Read The Brewton Business Scenario, Prepare A 2- To 3-Page D
Readthe Brewton Business Scenario, prepare a 2- to 3-page document (700
Read the Brewton Business Scenario. Prepare a 2- to 3-page document (700 to 1,050 words) identifying the key stakeholders of the company who will have an interest in the implementation project and who will approve your Week Four implementation plan. Identify any challenges you anticipate in working with these stakeholders and strategies for leveraging their position within the company, their strengths, and their level of support for the project. Specify all of the human resources that will be required to implement the application and describe the roles each will play on the project. Identify computer and network resources that will be required in order for the system to be useable in a production mode of operation.
Prepare a high level implementation plan using Microsoft ® Project, showing just broad categories of effort that must be accomplished, and the general project timeline required to successfully implement the Business Enterprise Software application. The initial plan will have such major categories as the following: System Deployment Preparation System Documentation Data Conversion System Testing User Training System Startup. You will add the detailed tasks for each category as you work on the subsequent weeks' assignments. Note: To access the Microsoft ® Project template unzip the linked file. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Paper For Above instruction
Readthe Brewton Business Scenario, prepare a 2- to 3-page document (700
The Brewton Business Scenario presents a comprehensive case for implementing a new enterprise software system within the organization. This project necessitates a detailed understanding of the key stakeholders involved, the resources required, and an overarching high-level implementation plan to guide the transition. Identifying these stakeholders and their influence, anticipating potential challenges, and leveraging their strengths are pivotal to the success of the project. Additionally, delineating human and technological resources essential for deployment, along with a strategic project timeline, is critical for smooth implementation.
Identification of Key Stakeholders and Challenges
The success of implementing new enterprise software hinges on stakeholder engagement. Primary stakeholders include executive management, department heads, IT staff, end-users, and external vendors. Executive management, including CEO and CFO, are instrumental in providing strategic oversight and approval for major project milestones. Department heads—such as operations, finance, and sales—have vested interests in system functionalities aligning with their departmental needs. IT staff are essential for technical support, system integration, and ongoing maintenance. End-users, who will operate and interact with the system daily, provide crucial feedback for usability and workflow integration. External vendors may be involved in system development, customization, or support services.
Challenges in stakeholder engagement include resistance to change, differing priorities, and varying levels of technical expertise. Resistance from end-users and middle management can hinder adoption, while executive stakeholders may demand quick results. To mitigate these issues, strategic communication and involving stakeholders early in the process can foster buy-in. Providing training, demonstrating system benefits, and establishing clear communication channels are effective strategies for leveraging stakeholder support.
Human Resources and Roles
Implementing the enterprise system requires a multidisciplinary team. Key human resources include project managers, system analysts, database administrators, network engineers, trainers, and support staff. The project manager oversees planning, execution, and communication across teams. System analysts gather requirements and facilitate system customization. Database administrators ensure data integrity and manage data migration procedures. Network engineers configure infrastructure for reliable connectivity and system performance. Trainers prepare end-users via workshops or tutorials, and support staff provide ongoing assistance post-launch.
Roles are clearly delineated to ensure accountability and efficiency. For example, the project manager coordinates schedules and resource allocation, while system analysts liaise between technical teams and end-users. Trainers focus on user readiness, and support staff handle troubleshooting during the initial phases of deployment.
Technological Resources
Technological requirements involve robust hardware and network infrastructure. Servers capable of hosting the enterprise application, database, and backup solutions are necessary. Network bandwidth must accommodate concurrent users with minimal latency. Secure firewalls, antivirus software, and contingency planning are key for safeguarding data and ensuring system availability. Additionally, client devices—such as workstations and mobile devices—must be compatible with the system requirements.
Proper planning for data storage, backup solutions, and disaster recovery strategies ensures operational resilience. Infrastructure scalability is also vital to accommodate future growth or increased user load without compromising system performance.
High-Level Implementation Plan
The implementation plan, created using Microsoft® Project, outlines the broad categories of effort necessary for deployment. The phases include:
- System Deployment Preparation: Configuring hardware, installing software, and preparing the environment.
- System Documentation: Developing user manuals, technical documentation, and support protocols.
- Data Conversion: Transferring existing data into the new system, ensuring integrity and completeness.
- System Testing: Conducting various testing phases—unit, integration, user acceptance—to verify system functionality.
- User Training: Educating end-users and administrators on system features and workflows.
- System Startup: Transitioning to live operation and monitoring initial use for issues.
The project timeline spans approximately 6-8 months, with each category aligned sequentially and overlapping as necessary. Milestones include completion of hardware setup, initial data migration, successful testing, and full user adoption.
Further detail will be incorporated in subsequent planning documents, outlining specific tasks under each category and resource allocations.
References
- Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information Technology Project Management (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2020). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (16th ed.). Pearson.
- Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (12th ed.). Wiley.
- PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.
- Schmidt, R. (2013). Managing organizational change during software implementation. Information Systems Management, 30(2), 132–142.
- McConnell, S. (2016). Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art. Microsoft Press.
- Boockholdt, J. L. (2021). Risk management strategies in IT project implementation. Journal of Information Technology Management, 32(4), 112–124.
- Gillin, P. (2018). Effective stakeholder management in IT projects. InformationWeek, 245(3), 55–60.
- Kerzner, H., & Saladis, F. P. (2017). Project Management: Case Studies. Wiley.
- Rouse, M. (2020). Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems overview. TechTarget. https://www.techtarget.com