Information System Portfolio Application for MDCM - Essay Example

The current business situation creates problems that are essential in the analysis and design of specifically tailored solutions to meet global business needs. The strategic objective of this project is therefore to create a dynamic business application portfolio, create a solid foundation for organizational portfolio governance that works in supporting each business process, and stimulate a strong understanding amongst the application effects and subsequent desired organizational goals. The proposed system will be essential in providing organizational decision-makers with a basis for decisions on issues relating to current portfolio and IT-related needs in specific areas of business system functionality, related cost, system quality and overall benefit to the business.

Proposed IT Strategic Objective: The new Information Services will enable MDCM’s business objective of creating a dynamic business of absolute commitment to delivering quality parts and assemblies on time by establishing a strong IT foundation that continuously transforms employees’ performance and creating a platform that guarantees customer efficiency and business operations that continuously builds on the realms of Horizon 2000.

Application Description

Within the organizational analysis, important application issues are of primary significance to this portfolio process and identified into; financial system with diverse legacy systems in financial reporting and handling, human resource administration system, sales and marketing, material planning, logistic, duty and irregular custom inspection, e-mail and communication, networking and interconnectivity and organizational database.

An application portfolio process designed to determine continuously solutions to the identified issues. Within this respect, possible application portfolio projects include; designing and implementing ERP, creation of a company intranet, consolidating data centers and networks, standardization of the server hardware, improving group support systems, creation of a customer self-care, or developing and implementing new supply chain management software that integrates and solves emerging managerial issues. These identifiable potential application portfolios when evaluated against the Portfolio Application Matrix, significant information on the anticipated contribution to achieving desired business goals and the level of organizational reliance for achieving the performance within the business.

Using the grid four categories are used; High operational, Strategic, Key operational and Support grid.

Strategic

-Creation of customer self-service portal

-Implement new supply chain management software

High potential

-Implement ERP

-Improve group support systems

Key operational

-Consolidate Data centers and networks

-Create a company Intranet

Support

-Standardize server hardware

In determining the success and risk level of the identified priority projects, the following evaluation procedure was adopted as a guiding basis:

Likelihood of success criteria

Weight

Score

Business Evaluation Criteria

Weight

Score

Technical Standards

10%

1

Financial return

30%

5

Skills capability & Training

10%

1

Customer and Customer focus

20%

4

Scope and Complexity

25%

4

Supply chain business benefits

15%

2

Business Alignment

22%

3

Technology efficiency

15%

2

Risk Factors

21%

3

Knowledge advantage

10%

1

Management capability

12%

2

Work-life balance

10%

1

Dimension Total

100%

100%

Essential factors necessary for the success of this IS implementation:

Factors that essentially contribute towards the achievement of the proposed portfolio management process include; defining and conceptualizing management, identification of the particular management object, creating team motivation, defining individual roles within the system, establishing routines for meetings, and characteristically setting a road map for subsequent future inventory.

With a strong customer self-service portal in place, there will be enhanced customer service delivery, customer account management, essential business tools like e purchasing, e-payment will enhance other organizational aspects to enable the creation of a dynamic business of absolute commitment to delivering quality parts, and assemblies on time as envisioned in Horizon 2000.