Implementing Evaluation of Readiness for Information Technology Strategic Planning(ITSP) in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Bakhtiar Md Shaari 1 , Mustaffa Kamal Mohd Nor 2 ,Abd. Razak Hamdan 3 , Aziz Deraman 4 1 Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3 Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia 4 Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia This paper describes a generic framework of implementing evaluation of readiness for the information technology strategic planning (ITSP) in higher education institutions. The framework is generated by analysing the ITSP model produced by the information technology (IT) famous writer and constructed the structure and policy of management for internal IT administrative institution; guidelines of ITSP from Malaysian government; empirical studies methodology of producing ITSP and its contents for higher education institutions; and references of ITSP policies from famous higher education institutions in the world. This framework is a qualitative research and two sets of questionnaires were developed and tested for assessment by IT expertise in a number of higher institutions and validated by IT expertise from higher institutions, government sectors and agencies. It consists of three main components which are appropriate for the public higher education institutions in Malaysia. The main components are the evaluation of ITSP (the activity is to develop a clear and perfect understanding of the situation of institution from the perspective of internal and external factors environment of IT management); developing ITSP strategy (identifying the IT strategy statements for institution, special objectives to achieve ITSP, strategic action necessitated to realize the objectives and future development for institution); and implementing institution ITSP (an action to put in ITSP mobile in order to become reality according to the consistent goals of institution and the implementation is within the time frame). Results of the framework evaluated the status of readiness for internal IT management institution to implement ITSP. 1. Introduction In the 2001 a report titled Top Campus IT Challenges for2001, information technology strategic planning (ITSP) was identified as one of the most pressing issues for higher education institutions (1) and it leads to a serious development of a framework for ITSP. As government entities become aware of the benefits derived from implementing information technology in everyday operations, the demand for growth in this area has become monumental in higher education institutions. Advances in technology, competitive facilities of information technology provided, desperate demands from students, network security threats and high cost in IT infrastructure are the challenges for higher education institutions. Information technology strategic planning should be implemented so that this action can determine goals of internal IT management institutions will be more accurate, realistic, effective and efficient to confront higher competition towards quickly growing of information technology (IT). In education aspects of higher learning, medium or lower level, a computer is an important tool to operate a teaching and learning process (2). Since more than four decades, information technology (IT) was introduced in colleges and universities. Green & Gilbert said that “education field always related to a development of technology, since the early 1920’s with a motion picture, a television by 1950’s, a microcomputer within 1980’s and currently with information technology” (3). Katz and Offir said that “Information technology is adopted as an education instrument and the purpose is to escalate the effectiveness and efficiency in education systems”(4). Moreover in higher education institutions, information technology is commonly used as a subject to learn and a tool to support a process for teaching and learning. The core mission of education institutions is teaching and learning. Most of the teaching techniques in academic administration and management activities in universities, polytechnics, teaching colleges, matriculation colleges and schools are based on conventional procedures. However in the year of 2000, Malaysian Government through the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) has seriously introduced the information technology and communication (ICT) to all local universities, polytechnics, teaching colleges, matriculation colleges and schools (5). The main purpose is to improve teaching and learning qualities for achieving excellent students in gaining knowledge during globalisation era. Collaboration of learning by sharing knowledge could improve the quality of learning method. The concept of “distributed knowledge” is well-known among the educational researchers (6). Awareness to determine principle elements in teaching and learning process; and how to manage with more efficient and effectively are the agenda of developing educational prospective in teaching colleges (6). To handle these issues, learning process should be analysed through relationship between the opportunity of IT infrastructure and friendly user. The change in the role of a learner from passive receiver into an active constructor of information has challenged not only the traditional role of a teacher but also put pressures on the characteristics of teaching and learning materials and equipments. Proceedings of the International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia June 17-19, 2007 I-25 ISBN 978-979-16338-0-2 1086