A role playing exercise using the following steps:

1. Review the HBR case and consider the non-IT functional areas that would be impacted by the decisions being considered.
2. Select a role to play from one of three potential non-IT functional options: VP of Human Resources, the VP of Marketing and Communications, or the VP of Sales.
3. Prepare to answer the questions below from the perspective of the functional role you have selected.
4. Remember, this is a role-playing exercise. There are no right or wrong answers. But there are clues in the case study that highlight potential areas of concern for the non-IT functional areas. This is your opportunity to put yourself into these different roles and consider the responsibilities and challenges that you would have in a significant enterprise modernization. Support your answers with the facts from the case.
5. In responding to a peer, you will assume the role of the CIO at Indian Railways and make your response in accordance with the instructions below.

For this role-playing exercise:

• Identify your non-IT functional role and describe your key responsibilities at Indian Railways.
• Describe the role you would expect to have in the discussions surrounding the potential replacement of the legacy system.
• Respond to the following questions:
  • What concerns you would expect to raise in the discussion playing out at the Indian Railways. For example, as the VP of Human Resources, what concerns would you have with respect to training IT staff on the enterprise replacement system?
  • What types of communications would you expect from IT during this process of decision making?
  • What forms of communication will you use to relay the major issues to your staff?
  • What concerns do you expect your staff and/or external constituents (clients) to have, and how will you raise these concerns to the IT leadership?