Information Technology Planning Practices in Kenyan Banks

Abstract

The principal objectives of this study were to find out how commercial banks in Kenya carry out planning for information technology and the factors that they consider in doing so.

The study covered all the commercial banks operating in Kenya.

The result of the data collected indicates that these organizations' IT planning process is formal, business - oriented in approach, and top-down in nature. It was also found out that the following are the key methodologies employed: Critical Success Factor (CSF), Business Systems Planning (BSP), Ends/Means Analysis, and Stages of IT Growth. Planning for IT is done on an annual basis and the resultant plans updated quarterly.

The following factors were identified as important in planning for IT: Management guidelines; I

Availability of personnel with the required expertise; Time, Availability of resources; Organizational mission, objectives, and goals; and Composition, participation, and coordination of the planning team.

From the findings it can be generally concluded that Kenyan Banks are prepared as far as adoption and use of information technology is concerned. It is however important to note that IT costs have kept rising as revealed by the research data and therefore an indication that there is still room for improvement.