A proposed strategic alignment of IS/IT with supply‐chain management for UAE dates industry

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to elicit the challenges faced by the UAE dates industry in adopting and aligning its business strategy with the use of information system and information technology (IS/IT) within its operations.Design/methodology/approachThe adopted approach is based on the combination of conclusive feedback research technique and action research. The intention is to elicit background information in its initial phase, formulate an interim solution, which will evolve through users' constant feedbacks into a full‐blown desirable system.FindingsHighlights the UAE dates industry existing state of readiness in adopting IS/IT and the extent of optimizing supply‐chain management business practices.Research limitations/implicationsTransforming organization manual operations to achieve efficiency towards strategic effectiveness is a lengthy process. While quantitative and qualitative evidences suggest the adoption of a certain solution, the benefits yield cannot be realized overnight.Practical implicationsThis research proposes a paradigm shift in the organization's culture. Adopting supply‐chain principles and implementing a strategy to align both business and use of IS/IT will facilitate an elevation for UAE dates factory to be one of the economy contributing industries.Originality/valueThis research addresses existing states of readiness to implement IS/IT within the UAE dates factory, proposes supply‐chain model customized to UAE dates factory and highlights challenges faced by the factory in implementing the strategic alignment of its business through IS/IT optimization.