Strategic information system

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A Strategic Information System (SIS) is a type of Information System that is aligned with business strategy and structure. The alignment increases the capability to respond faster to environmental changes and thus creates a competitive advantage. An early example was the favorable position afforded American and United Airlines by their reservation systems, Sabre and Apollo. For many years these two systems ensured that the two carriers' flights appeared on the first screens observed by travel agents, thus increasing their bookings relative to competitors. A major source of controversy surrounding SIS is their sustainability.

Strategic Information System (SIS) ^[1]is a system to manage information and assist in strategic decision making. A strategic information system has been defined as, "The information system to support or change enterprise's strategy." by Charles Wiseman (Strategy and Computers 1985).

Resume: Model of 3-era information system by Galliers & Somogyi

• Data Processing (DP) [efficiency] — Improved efficiency by means of automating back office data processing functions.
• Management Information Systems (MIS) [effectiveness] — Improved information flows and transfers.
• Strategic Information System (SIS) [competitiveness] — Enhance competitiveness of the organization through the application of IT to business processes. Davenport’s point of view is that "Information is power and people are unlikely to give it away"

Strategic information system is different from other systems as: -

• they change the way the firm competes.
• they have an external (outward looking) focus.
• they are associated with higher project risk.
• they are innovative (and not easily copied).

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