Information Management Role in the Wellbeing of Any Organization - Assignment Example

INTRОDUСTIОN TО INFОRMАTIОN SYSTЕMS АSSIGNMЕNT: INTЕGRАTЕD RЕРОRT АDDRЕSSING THЕ FОLLОWING ISSUЕS Student’s name Course & code Professor’s name University City Date Question 1 Presently, information management plays a crucial role in the whole wellbeing of any organization. Considering the case in the world today, the information systems in an organization have to be updated regularly to meet the demands of an ever-growing and challenging databases in the organizations (Kacprzyk et al 2015, pp. 303). As such, the current accounting software used at IRCL is inappropriate for the business since it is out of date and cannot handle the needs of the business that IRCL handles. This is in a manner that it is known to provide inaccurate data regarding inventories and sales which creates inconsistencies in the databases. Besides, since it was built by an accounting manager that had little technical skill, it is known to fail in handling more than 1000 transactions within a day which is likely to hinder the development of the business to higher levels. Question 2 Basing on the recommendation by Takashi Hashimoto, the ERP is the way to prosperity in business. This provides one of the reasons that IRCL should consider by implementing the ERP. This is in the view that currently, the business at IRCL is running low on funding and may not even have enough capital to invest on the new accounting system and therefore IRCL should embrace the creativity (Santos et al 2015, chapter 6). Furthermore, according to Louis, the firm may not be able to fund the new accounting machine given two more months implying that IRCL is running low on funds and therefore, strategies should be put in place to mitigate the impending bankruptcy by purchasing the ERP system. Regarding the discussion by Astle & van Opstal 2015, pp. 100 regarding the systems analysis, the present accounting software at IRCL was developed by an accounting manager with little technical skills. This led to developing a system that had many flaws like inaccurate data presentation in the inventory and sales which led to developing inconsistent databases. As demonstrated by Santos et al 2015 chapter 8, there is a need to implement a fully developed system that has been developed by experts in the field which will iron out the problems generated by the present software and by so doing, ERP will help create reliable databases on inventory and sales which have accurate information allowing the business to work on consistent data. According to Takashi Hashimoto, who operates similar business, contrary to what is being experienced at IRCL, his business is doing great. This implies that the system at IRCL needs upgrading for it to manage handling more than 1000 orders daily (Santos et al 2015, chapter 5). This way IRCL will be able to handle more transactions enabling them to get and retain more customers after implementing ERP system. As demonstrated in the conversation between Jenny and Louis, Louis hints that if the proposed ERP system is not implemented within two months’ period, then there is likely to be no more funding after that period. According to Hölzl et al 2015, pp. 330, such implies that if the current system continues to be depended upon in the business, IRCL is likely to go out of business. As such, ERP system should be put into action to help prevent the tragic failure of IRCL. Question 3 Considering the traditional systems development, it is not recommended for Jenny to proceed with the proposed project (Lawrence et al 2016, pp. 31). This is considering various factors like all the professional regards have not been observed and they are only basing their recommendations on a recommendation by a friend. This indicates that the success of the system is not guaranteed because the success of one business does not only depend on the system used but also other factors that are integrated to perform duties with a similar goal (Santos et al 2015, chapter 8). Therefore, Jenny does not understand how the ERP works and it may produce adverse results due to this contrary to what Ron anticipates. Another reason is that the management has not planned for the acquisition and implementation of the system besides the ‘order’ by Ron. For the project to be successful, it has to go through the management control domains before being set into action (Astle & van Opstal 2015, pp. 103). Question 4 As noted by Hölzl et al 2015, pp. 325, Jenny can apply the traditional life cycle methodology in various sections within the system in the firm. One of the instances that Jenny can apply this methodology is in conducting system analysis for IRCL. In this manner, Jenny, as the accounting manager will be in a better position to establish the feasibility properties of a new system in the firm. By establishing the source of a problem in a system, she will be in a position to determine the benefits, costs and the requirements for either implementing a new system or creating improvements to the existing one (Lawrence et al 2016, pp. 27). As such, components like operational, economic, technical, human and legal factors need to be taken into consideration. This should be used by Jenny considering that she is being given a limited time frame for her to implement the new system without having analyzed the existing to establish if an overhaul is required or adjustments can be made on the existing system (Santos et al 2015, chapter 6). Another condition that Jenny would be recommended to use the traditional methodology is the environment in which the ERP has to function. This, according to Kacprzyk et al 2015, pp. 305, can be achieved considering that the existing accounting manager was involved in the developing the current system and therefore, since Jenny is an incoming accounting manager, should be allowed to develop her system and merge it later with the existing system. Besides, the traditional methodology requires that the system be tested against the initial business requirements, and therefore before implementing the ERP, Jenny should be allowed to develop a potential ERP before it is deployed for use with the intended users (Kacprzyk et al 2015, pp. 302). Moreover, the system cannot be deployed into full use as it is recommended by Ron who is basing on a recommendation of a friend. Instead, Jenny should be taken through the training and transition which will allow her to conduct testing of the system to ensure that it suits the business requirements. Question 5 Considering the odds as presented in the case at hand, Louis should be recommended to avoid outsourcing as a solution to such a problem. This is based on a number of facts which include the expenses involved. As noted by Louis in a meeting with Jenny, $200,000 is to be allocated for the purchase of the system. Besides, Jenny has to be hired to be the new accounting manager which implies that that is an extra cost for the firm. As such, outsourcing proves to be expensive for such business. Another reason as to why Louis cannot be recommended to use outsourcing is in the view that the outcomes are not certain considering the review by Santos et al 2015 chapter 8, on information systems planning. This is evident in a manner that both Jenny and the system are being obtained from different sources and therefore, there is need for time for transition to evaluate the functionality of the system before fully implementing it (Lawrence et al, 2016, pp. 35). References Astle, H & van Opstal, LH 2015, ‘ECMAN A Standard Database Management System for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)’, The International Hydrographic Review, vol. 67 no. 2. Available at: https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/ihr/article/view/23305/27080 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2016]. Hölzl, M, Koch, N, Puviani, M, Wirsing, M & Zambonelli, F 2015, ‘The Ensemble Development Life Cycle and Best Practices for Collective Autonomic Systems’, In Software Engineering for Collective Autonomic Systems, Springer International Publishing pp. 325-354. Available at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16310-9_9#page-1 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2016]. Kacprzyk, J, Zadrożny, S & De Tré, G 2015, ‘Fuzziness in database management systems’, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, vol. 281 no. C, pp.300-307. Available at: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2840249 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2016]. Lawrence, B, Zhang, JJ & Heineke, J 2016, ‘A life-cycle perspective of professionalism in services’, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 42, pp.25-38. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272696316000164 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2016]. Santos, V, Amaral, L, Mamede, H & Gonçalves, R 2015, ‘Creativity in the information systems planning process’, Handbook of Research on Innovations in Information Retrieval, Analysis, and Management. Available at: http://www.igi-global.com/chapter/creativity-in-the-information-systems-planning- process/137480 [Accessed 1 Sep. 2016]. Read More