Case Study Stage 3: Considerations For Proposed Technology
Case Study Stage 3 It Considerations For Proposed Technology Solutio
Before beginning this assignment, ensure you are familiar with the “UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center Case Study,” “UR UMUC Stage 1,” “UR UMUC Stage 2,” the WALMART EXAMPLE, and feedback from previous assignments. The purpose of this assignment is to apply your knowledge of planning and implementing a technology solution by analyzing internal and external business processes to identify information systems requirements and planning IT solutions that meet business objectives.
For your Stage 2 project, you proposed a technology solution to enhance a business process at the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center. You are required to evaluate this proposal by considering relevant IT areas. These considerations should be ranked as high, medium, low, or N/A (Not Applicable) based on their importance during initial implementation. Each ranking must be justified with a brief explanation of at least two sentences, demonstrating understanding of the concepts and specific relevance to your solution. If a consideration does not apply now but might later, mark it N/A and provide an explanation for that as well.
Construct a single table listing each consideration area along with your ranking and justification. Do not delete the instructor use column, and only submit this table, but include it within the context of your assignment. Additionally, write a brief explanation of your proposed solution at the top of your paper, including the major hardware, software, and communication components indicated in Stage 2. Incorporate the initial strategic and process-related details you provided earlier at the top of your assignment.
Paper For Above instruction
Proposed Technology Solution: To improve the booking and access system at the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, I propose implementing an integrated online reservation and access control system. This solution will enable members to book sessions via a web portal or mobile app, promote operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience. Hardware components include touchscreen kiosks, servers for data management, and biometric access control devices. Software components encompass a reservation management system, biometric authentication software, and user interface applications. Communication infrastructure involves secure internet connectivity, local area networks (LAN), and potentially cloud services for scalability and remote management.
The system is expected to streamline booking processes, reduce manual workload, improve security through biometric authentication, and provide real-time data for management. The integration of these components will result in quicker check-ins, better resource utilization, and improved data collection to inform future decisions.
Table of IT Considerations
| INST USE Area | High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A) | Explanation for Ranking (minimum 2 sentences) |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | High | The reservation and access system must be accessible to all members, including those with disabilities, to ensure equitable use. Accessible design features like screen readers and alternative input methods will be critical, especially for biometric access points and kiosks. |
| Availability | High | Since members depend on the system to reserve and access facilities, it needs to be operational during opening hours with minimal downtime. Any system failure could disrupt members' ability to use the fitness center, impacting customer satisfaction and operational flow. |
| Maintainability | Medium | The system should support prompt maintenance and updates to adapt to changing requirements and fix issues efficiently. Regular maintenance will ensure the system remains secure, functional, and compatible with evolving hardware and software standards. |
| Portability | N/A | As the core system is designed for fixed kiosks and biometric scanners within the fitness center, portability is not a primary concern. However, future extensions like mobile booking apps could consider portability. |
| Reliability | High | The system must reliably authenticate users and process reservations to prevent false access or scheduling errors that could affect member safety and satisfaction. High reliability minimizes disruptions and ensures trust in the system. |
| Scalability | Medium | The infrastructure should accommodate future membership growth without significant redesigns. Scalability considerations include cloud integration and modular hardware to support increased usage and new features. |
| Usability | High | The interface must be user-friendly to encourage adoption among members of varying technological literacy levels. Simplified navigation, clear instructions, and quick access are essential for positive user experiences. |
| Disaster Recovery Plan | Medium | A disaster recovery plan is necessary to restore system functionality and data in case of catastrophic events like system crashes or cyberattacks. Regular backups and redundant infrastructure will safeguard operations and data integrity. |
| Authentication & Authorization (Security) | High | Secure login processes and access controls are vital to prevent unauthorized access to system features and sensitive data. Biometric authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond simple passwords. |
| Prevention & Resistance (Security) | High | Implementing firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems will protect against hacking attempts and data breaches. Security measures are especially significant given the personal health and biometric data involved. |
| Detection & Response (Security) | Medium | Continuous monitoring for security breaches and quick response mechanisms are essential to mitigate potential threats. Prompt detection can prevent damage and maintain system integrity. |
| Grid Computing | N/A | Grid computing is not relevant for this localized system, but could be considered for future large-scale data analysis or processing needs. |
| Cloud Computing | Medium | Using cloud services can offer flexibility, scalability, and remote access management, but may introduce security and compliance considerations that need addressing during implementation. |
| Virtualized Computing | Medium | Virtualization can enable efficient server management and resource allocation, supporting flexibility and ease of updates within the infrastructure. |
| Communications Architecture | High | Reliable, secure network architecture is essential for communication between kiosks, biometric devices, and servers, particularly for data integrity and real-time updates. |
| Database Architecture | High | The database must securely store reservation data, member information, and biometric templates with high availability and integrity to support daily operations. |
| Decision Support | Medium | Decision support tools can analyze reservation patterns and resource utilization, helping management make data-driven decisions to optimize operations. |
| Artificial Intelligence | N/A | AI is not part of the immediate system but could be considered for future enhancements like predictive analytics or personalized member recommendations. |
| Business-to-Business eCommerce | N/A | This solution does not involve external B2B transactions; future integrations may consider this. |
| Business-to-Consumer eCommerce | Medium | Online booking portals and mobile apps facilitate member transactions and scheduling, thus affecting user satisfaction and operational efficiency. |
References
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