What Is a Virtual Organization - Research Paper Example

IS Project Implementation Plan Virtual organization Virtual Organization is a virtual network of individuals or groups meant for sharing a common pool of resources depending on some conditions and guidelines. These organizations operate with some special objective in view for which these organizations differ along several parameters like scope of their formation, size of the concerns, and the tenure of their operation and vary in regards to the structural parameters. Negotiation between the members carries on in regards to the function of sharing resources from the automatic pool of resources constructed in meeting the organizational objectives (Joseph and Fellenstein, 2004, p.48). In citing an example of virtual organization, the case of an engineering company, John Brown Engineers and Construction concern comes into question. The company fulfills the globalization attribute of a virtual organization in operating through a network of 30 countries having a total employee base of around 21,000 people. Moreover, the company operates based on its own privately designed information systems linking the different offices of the concern. Through such developed and interlinked information technology network the employees of the company can effectively retrieve, share and implement information gained from large databases stored in the system. Thus, the people with information technology can effectively use the large pool of technological and other knowledge resources that would be required for the proper functioning of the organization. Moreover, the management of the company through the existence of information technology sources has also taken resort of developing a video conferencing facility through which the directors and managers sitting at head office can learn the activities pursued in different units round the globe. Again, such use of technology also helps the management to get effective feedback from the employees in regards to operation and customers and thereby can design strategies differently to enhance business competitiveness (Igbaria and Tan, 1998, p.48). Business strategies for Implementation The business managers at John Brown Engineers and Construction concern worked to enhance and implement specific business strategies focused on globalization in the light of the information technology resources and opportunities gained. The Chief Executive Officer of the company identified the need for strategic alliances both within the internal and external policy framework to gain a competitive business position in the climate of globalization. Thus to gain the opportunity of strategic alliances the company interlinked the productivity and skill sets of the different employees working across international borders to help counter the impeding threats of globalization. Henceforth the company worked in forming an information technology network that would effectively link the global offices of the company aimed at reaching a common business objective. The firm having focused on designing effective strategies to link its global offices in the global environment also worked on some internal or micro strategic framework. In such links were established through the construction of intranet that helped in creating a differentiated image of the company apart from its competitors. Henceforth the engineering and construction company firstly needs to choose between corporate and business strategies that is whether to achieve business competence or in deriving cash inflows and thereby linking such to strategies incorporating information technology. Again, in regards to differentiation strategy, the firm was also required to decide on several types of differentiation whether in relation to product development, differentiation in regards to cost or in allocation of strategic resources. Thus, the engineering company is required to work on effective strategies pertaining to bringing about technological differentiation in its internal framework thereby to form key strategic alliances in its macro business environment. Moreover, the company can also work in enhancing its cost reduction strategy through the reduction of travelling activities of management across borders to meet employees working in international borders. Enhancement of the technological and communication environment through designing of effective strategies would also help in augmenting the differentiation strategy taken by the company to position it in regards to other competitors (Graen and Graen, 2006, p.154-155). Technology and Human Based Safeguards Used for Information system Organizations operating based on a technology framework to enhance its business and strategic competence is required to implement some safeguard systems along both the technology and human based platforms. In regards to the technology platform, the Information System processes become open to large amount of risks where owing to voltage fluctuations the functions performed via computers are tampered. Moreover, the intrusion of viruses in the information systems of the company leads to huge loss of data and in extreme cases causes the information systems to crash resulting from damage of hard disk. Again, other than technology based damages the damages in the information systems based operation also result from human based interfaces. Development of crime based on technological interfaces has led to the emergence of hackers that tend to intrude the information systems to hack passwords. This enables the hackers to hack potential information from strategic centers like banks and other large business houses. Again, the information systems are amenable to different threats like thefts or password leaking activities owing to writing them in places of easy accessibility. Thus, potential safeguard mechanism needs to cover the above activity both in relation to technological and human platform. In regards to technological safeguards, the company management in close cooperation with internal technologists can work for production of anti-virus programs. Similarly, the conducting of technology audit in a repeated manner helps the company in safeguarding the technological systems from disturbed by any type of accidents pertaining to system break down. Again, the technologists with the company management can effectively work in the locking of passwords, which ceases its accessing by anybody and at anytime. Thus, potential pages created requires authentication, information to which relies in regards to restricted persons and thus helps the system from further misuse. Other than construction of virus, malware and other cookies countering software the company can also work in the incorporation of close circuit television cameras in control rooms to track any intrusion activity. The internal legislative and ruling climate made strong through change in internal policies helps in deterring the internal people from committing any such misleading activity. The organization can also take the help of development of internal hackers that would stop potential intrusion of external hacking elements gaining entry into the company’s cyberspace (Cohen, 2007, p.30-33). Information comparing security requirements of out-sourcing and in-sourcing The company management does the comparison of information in relation to security pertaining to in sourcing and out-sourcing. Security requirements in relation to in sourcing versus out-sourcing needs to evaluate based on the needs for which they are taken and whether they tend to pose any conflict as to the components taken to be outsourced. Further, the company management should also endeavor to understand whether any outsourcing activity would lead to potential leakage of company information pertaining to strategic importance and thereby require gaining some potential certification from competent business and administrative authorities. Henceforth information transfer in regards to outsourcing ventures requires further security compliance rather than in-sourcing activities (Nedeltchev, 2002, p.7; Balladelli and Clercq, 2000, p. 507-508). Timeline and the need for their accuracy For the effective and accurate preparation of the timeline in regards to the implementation of the above tasks, a Gantt chart based on a duration of five to six weeks time gets due consideration. The Gantt chart helps the management to monitor the duration and mode of completion of the different activities taken above for implementation with the help of information systems. Gantt chart required for the stated case comes under reflection as under. The Gantt Chart divided along a seven weeks time notes the different sets of activities that the organization plans to perform and execute based on the given time period. The management body of the company monitors the stated functions or activities for implementation in regards to the period rendered for each of the given implementation ventures concerning an information systems project. Implementation as to the Information Systems Project initiates with making a global connectivity through effective information systems networking. The management requires in the second step to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks in regards to the implementation of global connectivity. Evaluation as to the above activity gets conducted based on the parameters of cost and networking effectiveness, construction of safeguarding systems both for the technological and human platform and also enhancement of business productivity through in-sourcing and out-sourcing ventures. The safeguarding systems in construction require the building up of effective programs to counter the intrusion of virus or other software threats. Similarly the management is also required to change the internal polices of the organization to help in the building up of close circuit cameras to help counter the menace. Further, the organization also works in enhancing its internal administrative climate through the gaining of information as to modifications brought in regards to cyber laws. The above set of practices based on adequate periods would certainly help the organization to enhance the effectiveness of its information systems implementation plan. The management body of the organization also needs to work on the evaluation of in sourcing and out-sourcing ventures and thereby to formulate effective implementation plans to render security to the organization in regards to such information systems ventures. Moreover planning and implementation of cyber audits in the internal organizational environment helps in enhancing the effectiveness of the information systems implementation in the concern. References Joseph, J., and Fellenstein, C. (2004). Grid Computing. United States of America: Prentice Hall Professional. Graen, G., and Graen, J. (2006). Sharing network leadership. United States of America: IAP. Igbaria, M., and Tan, M. (1998). The virtual workplace. United States of America: Idea Group Incorporation. Cohen, E. (2007). Information and Beyond: Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology. Part 1. Volume 4. United States: Informing Science. Nedeltchev, P. (2002). Troubleshooting Remote Access Networks. United States: Cisco Press. Balladelli, M., and Clercq, J. (2000). Mission-Critical Active Directory: Architecting a Secure and Scalable Infrastructure. United States: Digital Press. Read More