Information Systems Success - Essay Example

CLOUD COMPUTING By + Introduction In this essay we are going to discuss the city of Pittsburgh when it decides to use cloud computing when it wanted to provide effective e-mail services to its employees. With the use of different procedure made up by the stakeholders. They were able to set up Analytical hierarchy Process to choose the best cloud solution for their city. In the essay, we will use the SWOT analysis to prove if the framework the city of Pittsburg used to select cloud solution was the best (Mu & Stern, 2014). Cloud computing is a mode of conveying information technology services whose resources are sourced from the internet using web tools and applicators instead of direct connection to the server. Data and software packages are permanently kept in servers on the internet. It allows an access to information anywhere anytime as long as one has electronic devices like; desktops, tablets, computers, hand-held sensors and many others (latimes.com). The basic requirement to retrieve information from cloud is the internet connection. One must establish the internet connection either through wired or wireless internet or mobile broadband connection. You can now access the same information using different devices in a different location at different time. That is why it is the best option to use in your business as anyone who is connected to the internet can work on documents anytime anywhere. There are different types of clouds that depend on what one needs. Public cloud –if you want anyone who is internet connected can access the cloud space. Private cloud-is for specific individuals or organization. It can limited public access as one may be required to use passwords to access this type of cloud. Community cloud- is shared amongst two or more organizations that share similar cloud necessities. Hybrid cloud is a combination of two or more types of clouds. It is a mixture of public, private or communal. In this essay we are going to evaluate on how the City of Pittsburgh approached the cloud connectivity and if they were successful (Markoff, 2010). City of Pittsburgh needed the cloud computing to operate its numerous social activities including schools and recreation centers like football pitches and state of art hospitals, economic activities like steel mining and political activities in governance and administration of the city. The city had started experiencing problems like; employees increasingly demanding to use the mail services and the increase in the cost of maintaining the servers, underfunded retirement funds, rising cost of operating the council, population decrease insecurity and underperformance. When Luke Ravenstahl was appointed as the mayor he came to the conclusion that technological advancing was the solution to the municipal’s problem (Alshamaila & Savvas Papagiannidis, 2013). To choose the best cloud, the identification of basic rules they had to develop a project time line. The city had to identify stake holders, create a committee that would select the best stake holders, put down a Request for Proposal (RFP) and finally come out with a convincing, unbiased and legally justifiable decision-making methodology to select a vendor. The cloud evaluation process- appointments of a committee from different city stake holders from different important CIS sections and publicly invite bidders. As the proposals come in, a decision making approach to choose the best cloud is proposed. A committee led by the AHP is assembled and seven vendors would have responded to the proposals. The committee would go through the proposals and each one of the vendors will be asked to present what is on their proposals while the members of the committee ask them questions. After this the committee members will fill in a questioner for the final rating of the vendor and finally the winner is publicly announced. The criterion used to select a suitable cloud was a success, as soon as the city decided to go cloud computing, everything in all aspects started changing. There was hardened security, there were servers that were multi-functional, database server, file server, web server, all in one, now get to be three different servers, and only allow communications to the specific application and supports what they need. Storage came about and offered a lot more flexibility .They would work on time -business process agility, and react to the market dynamics that have been changing over and over (Venters & Whitley, 2012)). It created a well-organized platform that enables businesses to put up processes that are repeatable and at the time flexible. Cloud computing allowed them transformation in CCM (Customer Communication Management) ornamenting the customer experience as the business’s priority. Every transaction with a customer is an opportunity to show the capability of the council on service and efficiency so that they can gain public confidence and reliability. The council has to ensure steady, personalized, and appropriate messages are delivered to its people across numerous channels. An inclusive CCM solution entails all features of communication that includes archrival, formation, allocation and monitoring. Cloud computing benefited them with enough storage of emails, ability to incorporate with the city’s mail to client configuration and also the capability to configurate any mobile device that support standard mail protocol. Going to the cloud also benefited the city of Pittsburgh by providing training to employees.Since one could just go to the web; obtain the required training any time at any place. In determining success and failures of the city of Pittsburgh cloud adoption, we will use the SWOT analysis. SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis is a strategic planning method in business. SWOT Analysis have proved to be a suitable mechanism for developing a common Vision for planning Marketing Strategies, Policies and Programmes for Small and Large Scale Profit organizations. In the case of Pittsburgh going cloud there were strengths-The project was a success as Google was found to be the best service providers for the e-mail services. The criterion used in decision making to have Google their cloud provider took less time compared to the normal procedures. It was also within their budget in terms of the cost. During the normal selection of cloud vendors, companies always spend cash to pay the committees and also invite foreign analyst to help then in choosing the appropriate cloud vendor. Weaknesses- The selection did not consider user satisfaction. Before a selection the city should have asked. Would the information be effective to the user? In the Delone model theory, the technical success has a direct impact on the quality of the system while if the user, the organization is contented with the quality of information is measured by effective success (Petter, Delone & Mclean, 2013) AHP model is too complex, too quantitative and mechanic-The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) The arrangement of decision makers in the city of Pittsburgh is very convoluted because it involved so many people. It also undermines the issue with confidentiality one may be tempted to disclose information to source that shouldn’t get it. Opportunities- The city of Pittsburgh has seen the benefits of going Cloud. The twenty four hour access to e-mails and internet has destroyed the barrier between work and daily life .Cloud computing allows all-time access to company files and applications from anywhere using any electronic device. The city experienced a slash in the cost of technology. It reduces the cost of purchasing infrastructure such as back-up drives; new computers. Also the service provider covers the keeping of records in high speed servers. There is easy collaboration and sharing of files as all file are centrally stored while the numerous employees view and edit simultaneously. Threats -. Even after systematic and careful selection of a cloud vendor. Google, their choice came out to be scandalous. During escalating efforts to create and building up an effective cloud computing, Google has once taken legal actions towards the federal republic over a failed vending procedure that they said favored their rivals, Microsoft. For many years now Google has been struggling with Microsoft to dominate the global market for office and e-mail soft ware. Also just after the city of Pittsburgh finalized on Google as their cloud vendor, other vendor who did not meet what the city Pittsburgh wanted went to court to contest why they were not selected. They realized cloud computing is disadvantaged in matters of security. In cases of data breach by hacking, careless usage of password, business data can be compromised. Conclusion From this essay we deduce that cloud computing has greatly transformed IT functions in the public institution in the resent years. The development of dispensation, systematic database ease in retrieval of information, storage of technologies is a successful cloud computing. Other than the matters of reliability and insecurity which weighs down cloud computing, it is a great opportunity for any business or organization to cut down the cost IT management. To select the best cloud computing vendors, public sectors should critically evaluate the service providers. Just like the city of Pittsburgh, the AHP criterion has to be used. Embracing cloud computing especially in public organizations increases efficiency and reliability and reduces overcrowding in business organizations. References Mu,, E., & .A.Stern, H. (2014). TheCityofPittsburghgoestothecloud: Acasestudyofcloudsolutionstrategic selectionanddeployment (Vol. 4, pp. 71-80). E Mu, Carlow University, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Publishedonline 4 November 2014. Markoff, J. (2010, April 19). Cyberattack on Google Said to Hit Password System. Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/technology/20google.html?_r=1& Venters, W., & Whitley, E. (2012). A critical review of cloud computing: Researching desires and realities (Vol. 27, pp. 184-198). W Venters, Information Systems and Innovation Group, Department of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK.: Published online 14 August 2012. Alshamaila, Y., & Savvas Papagiannidis, S. (2013). Cloud computing adoption by SMEs in the north east of England (3rd ed., Vol. 26, pp. 259-265). Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and: Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1741-0398. Google product doesnt really have security credential, Justice Department says. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/google- apps-fisma-security.html Petter, S., Delone, W., & Mclean, E. (2013). Information Systems Success: The Quest for the Independent Variables.Journal of Management Information Systems,762 Read More