Leading Fundamental Business Change

by the Example of the Implementation of Cloud Computing in an IT Department

Master's Thesis , 2011 , 97 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Computer Science - Commercial Information Technology

This thesis examines the nature of fundamental business changes, how they affect a company, and how a management team can implement the change successfully. A fundamental business change is defined as affecting not only small technical or organizational niches of a department. It is rather the re-organization of a business as a result of the re-structuring of either the entire organization or a single department. It affects (often repeatedly) the majority of employees, the majority of processes and includes a large amount of technical changes.
The introduction of Cloud Computing within an IT department is hereby used as an example. Cloud Computing is the obtaining of IT capabilities from an external provider, as a service in a pay-per-use manner and over the Internet. This new technology changes the business of an IT department fundamentally.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
  • Background
  • Problem Description
  • Objectives and Delimitation of the Research
• Methodology
  • Scientific Perspectives
  • Setup of the Master Thesis
  • Research Strategy - Expert Interviews
• Aspects of Change and Leadership in Organizations
  • Types of Organizational Change
    • Change Performance / Degree of Change due to Senior (2010)
    • Timing of Organizational Change
    • The Three Stages of Change due to Lewin (1958)
  • Change Processes and Methodology
    • The Eight Stage Model due to Kotter (1996)
  • Psychological and Cultural Aspects
    • Communicating Change
    • Communication Principles due to Hartley and Bruckmann (2002)
    • Building Trust by Proper Corporate Communication
  • Why Learning and Innovation are Important
• Cloud Computing and its Impact on IT Organizations
  • Traditional Information Technology Usage at Organizations
    • The History of Data Processing and Storage
    • Current Trends in Information Technology
    • Current Corporate Information Technology Challenges
  • Definition and Characteristics of Cloud Computing
    • Understanding the Definition of Cloud Computing
    • Characteristics of Cloud Computing
    • Cloud Computing Service Models
    • Cloud Computing Deployment Models
  • Aspects of the Change from Traditional IT to Cloud-based IT
    • Predictions of the IT environment
    • Traditional Layers of IT Operations
    • Cloud Layers of IT Operations
    • Aspects Concerning IT Security and Legal Considerations
  • Job Description Change of Corporate IT Workers
    • Diversification and Division of IT Workers
    • IT Tasks Affected by the Change
    • IT Roles Affected by the Change
• Process of a Cloud-triggered Business Transformation
  • Relevance for the Organization
    • Classification of the Change
    • Meaning of the Change for the Employees
    • Relevance of Change in Service and IT Governance
  • Finding the Right People
    • Skills Required for Cloud Computing Managers
    • Psychological Barriers
  • Strategy Development and Vision
    • The Need for a Change of Corporate Culture
    • Developing a Vision
    • Guiding the Mission
  • Appropriate Business Change Communication
    • Internal and External Communication
    • Communicating the Change Mission
    • The Urgency of Short-Term Wins and Gains
  • Anchoring Achievements / Refreezing Phase
    • Making the Change Last
    • Preparing for Future Developments
    • Assessing the Risk of Cloud Computing
• Conclusion
  • Reflection and Results
  • Recommendations and Critics
• Table of Figures

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This master thesis examines the process of leading fundamental business change, specifically focusing on the transition from traditional IT to cloud-based IT. The author aims to analyze the impact of cloud computing on IT organizations and explore the strategies and challenges involved in managing this transformation. The thesis delves into the psychological and cultural aspects of change, emphasizing the importance of communication, trust-building, and employee engagement in driving successful adoption of cloud technology.

• Impact of Cloud Computing on IT Organizations
• Strategies for Leading Business Change in a Cloud Computing Environment
• Psychological and Cultural Aspects of Change Management
• Communication and Trust-Building in Business Transformation
• Challenges and Risks Associated with Cloud Adoption

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides a background to the research, outlining the problem of transitioning from traditional IT to cloud-based IT and defining the objectives and scope of the thesis. The methodology chapter discusses the scientific perspectives and research strategy employed, including expert interviews. Chapter 3 delves into the theoretical framework of change and leadership in organizations, exploring different types of organizational change, change processes, and psychological and cultural aspects. Chapter 4 focuses on cloud computing, defining its characteristics, service models, and deployment models. It also examines the impact of cloud computing on IT organizations, including job descriptions and tasks affected by the change. Chapter 5 explores the process of a cloud-triggered business transformation, covering the relevance of the change for the organization, finding the right people, strategy development, and communication strategies. The conclusion summarizes the findings and provides recommendations for future research and practice.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include cloud computing, business change, IT transformation, leadership, communication, trust, employee engagement, organizational culture, and risk assessment. The thesis explores the impact of cloud computing on IT organizations and the strategies for managing this fundamental business change, emphasizing the importance of communication, trust-building, and employee engagement in driving successful adoption of cloud technology.

• College: University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Dominik Heinz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 97
• Catalog Number: V278043
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656705307
• ISBN (Book): 9783656710264
• Language: English
• Tags: leading, fundamental, business, change, example, implementation, cloud, computing, department