Requirements Analysis: Rapid Freight International - Case Study Example

Rapid Freight International Title: Requirements Analysis Proposal Synopsis The proposal involves the provision of converged network solutions for the Rapid Freight Company. Project description and summary Rapid Freight is a global logistics provider in Logistic and Trading industry that offers fully integrated freight and supply chain services through management warehousing and international freight forwarding. It has a workforce of more than 5000 employees and serves thousands of customers worldwide with its main branches across the United States, Europe and partners worldwide. Therefore, the increased customer base, employees and large intricate of logistics require not only a sophisticated network but also an on-time assurance delivery services integrated through the network. As the company continues to grow and expand its scale of businesses, there is need to cut down operating costs such as telephone services, mobility of its staff while remaining focused on the customer needs. However, due to its aging and outdated network, it is currently experiencing data outage and unscheduled downturns. It has also recently restructured to introduce mobile workforce that facilitate the need for timely monitoring of their operations around the globe. It also aims at improving productivity and efficiency so as to stay competitive in the logistics industry. As a result of inferior network, it is experiencing low sales as the company is not fully utilizing its capabilities due to inefficient technology that can be integrated in its value chain activities. To ensure a maximum return on the shareholder’s value, growth and profitability, there is need to upgrade the current network system in the company to sustain its increasing demand of its services and survive in the ever-growing competition. Challenges Rapid Freight faces a number of challenges that the proposal aims to address. These include: Increased mobile workforce Customer need to sophisticated and faster technology in checking the progress of their orders. The need to use web-based technologies to create freight documentations and generate reports The need to improve and fasten the means of payment between the customer and the firm Escalated telephone services Aims of the proposal The main aim of the proposal is to install and upgrade network solution that will ensure optimal productivity and efficiency by addressing the above challenges in its rapidly growing industry with a desire to provide products and services that incorporate technology solutions. The firm has a need to retain the high level of customer satisfaction and a reduction of mobility of workforce through introduction of video conferencing services. In order to address the above challenges, the firms will address the following pertinent aspects that will contribute to the attainment of the firm’s goals. Aging ISDN telephone networks Explosion of data due to expanding customers and staff Market diversification to provide services in all 47 of US offices Reduce all the operating costs Improve efficiency and productivity in all its operations. Objectives of adoption of an improved network The adoption of an improved network research proposal aims to: i. Evaluate the performance of the current networks, its advantages and limitations. ii. Identify specific locations and areas where the network has downplayed in the past, present and suggest ways on how the new and sophisticated network should be coded, maintained and operated. iii. Identify and evaluate the company’s technological strengths and weaknesses in relation to the technological dynamics in the industry and suggest possible means of strengthening it to adapt to increasing needs of the business and their stakeholders. iv. Identify the best-in practice companies in the same industry and how the knowledge acquired can assist the companies leapfrog from the current level of performance to greater levels. Benefits In pursuance of its goals of creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand and measuring performance globally, the firm will carry out research with aims as stated above. The study has both the tangible and intangible benefits both to the company and to its customers. First, the improved network will cut costs of travel by its agents from one location to the other, increase speed of information and delivery on time and will also ensure that customers’ patterns is tracked, monitored and customized to satisfy them more efficiently. The research also aims at building a competitive infrastructure, leverage its core businesses worldwide, and coordinate all its supply and demand logistics thus avoiding wastages. The study will also aim to put Rapid Freight on an international focus by benchmarking itself with best-in-practice companies in similar industry. Outcomes After the research has been carried, it main outcomes will be able to: Develop an understanding and thorough knowledge of how the networks works, its major challenges and how it can continuously be improved. After the research has been carried, it main outcomes will be able to: i. Develop an understanding and thorough comprehension of the library network system. ii. Employ and utilize the sophisticated services of the new network to remain competitive in the logistics industry by exploiting its potential to reach optimal performance in all its areas like production, human resources, technology, production, research and development and gain a substantial market share. In particular to achieving these specific outcomes, the firm intends to: i. Refine and revise its current technology strategies, the type of customers and the process will be improved to cater for ever-increasing customer needs and personality. ii. Analyze the current corporate strategies and how the network will congruently fit into each other for maximum returns. Plan of action The approach in this proposal will mainly involve the significance of reliable information to the decision making by the management. This implies that caution will be taken in both the research dynamic and the interpretation. Rapid secondary research will be used to establish a refined picture of the network technology dynamics of the firm, the quality of service and value offered and how competitive the network is in meeting its goals. After a secondary research, a further primary research through surveys and questionnaires will conducted by the information technology department. The findings will be used in strategic decisions of designing an upgraded network system to reduce the current telephone costs, serve customers more efficiently and help in improving the quality of products and service offered. Review of the diverse stakeholders can prove imperative in feasibility studies to address each of the challenges encountered by each of the stakeholders: customers, management and staff. Qualifications Project administrator: MSC Network administrator and has over 10 years experience in similar position. He has aided the firm LEAPFROG in its information technology needs and has won substantial awards. Project Manager: PhD in Telecommunications and have worked for IBM for over 20 years, during which the company has been ranked 6th globally in information technology needs and resource sharing efficiencies. Other includes the following; statistician, clerk Other two other researchers. There research process will take a maximum of 4 months. A brief summary of the project life cycle from the start to closure is as shown below. Summary and conclusion The proposal will take four months and will be conducted to find the feasibility of an improved network to address the problems of inefficiencies and ineffectiveness being caused by increasing needs of information technology and the need to make faster and informed decision in the company so as to improve on the customers’ service. In conclusion, an installation of a network for Rapid Freight will enable the company make decisions faster through an efficient resource and information needs that enhance the quality and speed of decision making regarding its business operations. It will also promote the global competitiveness of the products and services offered. This will return a substantial return on investment by more than 10%, create more jobs and improve their responsiveness to the society’s needs. Through an enactment of the network system in the company, the firm wills realize its goals of growth, survival and profitability. References Levy, M.,(2006). Design-build project delivery: managing the building process from proposal through construction. New York: McGraw-hill. Naimzada, K.A., (2009).Networks, topology and dynamics: theory and applications to economics and social systems. New York: 2009 Appendices Since the management is centralized, a star network topology is highly plausible. Read More