Advantages/disadvantages to both ways of organising I.T. departments.
Advantages of a centralised department:
- Clear, top down management control & communication
- Maximise efficiency of skilled & specialised resources
- Centralised processes, procedures & standards
- Economies of scale in purchasing hardware & software
Disadvantages of a centralised department:
- Lack of flexibility to respond
- Lack of individual support to end users
Advantages of a decentralised department:
- Individual support for end users
- I.T. closer to business units – able to gain intelligence about organisation
- Development of I.T. staff
- Flexibility to respond
Disadvantages of a decentralised department:
- Inefficient use of skilled/specialist resources
- I.T. staff may “go native”
- Loss of economies of scale
- Lack of adherence to departmental processes, procedures and standards
- Loner and varied communication chain