Evaluation Of Future Investments Of Organizations In Information And Communication Technologies / Ahmed Mohamed Alaa Eldin Azzam

Supervisor: Mohamed Awny

Thesis (M.A.)—Nile University, Egypt, 2020 .

"Includes bibliographical references"

Contents:
Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 2 ICT investments and literature review ........................................................ 4
2.1. Planning for ICT investments .......................................................................... 5
2.2. Measuring quantitative factors ....................................................................... 6
2.3. Business value creation factors ....................................................................... 8
2.4. ICT trends ...................................................................................................... 12
2.4.1. Big data .................................................................................................. 12
2.4.2. Data analytics ......................................................................................... 12
2.4.3. Open source software ............................................................................ 13
2.4.4. Cloud computing .................................................................................... 13
2.4.5. Virtualization technology ....................................................................... 15
2.4.6. Green ICT................................................................................................ 15
2.4.7. Bring your own device trend (BYOD) ..................................................... 15
2.4.8. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) ................................................................ 16
2.5. Challenges faced by decision makers while investing in ICT ........................ 17
2.5.1. Lack of clear information about the requirements. .............................. 17
2.5.2. Obtaining quantitative results from qualitative factors. ....................... 17
2.5.3. Investing in obsolete ICTs. ..................................................................... 18
2.5.4. Inability to identify tangible financial benefits of ICT investments. ...... 18
Chapter 3 Statement of the problem and Research method .................................... 19
3.1. Statement of the problem ............................................................................ 20
3.2. Research objectives ....................................................................................... 20
3.3. Research questions ....................................................................................... 21
3.4. Significance of the study ............................................................................... 21
VI
3.4.1. Worthiness of the study ........................................................................ 21
3.4.2. Who cares about this study? ................................................................. 21
3.5. Research method .......................................................................................... 22
3.6. Proposed methodology for analysis .............................................................. 23
3.6.1. Decision matrix ...................................................................................... 23
Chapter 4 The proposed framework for evaluation .................................................. 24
4.1. Indicators ....................................................................................................... 25
4.1.1. Performance indicator: .......................................................................... 25
4.1.2. Financial indicator: ................................................................................. 25
4.1.3. Technology indicator: ............................................................................ 25
4.2. Phases and steps ........................................................................................... 26
4.2.1. Phase 1: Service analysis. ....................................................................... 31
4.2.2. Phase 2: Request for proposal (RFP)...................................................... 37
4.2.3. Phase 3: Solutions analysis. ................................................................... 38
4.2.4. Phase 4: Decision making. ..................................................................... 40
4.2.5. Phase 5: Financial analysis for ICT investments. .................................... 41
Chapter 5 Results, analysis and discussion ................................................................ 44
5.1. Introduction................................................................................................... 45
5.2. Service analysis phase ................................................................................... 45
5.3. Market research phase ................................................................................. 60
5.4. Solutions’ analysis phase ............................................................................... 60
5.5. Decision making phase .................................................................................. 63
5.6. Financial analysis for ICT investments phase ................................................ 64
5.7. Implementation conclusions ......................................................................... 66
5.8. Implementation limitations .......................................................................... 67
Chapter 6 ..................................................................................................................... 68
Conclusions and recommendations for future work ................................................. 68
6.1. Conclusions of the research .......................................................................... 69
6.2. Contribution of the research study ............................................................... 70
6.2.1. Comparing to other approaches ............................................................ 70
6.2.2. Knowledge base ..................................................................................... 72
6.3. Recommendations of the research ............................................................... 72
6.3.1. Prior to the implementation of the framework..................................... 72
VII
6.3.2. During the implementation of the framework ...................................... 73
6.3.3. Post the implementation of the framework .......................................... 73
6.4. Further work ..................................................................................................

Abstract:
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) play vital positive roles in
various aspects and activities of our life. They are widely used across small, medium,
and large organizations. Decision makers face different and ongoing challenges when
it is related to ICT investments. They are required to justify their decisions and address
the expected results of investing in ICT in relation to the performance and the financial
aspects of the organization.
This research attempts to conduct a study on how to evaluate the required ICT,
where a structural framework is proposed that classifies the main aspects of the ICT
planning process with reference to the challenges, as identified in the literature, and
suggests guidelines to overcome these challenges.
The proposed framework aims at creating a knowledge base to guide decision
makers in their ICT investment decisions through an ongoing cycle of identifying
various challenges of investment decisions in ICT. The framework proposes guidelines
to overcome these challenges and adding all the information of the previous activities
into one knowledge base to be used as a guide for future investments in ICT.
Having a framework and a knowledge base to guide decision makers when
investing in ICT, can help them make appropriate decisions and save the organization
from losing its financial investment. The proposed framework considers the
performance, financial and technology aspects as indicators to assess the planned ICT
investments, where different solutions are examined against organizational
performance requirements, financial terms and technology trends. The proposed
framework includes fifteen steps distributed on five phases.
This framework was implemented at a large educational organization for
validation. Intensive interviews and focus groups were conducted to collect the
required information from relevant departments. The collected information was
analyzed, and conclusions were derived.
The proposed framework proved to be capable of providing guidance to decision
makers on ICT investments by providing detailed information on different
requirements in the service and providing measurable evaluations for the qualitative
factors. This is in addition to considering new and cost-effective ICT trends to avoid
investing in obsolete technologies, and to optimize the financial costs. The evaluation
shows the most appropriate solution and to what extent it meets the requirements of
the organization and how it will cope effectively with the ICT trends.
XIV
Among other important findings of this research, it was realized that challenges,
technologies, and needs differ according to the organization type of activities, time,
and type of investment in ICT. Having this framework can guide decision makers
through various ICT investment decisions efficiently and in a timely manner.

Text in English, abstracts in English.