Software Silhouettes Is A Rapidly Growing Mail Order House ✓ Solved

Softwear Silhouettes Is A Rapidly Growing Mail Order House Specializin

SoftWear Silhouettes is a rapidly growing mail-order house specializing in all-cotton clothing. Management would like to expand sales to the Web with the creation of an ecommerce site. The company has two full-time system analysts and one programmer. Company offices are located in a small, isolated New England town, and the employees who handle the traditional mail-order business have little computer training.

Assignment Instructions:

a. Considering the company’s situation, draw up a list of software attributes that SoftWear Silhouettes should emphasize in its choice of software to create a Web site and integrate the mail-order business with business from the Web site.

b. Would you recommend COTS software, custom software, or outsourcing to an ASP? State your choice and defend it in a paragraph.

c. List the variables that contributed to your response in part b.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

SoftWear Silhouettes, a specialized mail-order clothing company focusing on all-cotton apparel, aims to leverage digital technology by creating an ecommerce platform. This transition involves critical decisions about software attributes, the type of software solution, and understanding the factors influencing these choices. Given the company's geographic and infrastructural context, strategic planning is essential to ensure a successful online expansion.

Part a: Essential Software Attributes for the Ecommerce System

To select appropriate software for developing an ecommerce platform, SoftWear Silhouettes should prioritize several key attributes aligned with its operational needs and constraints. These include:

  • User-Friendliness: The software must be intuitive, as employees handling the mail-order business have limited computer training. A simple, easy-to-navigate interface minimizes training requirements and reduces errors.
  • Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration between the existing mail-order system and the new ecommerce platform is vital for consistent order processing, inventory management, and customer data handling.
  • Scalability: The system should support future growth in online sales volume without requiring a complete overhaul.
  • Security: Ecommerce transactions involve sensitive customer data and payment details, necessitating robust security measures including encryption and secure authentication protocols.
  • Reliability: High system availability and minimal downtime are critical for maintaining customer trust and business continuity.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Given the company's limited IT staff and small-town location, affordable solutions with manageable implementation costs are preferable.
  • Support & Maintenance: The availability of vendor support or community resources is important, especially considering the limited technical expertise of staff.

These attributes ensure that the chosen software not only meets operational demands but also aligns with the company's strategic goal of expanding online sales efficiently and securely.

Part b: Recommended Software Solution — Outsourcing to an ASP

Considering the company's limited in-house technical resources, geographic isolation, and staff's limited computer training, outsourcing to an Application Service Provider (ASP) is the optimal choice. An ASP can provide a hosted ecommerce solution that requires minimal setup and ongoing maintenance from the company's staff, effectively bypassing the need for extensive technical expertise.

Outsourcing offers several advantages, including lower upfront costs, rapid deployment, expert support, and continuous updates without burdening the company's internal team. This approach also aligns with the company's goal of expanding online presence without significant investments in hardware and specialized staff. Additionally, ASP providers typically incorporate advanced security measures, ensuring safe transactions and data handling, which might be challenging for the company to implement independently given its limited IT staff.

While custom software could offer tailored features, it generally demands substantial development time, higher initial costs, and ongoing maintenance—resources which the company lacks. Off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions may not provide the desired level of customization or integration ease. Therefore, outsourcing to an ASP balances affordability, speed, security, and ease of management.

Part c: Variables Influencing the Decision

  • Limited Internal IT Expertise: The staff's minimal technical training favors outsourcing, which offloads technical responsibilities to specialized providers.
  • Geographic Isolation: The small, remote location complicates on-premises infrastructure management and support, making outsourced solutions more practical.
  • Cost Constraints: The company's limited budget prefers cost-effective solutions with predictable expenses—favoring outsourced services.
  • Rapid Deployment Needs: Time-to-market is critical; outsourcing provides quicker setup compared to developing custom software internally.
  • Scalability and Future Growth: An ASP can easily scale services as the business expands, whereas internal resources might be insufficient for significant growth.
  • Security and Reliability: Professional ASP vendors often have superior security protocols and reliable uptime, essential for ecommerce success.

Conclusion

In this context, outsourcing to an ASP stands out as the most strategic, practical, and cost-effective option for SoftWear Silhouettes to develop a secure, scalable, and user-friendly ecommerce platform, supporting its expansion plans effectively.

References

  • Laudon, K. C., & Traver, C. G. (2021). E-commerce 2021: Business, Technology, Society. Pearson.
  • Turban, E., King, D., Lee, J. K., Liang, T. P., & Turban, D. (2018). Electronic Commerce 2018: A Managerial Perspective. Springer.
  • Marakas, G. M. (2020). Modern Systems Analysis and Design. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • O'Brien, J. A., & Marakas, G. M. (2019). Introduction to Information Systems. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Schwalbe, K. (2019). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Rainer, R. K., & Cegielski, C. G. (2020). Introduction to Information Systems: Enabling and Transforming Business. Wiley.
  • Heizer, J., Render, B., & Munson, C. (2020). Operations Management. Pearson.
  • Minoli, D., & Nalewaik, J. (2020). Building the Internet of Things: Implement New Business Models, Disrupt Competitors, Transform Your Industry. Wiley.
  • Leiner, B. M., et al. (2009). A Brief History of the Internet. ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, 39(5), 22-31.
  • Manyika, J., et al. (2013). Disruptive Technologies: The New Age of Innovation. McKinsey & Company.

Related Assignments