INFORMATION-SYSTEM STRATEGIES IN THE UK INSURANCE INDUSTRY

The insurance market is undergoing dynamic change requiring major decisions of insurance companies if they are to maintain their present positions. Information technology (IT) and information systems have a central role in the insurance business and insurance companies recognize that they need IT to keep the business running and are aiming to use IT to develop new markets and to maintain competitiveness. This study assesses the present state of the development and implementation of IT strategies and their relation to business strategies. The study concludes that IT strategies support the business reasonably well and that, in most companies, IT strategy is closely aligned with strategic aims even though it may not be a documented part of the business strategy.