will
look to monitor all the initiatives taken up by the steering committee. The strategic objectives are
designed and developed by the CIO of the steering committee.

3IS DEPARTMENT AND CIO’S ROLE
References
Ali, S., & Green, P. (2012). Effective information technology (IT) governance mechanisms: An
IT outsourcing perspective. Information Systems Frontiers, 14(2), 179-193.
Galliers, R. D., & Leidner, D. E. (Eds.). (2014). Strategic information management: challenges
and strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2013). Management Information Systems 13e.
Whittington, R. (2014). Information systems strategy and strategy-as-practice: a joint
agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 23(1), 87-91.