by Marc J Schniederjans (University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA) , Jamie L Hamaker (University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA) , & Ashlyn M Schniederjans (Harvard University, USA)

From the individual to the largest organization, everyone today has to make investments in IT. Making a smart investment that will best satisfy all the necessary decision-making criteria requires careful and inclusive analysis. This textbook provides an up-to-date, in-depth understanding of the methodologies available to aid in this complex process of multi-criteria decision-making. It guides readers on the process of technology acquisition — what methods to use to make IT investment decisions, how to choose the technology and justify its selection, and how the decision will impact the organization.

Unique to this textbook are both financial investment models and more complex decision-making models from the field of management science so that readers can extend the analysis benefits to enhance and confirm their IT investment choices. The wide range of methodologies featured in the book gives readers the opportunity to customize their best-fit solutions for their unique IT decision situation. This textbook is especially deal for educators and students involved in programs dealing with technology management, operations management, applied finance, operations research, and industrial engineering.

• Introduction to Information Technology Investment Decision Making Methodology:
  • Introduction to Information Technology Investment Decision Making
  • Needs Analysis and Alternative Information Technology Investment Strategies
  • Measuring Information Technology Investment Performance
• Financial Information Technology Investment Methods:
  • Basic Financial Methods
  • Other Financial Methodologies
  • Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Multi-Criteria Information Technology Decision Making Methods:
  • Critical Success Factors, Delphi Method and the Balanced Scorecard Method
  • Multi-Factor Scoring Methods and the Analytic Hierarch Process
  • Decision Analysis and Multi-Objective Programming Methods
• Other Information Technology Investment Methods:
  • Benchmarking Techniques and Game Theory
  • Investment Portfolio Methodologies
  • Value Analysis and Benefit/Risk Methodologies
• Issues in Information Technology Decision Making:
  • To Outsource or Insource?
  • Information Technology Investment in Developing Countries
  • Epilogue: The Costs of Not Making the Right Information Technology Decision (and Strategies on How to Avoid Them)