Refrence : IT strategy by Jim Maholic

A 3-Dimensional Framework to Plan Your Digital Transformation and Deliver Value to Your Enterprise

Please give the answers in the same numbers listed below from the above textbook with refrences and i have attached discussion answers made by other students please take it as references and please help me with the answers, Thank You!

Question 1. The author suggests that the nine components of the deliberations dimension "should not be thought of as individual, free-standing concepts, but instead as a set of interdependent considerations" (p. 221). Describe the extent to which the Data and Technology components below are interdependent and why the interdependency is/is not important to IT strategy. I am looking for more than just superficial relationships (e.g., data is stored on technology therefore they are interdependent). I want you to link concepts discussed in the textbook for one component to the other component.

Answer given by others : The relationship between data and technology components in IT strategy is vital. According to Maholic, data is the core asset of IT, forming the foundation of all operations, and it's what technology is used to manage effectively. (Maholic, p. 227) The Virtuous Data Hexagon further shows how data activities are interconnected and need a well-rounded strategy for a business to get the most out of its data. (Maholic, p. 236) On the other hand, technology is seen more as a tool to achieve broader organizational goals rather than being the most crucial aspect of an IT strategy. (Maholic, p. 256) Technology is used to enhance operations and facilitate the handling and utilization of data. However, crafting a future-proof IT strategy requires that technology components be continuously reviewed and aligned with the changing business strategies, as discussed in the Eight Axioms of Strategic Technology Transformation. (Maholic, p. 259)

When we look at how data and technology work together, we see that they are tightly linked. For instance, the process of integrating new IT components with existing ones in the technology strategy closely relates to data activities like capturing and cataloging mentioned in the Virtuous Data Hexagon. (Maholic, p. 258, p.236) Both components encourage a dynamic strategy that adapts to emerging technologies and changing data paradigms, highlighting the need for continuous revisiting and updating the strategy to stay aligned with the business landscape. (Maholic, p. 268, p.271)

Understanding the deep connections between data and technology is essential to creating a resilient IT strategy. It helps in building a system where technology developments are not isolated but are created with data strategies in mind, forming a cohesive unit that addresses current problems and leverages future opportunities. This approach ensures an agile, secure, and efficient future, underlining the importance of viewing data and technology as interdependent in IT strategy planning. (Maholic, p. 227, p. 272)

Maholic, J., & Brandt, J. (2019). IT strategy: A 3-dimensional framework to plan your digital transformation and deliver value to your enterprise. Jim Maholic.

Another answer : With the nine components of deliberations, data and technology fall under the technical aspect together. As the book states, data are the core asset of IT (Maholic, 2019, pg.227). Even though data is the core asset, technology is not the driving force of data and data is not the driving force of technology.

For example, if I sent out a survey to one hundred people and asked them to tell the top 3 pizza places, then there is no technology as the driving force for the data. Yes, I would have to use technology most likely to send out the survey, but I could also stand on the street to ask people the same question. This is making the data and technology not be dependent on each other.

However, there are more examples of data and technology being interdependent on each other. An example of them being interdependent would be you may need data to show that you need new technology for a firm. Maybe data is showing that your users are experiencing a slowness in a particular application and it is costing the company value time and money (which in turn is data), and the resolution is to purchase a new server that houses that application that has a faster processor, more RAM, etc. That is where the interdependence come into play.

Now if we flip it backwards and look at the technology aspect, it can be interdependent because it can process the data. Go back to my example of the survey, if I collect that data, it would be best to put that into a program to calculate the results. Yes a human could do the same thing, but society is wanting things much faster and much more error free if possible. There could be human error in the calculations and give us bad data, but with technology, it helps elimate those issues.

Technology can also do so much more with data as well; it can benefit the virtuous data hexagon of: create data, capture data, catalog data, exploit data, govern data and secure data (Maholic, 2019, pg. 236). All of this deals with the interwindings of data and technology and working with an IT strategy.

Question 2. The author suggests that the nine components of the deliberations dimension "should not be thought of as individual, free-standing concepts, but instead as a set of interdependent considerations" (p. 221). Describe the extent to which the Data and Security components below are interdependent and why the interdependency is/is not important to IT strategy. I am looking for more than just superficial relationships. I want you to link concepts discussed in the textbook for one component to the other component.

Answer given by others: The relationship between data and security components in IT strategy is vital. Data and security are tightly linked, working together to keep a company's most valuable IT asset, its data, safe and effective. (Maholic p. 227) Data is the backbone, holding all the vital information that helps a business make smart decisions. But handling data comes with its own set of problems, like dealing with duplicate data or data stored in unsafe places, making security critically important. (Maholic p. 223)

Maholic warns that every company, no matter how small, can be a target for hackers, so having strong security is a must to protect a company's data. (Maholic, p. 280) In fact, sometimes the biggest security risks come from inside the company, from unhappy or careless employees, which means the company needs to be as good at managing its data internally as it is at protecting it from outside threats. (Maholic p. 287) The idea of the Virtuous Data Hexagon shows how protecting data is a key part of managing it well, pointing out that a good data strategy always includes strong security measures. (Maholic p.236) This is seen in the roles of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), where looking after data strategies also means making sure the company has a tough cybersecurity plan in place. (Maholic p. 293-294)

Understanding the connections between data and security is essential to creating a resilient IT strategy. It helps -create a plan that is safe from threats while making the best use of its data to reach its goals. By seeing data and security as partners working together, a business can develop a strategy that supports building a strong, secure future, helping it grow safely and successfully. (Maholic p. 304)

Maholic, J., & Brandt, J. (2019). IT strategy: A 3-dimensional framework to plan your digital transformation and deliver value to your enterpris

Another answer: Data and security are very interdependent especially when viewed through the lens of an IT strategy. All day, every day we are creating a slew of data, around 2.5 million terabytes as a matter of fact (Marr 2018.) Without any security around that data, anyone who knows how to look for the data will be able to access it.

It is easy when you think about data and security, you can see them as two entirely separate concepts (P. 221) but when you think about the two, you realize that one really doesn't exist without the other. If we did not have data, what would need security for? There would be no data to secure. If we consider IT security, what would we do with this security if it was not to protect the data itself? Where I can easily separate my mind is if the entire world was free and open source, you would still need to have security! If you are going to download the package of the world's data, where would you download the data from? Would the site have a security certificate? It seems like it would not, as there was no need for security; This is, of course, a lie.

As we stretch into other data-related deliberations, we can see there are several sections that are interdependent with data, as well. Data governance for one. Not only does the name have Data within it, probably indicates that the two go together. What would be the incentive to build data governance practices and software if there was no data to govern, nor would you be able to protect your source code from the evil actors as the data would be unprotected.

They are growing to be even more interdependent with each new ML tool, as well. Both CrowdStrike and IBM Security use the system's data and other user data to train new machine learning and AI tools to detect new security issues. The security models themselves only exist because there was data to be studied and they get better, when more data exists that can be studied.

With the interdependency question answered, is this important or not important to the IT strategy? I would posit that this is very important to the strategy for the following small subset of the overall reasons that exist:

1. Data is everything and it is valuable. From this 2020 Forbes article, it talks about how the data your company holds, could be worth more than your company (Laney 2020)
2. Data is collected so it can be exploited (Maholic p. 240)
3. Data is increasingly becoming a target of cyberattacks
4. Data cannot be secured without a holistic approach to security. It is not possible to secure your data without considering the people, processes, and technology that can and do interact with your data.

Once you consider that your company cannot operate as a company without data, data must be secured, security has no reason to exist without data, therefore the company must make data and security virtually equal deliberations when it comes to their IT strategies; and furthermore, one cannot exist and be transferable without the other.

Jason

References

Maholic, J., & Brandt, J. (2019). IT strategy: A 3-dimensional framework to plan your digital transformation and deliver value to your enterprise.

Bernard Marr (2018,) Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/05/21/how-much-data-do-we-create-every-day-the-mind-blowing-stats-everyone-should-read/?sh=18632afc60ba

Douglas Laney (2020,) Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/douglaslaney/2020/07/22/your-companys-data-may-be-worth-more-than-your-company/?sh=4f134cc3634c

https://www.crowdstrike.com/services/managed-services/falcon-complete/

https://www.ibm.com/x-force

Question 3. The author suggests that the nine components of the deliberations dimension "should not be thought of as individual, free-standing concepts, but instead as a set of interdependent considerations" (p. 221). Describe the extent to which the Technology and Security components below are interdependent and why the interdependency is/is not important to IT strategy. I am looking for more than just superficial relationships. I want you to link concepts discussed in the textbook for one component to the other component.

Answer for above: Understanding how technology and security work together is very important when making a good IT strategy. According to Maholic, these elements are deeply connected and help to build a strong and adaptable IT system (p. 221) Within a business environment, technology isn't about chasing the newest trends; it's about establishing and maintaining systems that align with business goals while being adaptable for future demands (p. 256, p. 258). The eight axioms of strategic technology transformation emphasize the necessity of continuously reviewing and adapting the technology strategy to align with the changing business landscape (p. 259).

Security is fundamental in protecting the organization's information system assets. The role of security is substantial, focusing on identifying and mitigating potential threats that can come from various sources, including internal vulnerabilities (p. 280, p. 287). The leadership of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is central in this setup, guiding strategies to stay ahead of potential threats and ensuring the organization is always prepared to defend its systems effectively (p. 293-294).

Technology and security have a deep level of interdependence, and it is evident that a well-planned IT strategy leverages both to foster a resilient and agile business environment. The ongoing monitoring and adaptation in the technology strategy mirrors the proactive stance in the security strategy, where potential issues are identified and mitigated before they become substantial problems (p. 259, p. 300). In building an IT strategy, it is crucial to choose technology tools that are in line with business needs and have a flexible approach to support growth. Security plays a vital role here by ensuring these tools are defended against potential threats, thereby providing a stable and safe technical environment in which the business can operate and grow (p. 272).

Understanding the interdependence of technology and security is critical for developing a resilient IT strategy. Their mutual reinforcement creates a robust and adaptive framework essential for sustainable business growth. It's a relationship of mutual support, where each works to enhance the other, cultivating a secure environment that meets the needs of the business today and in the future. They are like two sides of the same coin, where technology strives to innovate and bring efficiency, and security works to protect these innovations from various threats, ensuring the business operates within both a productive and secure operational environment.

Maholic, J., & Brandt, J. (2019). IT strategy: A 3-dimensional framework to plan your digital transformation and deliver value to your enterprise. Jim Maholic.

Another answer:

Within the strategic dimension of IT strategy, the interdependence between the Technology and Security components is strong and has a significant impact on how an organization manages its information technology resources. It extends beyond interactions at the surface level and into every facet of IT decision-making.

These elements are linked together at various pivotal points. Security measures are constructed with technology as their base. Technology is a necessity for intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and other critical security components. Effective cybersecurity practices must also make sure that security products are compatible with and integrated with the current technology architecture. Securing an organization's digital assets depends on the platforms it chooses to use and its attention to keeping them patched with security updates. Technology solutions are necessary to successfully handle user identification and authorization in identity and access management, a foundational component of security. Last but not least, technology tools like log analyzers and SIEM systems are crucial for monitoring, detecting, and mitigating threats while responding to security incidents.

Understanding this interdependency is crucial for risk reduction, compliance, resource optimization, and incident response readiness. Organizations may develop informed IT strategies by understanding the delicate relationship between technology and security. This entails deciding on technological solutions that meet security criteria, guaranteeing adherence to pertinent laws and standards, effectively allocating resources, and seamlessly incorporating technological tools into incident response plans. In the end, this integrated strategy guarantees a strong and proactive defense against changing cyber threats while optimizing the use of IT resources to achieve both security and business goals.