Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception 851844

Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a project introduction and a project plan. You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for. Additionally, you may create and/or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

You are currently the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for an innovative Internet-based company with gross revenues of more than $35 million per year. During an executive leadership meeting, you were told that your company will be merging with a multinational company of equal size, and you will be responsible for developing a project plan to strategically integrate all systems, including databases and infrastructure. The Chief Executive Officer has given you sixty (60) days to deliver an information technology project plan in anticipation of the company merger.

Your company will be expanding from one (1) floor to three (3) floors within six (6) months. As this merger involves bringing two (2) fairly equal-sized companies together under one roof, the infrastructure must be redesigned to accommodate the increased needs. Currently, the company uses operational systems and relational databases but aims to expand into data warehousing. All hardware and software must be redesigned to meet the organization’s evolving needs.

The solution should be implemented using either a hosted, on-site, or hybrid model. The CEO expects you to integrate various technologies from different providers while adopting industry best practices in system development. The CEO is particularly interested in cloud technologies and virtualization but is concerned about security issues; therefore, proper security protocols must be implemented.

Currently, the organization has twenty-five (25) employees, which is expected to increase to sixty-five (65) employees after the merger. Your project plan should account for this outlook and include comprehensive strategies for technology integration, infrastructure scaling, security, and future growth.

Section 1: Project Introduction

Develop a four to six (4-6) page project introduction that documents the current state of the organization prior to any system enhancements or development. This section should incorporate the following elements:

  • Background information of the company
  • Details regarding the company's business activities
  • Speculation on outsourcing and offshoring opportunities
  • Description of the current information systems supporting the business, including:
    • Operational systems
    • Relational databases and data warehousing
    • Cloud technology and virtualization
    • Network infrastructure and security protocols

Support your analysis with at least two (2) credible and scholarly resources. Wikipedia and similar websites are not acceptable references.

The assignment must adhere to the following formatting requirements:

  • Typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12)
  • One-inch margins on all sides
  • Citations and references formatted according to APA style or school-specific guidelines

Include a cover page with the following information: assignment title, your name, professor’s name, course title, and submission date. The cover page and references are not included in the page count.

Section 2: Project Plan

Using Microsoft Project, develop a comprehensive project plan template that includes both a summary and detailed view. The plan should:

  • Record all tasks, subtasks, assigned resources, and time estimates related to the project
  • Outline the phases of planning, analysis, design, and implementation
  • Follow the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) framework for structuring the project stages

This project plan must be detailed enough to guide the implementation of the merger and infrastructure redesign over the 60-day period, ensuring all critical activities are scheduled, resourced, and aligned with organizational goals.

Paper For Above instruction

The following paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the current organizational state and a strategic plan for integrating systems during a merger, aligning with the project scope detailed above.

Introduction and Background of the Organization

The company in question is a burgeoning Internet-based enterprise that generates revenues exceeding $35 million annually. Established with a focus on digital services, the company has grown rapidly due to its innovative offerings and agile business model. Located in a metropolitan area, the organization operates primarily through online platforms, serving a broad consumer base that relies on seamless digital interactions and transactions. The company's core strength lies in its robust operational systems and relational databases, facilitating effective management of customer data, transactional information, and internal processes.

Business Activities and Strategic Direction

The firm’s primary activities encompass digital product development, customer service management, and e-commerce transactions. Its business model emphasizes scalability, user experience, and data-driven decision-making. Recently, the company has expressed interest in expanding into data warehousing to leverage big data analytics, enhance customer insights, and improve operational efficiencies. The strategic direction aims to foster growth through technological innovation, including the adoption of cloud computing, virtualization, and security enhancements.

Outsourcing and Offshoring Opportunities

Given the company's growth ambitions, outsourcing and offshoring present considerable opportunities for cost reduction and resource flexibility. For example, IT support functions, application development, and data center management could be outsourced to specialized providers in regions with lower operational costs. Offshoring could facilitate access to global talent pools, especially in software development and cybersecurity domains. However, the company must carefully evaluate risks related to security, data privacy, and compliance when considering these options.

Current Information Systems Infrastructure

The organization’s existing information systems include operational systems that handle core business functions such as order processing, customer relationship management (CRM), and financial transactions. These systems are supported by relational databases that store customer data, transaction logs, and operational metrics. Although effective, these databases are primarily designed for transactional processing, limiting advanced analytical capabilities. The company recognizes the need to expand into data warehousing for business intelligence and analytics, enabling consolidated data viewing and reporting.

In addition, the organization has begun exploring cloud technology and virtualization to increase scalability and operational flexibility. Cloud platforms support various services, including data storage, virtual servers, and application hosting. Their implementation is, however, constrained by security concerns, necessitating the deployment of robust security protocols, encryption standards, and compliance measures.

Network infrastructure comprises a local area network (LAN) across its existing floors, interconnected via switches and routers with secure firewalls. This infrastructure supports remote access and interconnectivity but requires upgrades to handle increased capacity and security post-merger. Security policies currently focus on endpoint protection, network firewalls, and access controls, but must evolve to include cloud security measures, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and regular security audits to safeguard data integrity and confidentiality.

Supporting Resources

Two scholarly sources underpin this analysis. Smith (2020) discusses best practices for integrating cloud and on-premise systems during mergers, emphasizing security and scalability. Johnson and Lee (2021) explore outsourcing strategies in the IT sector, highlighting the importance of risk mitigation and vendor management. These resources provide essential frameworks for developing the proposed project plan and strategic infrastructure redesign.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the organization is positioned for significant growth through a strategic merger that necessitates comprehensive technological integration. Current systems support the company’s operations but require modernization to accommodate increased capacity, scalability, and advanced analytics. The planned project will employ industry best practices, leveraging cloud computing, virtualization, and security protocols, to ensure a seamless transition and future-ready infrastructure.

References

  • Johnson, T., & Lee, M. (2021). Outsourcing strategies for IT service management: Risks and best practices. Journal of Information Technology Management, 33(2), 45-58.
  • Smith, R. (2020). Cloud integration during corporate mergers: Security considerations and scalable architectures. International Journal of Cloud Computing, 15(4), 202-219.
  • Brown, A. (2019). Data warehousing and business intelligence: A strategic approach. Data & Knowledge Engineering, 119, 50-66.
  • Kim, H., & Park, S. (2022). Virtualization and cloud security: Challenges and solutions. Cybersecurity Journal, 4(1), 12-29.
  • Williams, G. (2018). Network infrastructure planning for enterprise expansion. Journal of Network and Systems Management, 26(3), 576-592.
  • Anderson, P. (2020). Organizational readiness for cloud adoption: A framework. IEEE Software, 37(4), 80-87.
  • Nguyen, T., & Patel, R. (2019). Security protocols in hybrid cloud environments. Journal of Cybersecurity, 5(2), 150-165.
  • Martin, K., & Griffiths, T. (2021). Agile project management in IT systems integration. International Journal of Project Management, 39(7), 742-755.
  • Lee, S., & Chen, Y. (2020). Scalability challenges in rapidly growing enterprise networks. Network Management Journal, 22(1), 34-45.
  • Rodriguez, L., & Williams, D. (2022). Strategies for effective offshoring in IT. Journal of Global Information Management, 30(1), 1-16.

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