Describe in detail the internal factors that affect the business decisions a company makes.?
What will be an ideal response?
Internal factors include the strategic plan, top managers, user requests, information technology department, existing systems and data, and company finances.?Strategic plan:A company's strategic plan sets the overall direction for a firm and has an important impact on IT projects. Company goals and objectives that need IT support will generate systems requests and influence IT priorities. A strategic plan that stresses technology tends to create a favorable climate for IT projects that extends throughout the organization.?Top managers:Because significant resources are required, top management usually initiates large-scale systems projects. Those decisions often result from strategic business goals that require new IT systems, more information for decision making, or better support for mission-critical information systems.?User requests:As users rely more heavily on information systems to perform their jobs, they are likely to request even more IT services and support. For example, sales reps might request improvements to a company's website, a more powerful sales analysis report, a network to link all sales locations, or an online system that allows customers to obtain the status of their orders instantly. Or, users might not be satisfied with the current system because it is difficult to learn or lacks flexibility. They might want information systems support for business requirements that did not even exist when the system was developed.?Information technology department:Systems project requests come from the IT department. IT staff members often make recommendations based on their knowledge of business operations and technology trends. IT proposals might be strictly technical matters, such as replacement of certain network components, or suggestions might be more business oriented, such as proposing a new reporting or data collection system.?Existing systems and data:Errors or problems in existing systems can trigger requests for systems projects. When dealing with older systems, analysts sometimes spend too much time reacting to day-to-day problems without looking at underlying causes. This approach can turn an information system into a patchwork of corrections and changes that cannot support the company's overall business needs. This problem typically occurs with legacy systems, which are older systems that are less technologically advanced. When migrating to a new system, IT planners must plan the conversion of existing data.?Company finances:A company's financial status can affect systems projects. If the company is going through a difficult time, the project may be postponed until there is more cash available to finance the effort. On the other hand, if the company is enjoying financial success, the decision to embark on a new project may be easier to make.?
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What standard was developed within the United States by the IEEE to serve the same function as the ISO 12207-1995 standard?
A. IEEE 970-1995 B. IEEE 9000 C. IEEE 12207.0 (1998) D. IEEE 16509
How can an organization ensure that its security policies are implemented?
What will be an ideal response?
Williwonk’s Chocolates of St. Louis makes an assortment of chocolate candy and candy novelties. The company has six in-city stores, five stores in major metropolitan airports, and a small mail order branch. Williwonk’s has a small, computerized information system that tracks inventory in its plant, helps schedule production, and so on, but this system is not tied directly into any of its retail outlets. The mail order system is handled manually, and any emailed order forms received through the website are answered via email by clerical personnel, with orders being forwarded to the appropriate department.
Recently, several Williwonk’s stores experienced a rash of complaints from mail order customers that the candy was spoiled upon arrival, that it did not come when promised, or that it never arrived; the company also received several letters complaining that candy in various airports tasted stale. Williwonk’s has been selling a new, low-carb, dietetic form of chocolate made with sugar-free, artificial sweetener. Sales have been brisk, but there have been problems shipping the wrong type of chocolate to an address with a diabetic person. There were a number of complaints and Williwonk’s sent a number of free boxes of chocolate to ease the situation. Management would like to sell products online but only has a basic website with information about the company and an order form that can be downloaded, printed, filled out by the customer, and returned via email. Web ordering does not exist. One of the senior executives would like to sell customized chocolates with the name of a person on each piece. Although the production area has assured management that this could be easily done, there is no method to order customized chocolates. Another senior executive has mentioned that Williwonk’s has partnered with several European chocolate manufacturers and will be importing chocolate from a variety of countries. At present, this must be done over the phone, with email, or by mail. The executive wants an internal website that will enable employees to order directly from the partner companies. All this has led a number of managers to request trend analysis. Too much inventory results in stale chocolate, whereas at other times there is a shortage of a certain kind of chocolate. Seasonal and holiday variation trends would help Williwonk’s maintain an adequate inventory. The inventory control manager has insisted that all changes must be implemented before the next holiday season. “The time for this to be complete is an absolute due date,” remarked Candy, a senior manager. “Make sure that everything works perfectly before the site goes public,” she continued, “I don’t want any customers receiving the wrong orders!” In addition, the order processing manager has mentioned that the system must be secure. You had been working for two weeks with Williwonk’s on some minor modifications for its inventory information system when you overheard two managers discussing these occurrences. List the possible opportunities or problems among them that might lend themselves to systems projects.
Clicking the ____________________ button sums the adjacent range above or to the left.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).