Critical Analysis of Vodafone’s CIO Strategy: A Case Study

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Critical Analysis of a Chief Information Officer’s (CIO’s)
Strategy
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Contents
TASK...............................................................................................................................................4
1. Selection of chief information officer interview.....................................................................4
2. Identification of themes and viewpoints.................................................................................4
3. Overview of company’s recent IT history prior to interview.................................................4
4. Theme......................................................................................................................................4
5. Background of management of information systems in company by identifying the issues..8
6. Suggestion for future strategy and direction which CIO should pursue.................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
Digital technology is all about the modern methods of running a business or to complete the task
with the help of advanced equipment in a minimum time period. In fact, a number of companies
are emerging which are engaged in introducing high-tech tools in order to support corporate
firms and customers in various manners (Noe and et. al., 2017). Thus, there are various officers
are there who are handling IT department of associations for handling the information systems in
a better way. Basically, the emergence of the digital tool is entirely depending upon the success
of the IT department. Hence, this assignment is going to cover interview of successful Chief
Information officers in order to assess his viewpoints. Along with this, accurate information
related to IT technology will also be outlined in the project by considering several examples.
Additionally, an effective suggestion will also give to the author on the basis of the entire report
and interview.
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TASK
1. Selection of chief information officer interview
Interview: Vodafone CTO juggles legacy network and cutting-edge technology
2. Identification of themes and viewpoints
UK chief technology of Vodafone officer named as Jorge Fernandes is going to discuss legacy
networks and digitization as well as in what ways he is going to positioning the operator to get
succeeded in mobile-enabled future. Some of the useful themes are-
 Change for a digital world
 Identifying the future of network provision
 Lobbying Westminster on regulation
 Evolution into 5G
3. Overview of the company's recent IT history prior to the interview
Vodafone is a telecommunication organization based in the United Kingdom along with having
its interests in Europe and the United States. This association is beginning as a part of Racal
which is known as British radar and electronics organization determined in almost 1950. Racal
further founded its Vodafone subsidiary in nearly 1983 and won the license of building Britain’s
foremost cellular telephonic network that was introduced in nearly 1985. At the initial years of
the 1990s, Vodafone has purchased another enterprise and get succeeded in creating a
partnership relationship across the world marketplace. Mainly, this group Plc. is seen as British
multinational telecommunications conglomerate by having its headquarters in London and
Newbury. This organization is predominantly operating services in various regions of distinct
areas such as; Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Therefore, this company has established its
strong brand image at the global marketplace and famous as a 4th ranked in terms of mobile
users. In previous years, the company hasn't engaged in any modern technology due to which
their sales get minimized (Fuller and et. al., 2017).
4. Theme
This interview is conducted for UK chief technology officer named as Jorge Fernandes who have
highlighted his own career ups and down while working in Vodafone.
a) Explain the theme by clarifying and defining any terms
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Jorge Fernandes states that when I was connected with Vodafone then I am having an obligation
for IT as well as networks and also having a broad managed services enterprise. Thus, before
doing anything I always tried to think about consumer opinions as well as my whenever I get
involved with the team then also we also give first priority to users viewpoints in order to acquire
trust or loyalty of distinct consumers. Therefore, in this interview, Jorge Fernandes highlighted
some of the useful themes for understanding the direction of Vodafone with the help of
technology growth (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017).
Theme 1- Change for a Digital world- According to this theme of CTO interview, Vodafone’s
is going through various pressure instead of just network performance such as; continuous
provision of stability and predictable system for managing mission-critical billing as well as
consumer relationship management for end users. In fact, there are numerous of diversified
channels has been designed by Vodafone company for maintaining contact with end users which
is seen as a major challenge for Fernandes team. However, consumers are expecting and wanted
to interface with the operator through several devices or modern equipment’s. In this theme,
CTO states that foremost challenge for him and his team is to decouple of large and mission-
critical IT systems like; BSS systems. Additionally, Fernandes is actively taking part in
positioning Vodafone at the latest development for innovating something new or advanced for
consumer services both internally and externally. As a result, from December 2016 employees of
an organization are taking benefits of artificial intelligence which has been implemented at the
desktop of support system and helps in resolving almost 30% of issues that are encountered by
this organization.
Theme 2- Future of network provision- In previous years, Vodafone is signified as the mobile
organization which engaged in selling voice and minutes as well as sold data services to internet
organizations but now this association has been transitioning into a number of fixed broadband
and media institutions. For instance; the volume of data which has been transmitted to the
customer from broadband services has now overtaken by mobile technology and most of them
are media services such as; Amazon, Netflix and many more. Therefore, for resolving these
kinds of problems Vodafone has continued to invest in both projects one is a creation of creative
mobile delivery technology like massive MIMO (denoted as multiple inputs, multiple outputs).
In this theme, CTO saying that Vodafone is lagging behind as compared to other European
nations because currently, the company is selling fiber to the premises where this organization is
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having an ability to convert the service around in 24 hours and needs to offer 100mbps all the
way up to 1gbps. Hence, he wants to enhance the future of UK by maintaining competition at a
high level and wanted to see right words from governing bodies, incentives, corrective
investment as well as appropriate regulations needs to move from the hand into the hand (de
Camargo Fiorini and Jabbour, 2017).
Theme 3- Evolution into 5G- Now all the members and Fernandes also wanted to convert 4G
into 5G just like the earlier fashion of 3G into 4G through high-speed packet for accessing
technology. However, the company is having an objective of enhancing 5G more and more just
like 4G carrier aggregation. For example; this organization is making a plan that all the
evolutions of 4G will permit users to experience 5G like services which are delivered by the
company to their customers. Basically, at initial level 5G is having a similar network core and
Fernandes is forecasting the extension of existing business frameworks but still, it might not see
a a major change for the overall industry. But still, he is having a faith that the second launch of
5G must be more transformational. Hence, the question raised that Jorge Fernandes might be a
first or foremost person who has to install 5G services in the overall UK in the coming time
period. On the other hand, it has been examined that EE is a first enterprise who has managed to
enter into the market with 4G (Rittinghouse and Ransome, 2017).
b) Expansion with reference to stories and tasks
In this current interview, Jorge Fernandes has expressed his experience in Vodafone by
highlighting various relevant examples. He gets connected with company from Cisco for
managing a transformation to internet protocol where he realized that every individual are now
having a belief that the future entirely depends upon IP. It has been seen that Vodafone ideas are
to blend of latest technologies that can help the company to grow in 4G by covering a total of
80% by the end of 2020. Jorge is more concern with developing customer relationships by
providing better services in their telecom sectors. The company is not planning to become one of
the leading mobile technologies but to also provide various services as per the demand of the
customers. Vodafone idea would use a combination of the latest technology like dynamic
spectrum reframing to huge MIMO to attain fast expansion in their countrywide 4G network and
data capability to defend market share in their great revelry to reliance. The Jorge is giving
maximum focus on the business processes that can help in changing the ways a company can go
regarding the IT sectors. The directors have planned to provide all kind of specific requirement
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which will be needed in their network. There have been major changes which have been seen in
terms of infrastructure and technology that can assist to a wide level of UK economy. Jorge
Fernandez always keeps various specific back-up plans that can help then in contingency which
are going to arise in near future time. In case of network performance, one of the key pressures
on Vodafone teams is on-going aspects which are stable and estimated system that can help in
managing healthy relation with their customer (Abualoush, et. al., 2018).
c) Recent IT history of company
It has been analyse that Vodafone is one of the largest mobile communication that can assist in
delivering better services to their customers. As they have come up with advanced technology
that can help to connect people from one destination to another without any network failure. It
has been huge diversification in the channel by which users can take maximum advantage from
the Vodafone Company. Fernandes is actively approaching effective position at the present edge
when it would be taken as innovation in customer services delivery. The employees would have
taken benefits of using artificial intelligence as a desktop support system. Bu the help of Chatots
which is taken for IT supports request as well as it is currently able to resolve 30% of their
problems. The digitalisation has change the way company is going through the development of
IT, it would maintain the more effective waterfall system as internal level. It has been analyse
that Fernandez is planning to move towards using agile development operation practices. They
are also moving as huge cultural change as internal level. The volume of information has goes
through on their customer broadband services that have overtaken mobile and wide media
services as per the Fernandes. In order to fulfil the requirement of customer company is planning
to make modification by using innovative ideas in mobile technology (Pärn and Sing, 2017). The
company has decided to evolve the technology into 5G which is similar to how 3G is transform
into 4G with a fastest packet access. About 30% of total interaction is done in relation to
customer calls centres in present era by the means of using chat. There is various advantage of
using AI as in the initial phase. Fernandes has made it clear that Toby is not developed to
mislead the client into their thinking as they are used for the purpose of providing all kind of
services and benefits in near future timer (Mason, et. al., 2017).
d) Critical appraisal of CIO’s view, strategy and approach to stated theme
According to CIO, IT needs to enhance more or more with the introduction of creative services
for consumers as well as needs to broaden the network. In fact, he believes that company
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requisite to provide 5G services in 4G networks by permitting consumers to use it. Along with
this, his strategy is to use modern tools at workplace such as usage of artificial intelligence is
somehow plays very crucial role in success of the company because most of the interactions are
done through this technology only. As a result, he wanted to modify the way the company
moving towards IT development. Hence, Fernandes is now moving to adopt agile growth
operations practices because his viewpoint is to change the business also instead of just
technology by bringing it on the workplace. Due to this, Vodafone is now going through massive
cultural modification from internally in order to cope up with current changes which are
occurring in IT field (Vodafone CTO juggles legacy network and cutting-edge technology, 2017).
On the other hand, CIO is just seeing the positivity of using technology at the workplace without
thinking about employees need or requirement. It means that implementation of new things or
equipment’s at workplace creates problems for existing unskilled employees who are fully
unaware about the thing as well as feel very neglected which might affect the environment of an
association.
5. Background of management of information systems in the company by identifying the issues
Data or information is seen as the foundation and foremost factor of business decision-making
process due to which management information systems have gained an outstanding position at
the marketplace and maximized the attention in distinct fields of advanced human life. Basically,
information is seen as the main resource for Vodafone and a key element for the company's
development. Mainly, it’s a factor which plays a major role in maximizing the efficiency and
effectiveness of several administrative activities (Kampf, et. al., 2017). As a result, all these
things enhance the significance of information systems because it helps companies in
accomplishing their necessary functions in a successful manner. Therefore, the information
system is really indispensable for the selected firm because this company is very much active in
the telecommunication industry due to which company understands the importance of it. Some of
the necessary areas where the role of MIS get maximized are; financial and accounting industry
which is seen as the most integral part for every small and big association (Hair, et. al., 2017).
Mainly, FMIS aids in compiling all the necessary accounts association with data from distinct
departments of an enterprise that includes; marketing, operation, and sales. Along with this, it
helps Chief Officer of technology to make a proper format for their company in order to
accomplish necessary activities in minimum duration. It means that absence of MIS creates
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problems for the company as well as corporate firms are very much slow also but now this issue
has been resolved because information systems are helping the company in instantly transferring
the relevant data on a defined time frame.
6. Suggestion for future strategy and direction which CIO should pursue
According to the given interview of Jorge Fernandes, it has been analysed that he is trying a lot
to come up with an advanced way of enhancing business by promoting IT technology in the
global marketplace. Along with this, he tried his best to launch new things by understanding the
viewpoints of end users. Although he has gone through a various struggle during his job role still
Jorge Fernandes needs to change his future strategy by focussing on every aspect before
launching a new product. Moreover, employees are seen as the most indispensable aspect due to
which it is essential to create a different team of the IT department who are fully aware of
updated technology. In fact, appropriate training also needs to conduct by the company for
guiding the employees towards the corrective direction (Eroshkin, et. al., 2017).
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Conclusion
From the above report, it has been summarized that IT sector has developed at higher extent
because a number of successful officers are there who have introduced advanced methods of
running business operations as well as launch new service networks to the customers.
Throughout the project, interview of Jorge Fernandes states that he has gone through numerous
stages for enhancing the company where he worked from a very long time. Thus, the main
objective of this project is to clarify the modern tools of managing information systems with the
help of Chief information officer’s interview. Hence, it has been proven that technology is
emerging more or more because of the high level of competition that automatically promotes
industry towards the launch of new or fresh services for end users.
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References
 Abualoush, S.H and et. al., 2018. The role of employees’ empowerment as an
intermediary variable between knowledge management and information systems on
employees’ performance. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management
Systems, 48(2), pp.217-237.
 de Camargo Fiorini, P. and Jabbour, C.J.C., 2017. Information systems and sustainable
supply chain management towards a more sustainable society: Where we are and where
we are going. International Journal of Information Management, 37(4), pp.241-249.
 Eroshkin, S.Y and et. al., 2017. Conceptual system in the modern information
management. Procedia Computer Science, 103, pp.609-612.
 Fuller, M.A and et. al., 2017. Information Systems Project Management: A Process and
Team Approach, Edition 1.1. Prospect Press.
 Hair, J and et.al., 2017. An updated and expanded assessment of PLS-SEM in
information systems research. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 117(3), pp.442-
458.
 Kampf, R., Ližbetinová, L. and Tišlerová, K., 2017. Management of customer service in
terms of logistics information systems. Open Engineering, 7(1), pp.26-30.
 Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to
planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
 Legner, C and et. al., 2017. Digitalization: opportunity and challenge for the business and
information systems engineering community. Business & information systems
engineering, 59(4), pp.301-308.
 Mason, R.O., 2017. Four ethical issues of the information age. In Computer Ethics (pp.
41-48). Routledge.
 Noe, R.A and et. al., 2017. Human resource management: Gaining a competitive
advantage. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
 Pärn, E.A., Edwards, D.J. and Sing, M.C.P., 2017. The building information modelling
trajectory in facilities management: A review. Automation in Construction, 75, pp.45-55.
 Rittinghouse, J.W. and Ransome, J.F., 2017. Cloud computing: implementation,
management, and security. CRC press.
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 Vodafone CTO juggles legacy network and cutting-edge technology, 2017. [Online].
Avialable through< https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450423863/Interview-
Vodafone-CTO-juggles-legacy-network-and-cutting-edge-technology>
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