Assignment Content As A Requirement Of The Smallville Contra ✓ Solved

Assignment Contentas A Requirement Of The Smallville Contract Gail In

As a requirement of the Smallville contract, Gail Industries must conduct an information systems review to determine whether the systems meet and continue to meet the organization’s objectives. Review the Gail Industries Case Study. Prepare a 4- to 5-page information systems review. Include the following: An evaluation of current systems operations and maintenance practices, a determination of whether the level of service from internal and external service providers is defined and managed, and recommendations for improvements. Format your citations according to APA guidelines.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The success of any organization heavily relies on the effectiveness of its information systems (IS). For Gail Industries, a comprehensive review of its information systems is critical to ensuring that these systems align with organizational objectives and support operational efficiency, especially under the contract for Smallville. This paper assesses Gale Industries’ current IS operations and maintenance practices, evaluates the management of service levels from internal and external providers, and offers recommendations for improvement.

Evaluation of Current Systems Operations and Maintenance Practices

Gail Industries has established a range of systems designed to streamline operations, manage data, and support decision-making processes. Their current systems include enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and manufacturing execution systems (MES). These systems are maintained through a combination of in-house IT staff and third-party vendors.

Operational procedures include routine system updates, data backups, security protocols, and regular performance assessments. Maintenance practices involve scheduled preventive maintenance and patch management to ensure system reliability and security. However, the review revealed areas where practices can be enhanced, particularly in the realms of proactive monitoring and incident response.

One notable challenge is the inconsistent documentation of maintenance activities, which affects the ability to troubleshoot and optimize systems effectively. Additionally, some legacy systems are still in use, which pose risks due to limited support and integration issues. This suggests a need for an ongoing evaluation of the systems’ lifecycle management and the adoption of more advanced monitoring tools.

Service Level Definitions and Management

The organization has contracted external vendors for critical services such as cloud hosting, cybersecurity, and system support. Internally, Gail Industries manages certain core systems through its IT department. The clarity of service levels is essential to ensure accountability and performance standards.

Current service agreements specify response time, availability metrics, and resolution priorities. Nonetheless, the assessment indicates that service level management (SLM) is not consistently monitored or reviewed. There is a lack of systematic reporting and performance metrics, which hampers the organization’s ability to enforce contractual obligations and identify areas for improvement.

Furthermore, internal service delivery lacks formalized metrics, and communication channels between users and IT support are not always well-defined. This results in delays and misunderstandings, impacting overall system performance and user satisfaction.

Recommendations for Improvement

Based on the evaluation, several recommendations are proposed to enhance Gail Industries’ information systems management:

• Implement Proactive Monitoring Tools: Adoption of advanced monitoring and alerting solutions to detect issues before they escalate, ensuring higher system availability and reliability.
• Standardize Documentation and Processes: Develop comprehensive documentation for all systems and maintenance activities to facilitate troubleshooting and knowledge transfer.
• Review and Update Service Level Agreements: Establish formal service level management processes, including regular reviews and performance reporting, to ensure vendors meet contractual obligations.
• Upgrade Legacy Systems: Plan phased replacement or integration of outdated systems to improve security and compatibility with modern infrastructure.
• Enhance Internal Communication and Training: Foster a more effective dialogue between IT teams and end-users through clear channels and ongoing training initiatives.

Implementing these recommendations will improve the reliability, efficiency, and strategic alignment of Gail Industries’ information systems, ultimately supporting their organizational objectives under the Smallville contract.

Conclusion

This review highlighted key strengths and vulnerabilities in Gail Industries’ current IS operations and maintenance practices. Addressing these areas through targeted improvements will enable the organization to better meet its goals, provide high-quality service to stakeholders, and fulfill contractual commitments efficiently and effectively.

References

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• Implementing IT Governance. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
• Management of Information Security. Cengage Learning.