This Assignment Consists Of Two Sections: A Project Intro
This Assignment Consists Of Two 2 Sections A Project Introduction A
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 dollars 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. Since this merger will be bringing two (2) fairly equal-sized companies together under one roof, the infrastructure must be redesigned to accommodate the increased needs. Your company currently uses operational systems and relational databases but desires to expand into data warehousing.
All information technology (hardware and software) must be redesigned to meet organizational needs. The solution should be implemented in either a hosted solution, on-site solution, or a hybrid model. The CEO is expecting you to integrate different technologies from different solution providers and incorporate industry best practices in connection with the development of technological systems. In addition, the CEO is extremely interested in cloud technologies and virtualization but is leery of security issues; however, the CEO is sure that you will implement proper security protocols. The company currently consists of twenty five (25) employees but is expected to increase to sixty five (65) employees when the merger is complete.
Section 1: Project Introduction
Write a four to six (4-6) page project introduction that documents the current state of the organization prior to any development or enhancements, takes into account all the information given above, and includes the following:
- Background information of the company.
- Details regarding the type of business activities that the company is involved in.
- Speculation on outsourcing and offshoring opportunities.
- A description of the current information systems that the company has to support the business. The description should include an overview of the following: operational systems, databases, and data warehousing; cloud technology and virtualization; and network infrastructure and security.
The use of at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Section 2: Project Plan
Use Microsoft Project to create a project plan (summary and detailed) template. The project plan should:
- Record all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project.
- Outline the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases.
- Develop in accordance with the SDLC.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: describe the integrative functions and activities within the information systems area, including the role of the CIO and technologies managed within the organization; use technology and information resources to research issues in information systems; and write clearly and concisely about leadership issues and strategic insight of the Information systems domain using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Paper For Above instruction
The current organizational landscape of the company prior to the merger exemplifies a dynamic, technology-driven enterprise operating within the digital economy. As an innovative Internet-based business generating over $35 million annually, the organization has established a foundational IT infrastructure supporting its business activities. The core of its operations hinges on operational systems, relational databases, and a nascent interest in expanding into data warehousing, positioning the company for future scalability and analytics capabilities.
Background and Business Activities
The company specializes in providing internet-based solutions, potentially encompassing e-commerce, web services, or digital content delivery. Its business model emphasizes agility and innovation, facilitated by a robust IT backbone that manages client interactions, transactional processing, and data management. With a current staff of 25 employees, the company maintains a lean operational model optimized for rapid responsiveness and cost efficiency. The business activities involve managing large volumes of digital transactions, customer data, and supporting underlying infrastructure that ensures uptime, security, and data integrity.
Outsourcing and Offshoring Opportunities
Given the digital nature of the business, the company can explore strategic outsourcing of non-core IT functions such as data center management, help desk support, and infrastructure maintenance to reduce costs and leverage external expertise. Offshoring opportunities may include software development, application support, and customer service operations to countries with favorable labor costs and technological capabilities. These options can enhance operational efficiency and provide scalability aligned with growth plans—particularly important during the rapid expansion following the merger.
Existing Information Systems
The organization currently leverages operational systems critical for daily transactions. These systems are likely supporting order processing, customer relationship management, and financial accounting. Relational databases serve as repositories for transactional data, underpinning operational activities and enabling real-time data access. To prepare for future analytics and decision-making, the company aims to incorporate data warehousing capabilities, integrating disparate data sources for comprehensive business intelligence.
Cloud technologies are partially adopted, primarily for scalability and disaster recovery, with virtualization techniques employed to optimize hardware utilization and facilitate testing environments. Nevertheless, concerns regarding security—especially in cloud deployments—remain a priority for executive leadership. Network infrastructure includes secure LAN connections, firewalls, and VPNs designed to protect data integrity and limit unauthorized access. The company's security protocols are aligned with industry best practices, but further enhancements would be necessary to safeguard expanded and hybrid infrastructures.
Future Directions and Recommendations
Planning for the merger necessitates a comprehensive redesign of the IT infrastructure to support increased spatial requirements, staffing, and technological needs. The suggested model should incorporate a hybrid approach—integrating on-premises and cloud solutions—to balance control, cost, and scalability. Emphasizing virtualization and cloud technologies will allow the organization to maintain agility and resilience, provided security measures are rigorously implemented. Furthermore, moving towards a cohesive data warehousing system will enable advanced analytics, supporting strategic decision-making and competitive advantage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the company's current IT environment forms a solid base capable of supporting growth and integration efforts. By strategically leveraging cloud, virtualization, and data warehousing, and addressing security concerns, the organization can realize significant efficiencies and enhanced capabilities post-merger. The upcoming project will require meticulous planning and execution aligned with industry standards and best practices to ensure a seamless transition into this new phase of expansion and technological advancement.
References
- Authoritative source 1. (Year). Title of the source. Publisher/Journal. URL
- Authoritative source 2. (Year). Title of the source. Publisher/Journal. URL
- Additional credible sources to support analysis...