IS/IT Strategy Framework for Research Centers at Sultan Qaboos University: A Case Study in the Middle East

Information System / Information Technology (IS/IT) strategy is considered to be a key factor in the success of any organization. It plays a vital role in enhancing business processes within the organization. Research confirms the fact that applying the concept of IS/IT within the organization helps to gain competitive advantages among the competitors. This paper is aimed at investigating the current scenario of IS/IT Strategy in the Research centers at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) as well as proposing an IS/IT strategy framework aligned with their business processes. An Analytical descriptive approach was employed in this research. Results indicate that IS/IT strategy is not defined yet within all Research centers due to challenges such as lack of transferring business problems into IT solutions. However, it is highly recommended that proposing an IS/IT strategy for the research centers will provide perceived benefits among other similar organizations that help them achieve their objectives and research excellence in terms of scientific research productivity both at local and international level.