Hefty Hardware Case Study

Attribute - Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1

Hefty Hardware Case Study Assignment

Synopsis

This case highlights a retail firm struggling to make sense of the increasing criticality of information technology (IT) to the business and the value IT is currently delivering. Torn between “keeping the lights on” and “delivering new products and services to customers”, successive CIOs have failed to connect effectively with their business partners despite seemingly effective relationships at the mid-management level. How to collaborate effectively with the business at all levels remains the key IT challenge.

Key Issues

• There is increasing pressure on business to be more flexible and to deliver products and

services to customers quickly. IT practices often inhibit these business goals.

• “Techno speak” is confusing and frustrating for business. This can work against IT plans and strategies because business leaders don’t understand how these plans/strategies relate to their own needs, issues, and strategies.

• Business expects IT communication to be in business language.

Key Points The Scene The challenge is “knowing where to start” – just as it is in real organizations – and this requires detective work. Therefore, the first task is to highlight the issues. To do this, you will have to identify all the issues presented within the case. The Analysis Once the issues are identified, summarize the situation at Hefty based on the identified issues. As you have already identified, there are number of issues in the case. Your task is to hone down to two key challenges, which are highlighted in the case. Here is a hint, the first challenge is one of collaboration and the second is one of communication. There are a lot of different possible solutions to address both the short-term needs and the long-term needs at Hefty. In order to consider what is most important, you will have to make sure that your solutions address both the communications and collaborations challenges.

Questions

1. Explain how IT and the business can work collaboratively to deliver the Savvy Store program successfully. (Appendix A provides an organizational chart to help with the planning)

Attribute - Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 2

Appendix A Organization Chart

COO Glen Vogel

IT Account Mgr

Jenny Henderson

VP Marketing

Cheryl O’Shea

Marketing IT Relationship Manager

Paul Gutierez

CFO

Michelle Wright

CIO

Farzad Mohammed

Chief Architect

Sergei Grozny

New Intern

Joyce Li