Weighing System for IT Project - Case Study Example

Weighing System for IT Project Priority Project More Revenue Cuts Cost Cost Law man s Competition 5 Lead Mang. 40-50% annually 400,000 - Increased quality 10 Operating System - - $800,000 - 1 HR System Replace X $750,000 Security breach 4 Warranty Claims X $1,800,000 X 9 Order Processing $450,000 7 Warehouse System $23 million $1,900,000 8 Sourcing System X $800,000 2 Finance $465,000 Audit issue 3 Change Manage $1,300,000 Audit issue 6 Equipment maintenance 30% $275,000 Building the specific needs for Logan Watercrafts will enhance the business and create new streams of revenue for the corporation. More important, it will create a stronger internal environment for the organization and will provide more opportunity for those who are working within the business. As the internal environment increases in support, there will be enhancement of the external environment, specifically by securing more consumers who are interested in the products of Logan Watercrafts. The use of the $5,000,000 for the 2011 fiscal year will create and develop new opportunity for those that are in the business while securing more aspects that are related to the business. The top three priority considerations for the IT projects in 2011 are based on law mandates and security of the organization. The HR system replacement, finance system and change management will be the first three changes that will be created within the company. The HR system is the top priority, specifically because it not only is a security breach, but also because it will cut costs and will enhance the internal environment. By increasing the security and implementation of the system on several levels, it will begin to change the main functions within the business. More important, the HR system replacement will assist with the security in both the internal and external environment. The result will not only be enhancement of the internal environment but also changes with those that are customers for the company. The finance system and change management were prioritized as the other two priorities because of the audit breaches that could occur. Without the correct financial applications, the business could be in danger of breaking the law or having severe consequences in relation to the finances. Being able to securely track the finances and ensuring that the changes within the corporation are implemented correctly will change the capabilities of the internal environment. More important, there will be the ability to secure the transactions that are taking place with the other arenas, all which will assist with future projects. The business growth and security of the financial systems will then provide more opportunities within the business and will secure future projects that are needed within the business. The next project which needs to be implemented is the warranty claims. This also is in need because of legalities, as well as for cost reduction. The importance of the warranty claims is based on the performance of the company that is related to legalities. This is furthered by potential threats which could occur if a consumer doesn’t receive the correct information for a warranty. If the company receives complaints or other problems, then continuous functioning may be difficult. Streamlining the needs of the company and ensuring that the performance of the company is continuous will cut costs within the internal environment and will assist in keeping the brand name and recognition in the marketplace at a higher rate. The criteria which follows after the legal aspects of different projects is mandated by the most beneficial projects. The legalities were considered as first priority because of the long term implications that could occur without the proper system for finances, security and privacy. The next level in the criteria for change in the business is based on the ability to have more revenue in the company as well as cost cuts that are a part of doing business. The projects which support the growth of the business first are prioritized and the rest are secondary applications within the business. The lead management is one of the applications which will continue to increase with the growth of the company. This will increase the revenue by 40-50% annually and may also assist with cost reduction. More important, it will help with new competitive strategies within the business. The benefits of streamlining the lead management can double the amount of business that is in the organization and will stop the competitors from taking leads and going to another business. More important, it will help in supporting and streamlining the internal organization, specifically because the leads and information will all be consolidated into a specific area. Since 90% of the leads have improper tracking, this one system will support and enhance the business on a variety of levels. Equipment maintenance is the next aspect of the business that has priority, as it will reduce costs by 30%. By streamlining the internal environment, it will become easier to communicate between different areas while assisting employees with the specific needs in the organization. Combining this with the systems in the business will enhance the projects that are taking place and will assist employees in the needed demands within the organization. The warehouse system has the same justification for change, specifically because it will reduce costs by an average of $23 million annually and will create a stronger support system within the internal environment. Employee satisfaction and the ability to enhance the business can then help not only in cost reduction, but also in assisting with the quality of delivery and the various aspects that are related to the external environment. The sourcing system is the last priority that is a part of the annual budget for Logan Watercrafts. Since the sources are currently a part of transactions from distributors in other arenas, it is essential to have an effective communication system. More important, this enhancement of the business will strengthen the internal environment while creating potentially new opportunities that are within the marketplace. If there is growth and enhancement of the environment in the future, then it can also assist with expansion and growth while helping Logan Watercrafts to grow against competitors. While this is not a priority because of the demands and needs of the internal environment, it can help with the growth of the company while enhancing the specific aspects that are already incorporated into the business. One application which should be considered for technical changes is the order processing system. If this is replaced it will enhance the operating system and internal environment of the company. However, it will not cut costs or increase revenue. The system is also expected to have a new ERP in 2014, which may create a need to change the system again in the future because of incompatibility within the system or changes which are in need for implementation of the system. Before this specific project is applicable to Logan Watercrafts, there needs to be an understanding of the changes which will be incorporated in 2014 and how this will affect the current processing system. Integrating and streamlining these two applications can help to boost the system while ensuring that the correct implementation of the system is in place. More important, the 20 year old system and the power cuts may become detrimental to the company and could result in loss of the several programs that are a part of the business. In this sense, the technical component should be replaced after the legalities and other aspects are taken care of. The last project includes the operating system. This is not a priority and will only be completed if time allows during the next fiscal year. When evaluating these against other projects, it is found to not have a direct benefit or problem within the company and won’t be a technical detriment. While they will enhance the working environment, the systems are currently streamlined and working effectively within the business. More important, they are not going to cut costs are add in revenue for the next fiscal year. The revision of the operating system is also not a priority as new upgrades for OS will continue to be in the marketplace. It may be found that new options are available within the next year that is more effective than what the business already has. In this sense, the replacement and upgrade of the current operating system needs to have more research incorporated into it before it is implemented. The technology which is required for each of the criteria is similar to what the organization needs, specifically because the changes are interrelated. The business is focused on the legalities, revenue and the need to implement concepts against competitors. The weight that the business has for specific projects is based specifically on the need to expand and increase business. The priorities for technical needs, which could lead to security problems and other difficulties, then become secondary. In IT, these would be priority because of the potential dangers, such as the power outages of the order processing system. However, since there isn’t a direct benefit or relation to the business, it becomes a secondary priority with the upgrades expected for the next year. The differences in technical and business components are based on how the technology may affect others, as opposed to the changes which may be associated with the increase and security in business. Read More