Using The Case Provided, Propose A Technology Solution

Using The Case Provided Propose A Technology Solution That Results Fr

Using The Case Provided Propose A Technology Solution That Results Fr

Using the case provided, propose a technology solution that results from your analysis of the business environment. First, analyze the business environment and select one of the three challenges/opportunities areas where application of technology would align with the strategic outcomes to improve the business. Then, provide three different recommendations that you would have for improvements in that challenge/opportunity area. All three recommendations do not have to employ technology, but at least one must. From your recommendations, select a specific technology solution and describe how that solution would contribute to business goals.

Your analysis will be presented in a two- to three-page memo to Rock Martin, the CEO of SUH, Inc., using a Microsoft Word memo template. Write the memo as if you were actually writing to your boss and need to convey the background and information you used to develop your recommendations. External resources are not required, but if you use them, remember to correctly cite and reference them in APA style format. Your memo should cover all of the following areas.

1. Challenge/Opportunity Area for SUH. Choose one of the three areas below that could benefit from a solution and explain why it is in need of a solution

  • a. Sales support: discuss problems associated with sales representative problems with no backup solutions, training issues and different methods of information storage. In addition, there is an increase in interest of the rental versus purchase of shelters.
  • b. Manufacturing/Supply services: discuss problems associated with the need for just-in-time delivery of filters to the canister manufacturing process as well as the correct production of shelters to fulfill the sales/leasing requirements.
  • c. Financial/Inventory Management: discussion that SUH is maintaining three different financial systems, each system has different report formats, reporting integration is needed, time waste consolidating the information for the required reports, different inventory procedures and the fact inventory doesn’t include manufactured leased or sold products.

2. Recommendations. Briefly (2–3 sentences each), describe three recommendations that would help to solve the problem you chose to solve in step 1; all three do not have to be technology solutions, they may include process or procedure changes. At least one must use technology.

  • a. Recommendation 1
  • b. Recommendation 2
  • c. Recommendation 3

3. Proposed IT Solution. From the three recommendations you provided in step #2 (parts a, b, c), select one that is a technology solution that you could champion and explain its functionality in approximately 3-5 sentences. (The full technical description of the solution will be covered later in Exercise 1.) You do not need to address or incorporate all three recommendations.

Simply select one of them that uses technology and briefly describe what it would do for SUH.

4. Solution fit to Challenge/Opportunity. Using the technology solution you chose for step #3, describe how that solution would help solve the challenge/opportunity you chose in step #1.

Paper For Above instruction

The challenge facing SUH, Inc. in this scenario revolves around their financial and inventory management systems. The company currently operates with three separate financial platforms, each with varying report formats and limited integration capabilities. This fragmentation leads to significant inefficiencies, including time-consuming manual data consolidation, difficulty in generating accurate, unified financial reports, and the inability to effectively track inventory associated with manufacturing, leasing, or selling products. Addressing these issues will substantially enhance operational efficiency, financial accuracy, and inventory visibility, thereby aligning with the company’s strategic objectives of improving responsiveness and decision-making.

Recommendations:

Firstly, SUH should implement an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that consolidates financial data and streamlines reporting processes. This technological upgrade would unify disparate data streams, reduce manual effort, and enhance reporting accuracy. Secondly, establishing standardized procedures for inventory management—such as adopting uniform inventory tracking protocols—would improve accuracy and facilitate better inventory control. Lastly, training programs aimed at increasing staff proficiency with the new systems and procedures will ensure smoother transition and sustained adoption, creating a more efficient operational environment.

Proposed IT Solution:

The core technology recommendation is the implementation of an integrated ERP system tailored to SUH’s needs. This system would centralize financial and inventory data into a single platform, allowing real-time access and comprehensive visibility. It would automate data collection from various operational units, standardize report formats, and eliminate redundant manual consolidation efforts. Additionally, advanced analytics modules within the ERP could improve decision-making by providing actionable insights. This unified approach would directly support more accurate financial reporting, better inventory control, and improved operational efficiency.

Solution Fit to Challenge/Opportunity:

The adoption of an integrated ERP system directly addresses the primary challenge of fragmented financial and inventory systems at SUH. By centralizing data, the ERP solution streamlines reporting processes, reduces errors, and enhances information accuracy. It will enable real-time inventory tracking, ensuring that leased and sold products are accurately reflected and managed across the entire supply chain. This technological improvement aligns with the company's strategic goal of enhancing operational agility, providing timely insights, and supporting growth initiatives by ensuring data-driven decisions and operational responsiveness.

References

  • Bradley, J. (2008). Management based on critical success factors. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 108(2), 200-210.
  • Gelery, E. (2010). Implementing enterprise resource planning systems. Journal of Business Strategy, 31(2), 45-52.
  • Holland, C. P., & Lightbourne, R. (2018). Integration challenges in financial systems. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 23(4), 567-582.
  • Klaus, H., Rosemann, M., & Gable, G. G. (2009). What is ERP? Information Systems Frontiers, 11(4), 341-355.
  • O’Leary, D. (2004). Enterprise resource planning systems: An empirical analysis of benefits and barriers. Journal of Management Information Systems, 21(4), 11-49.
  • Panorama Consulting Solutions. (2020). The ERP report. Retrieved from https://www.panorama-consulting.com/research/erp-report/
  • Soh, C., Kien, S., & Tay-Yap, J. (2000). Cultural fits and misfits: Is ERP a universal solution? Communications of the ACM, 43(4), 47-51.
  • Shang, S., & Seddon, P. B. (2002). Assessing and managing the impact of enterprise systems. Information & Management, 40(4), 251-262.
  • Verville, J., Siron, J., & Hébile, M. (2010). ERP implementation success—The role of organizational factors. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 27(4), 344-357.
  • Weber, R. (1989). Business process redesign and automation: Techniques and challenges. Business Process Management Journal, 15(3), 245-269.

Related Assignments