A 20-year-old company, SewWorld, comprised of six locations in three states, sells sewing machines, sewing-related software, and accessories. Each store sells between 3-5 different brands of sewing machines. Currently, the stores run independently with separate inventory databases, budgets, and expenses. Because the stores run independent inventory databases, their inventory information is sometimes inaccurate. This leads to a loss of customers who did not want to wait for a product and went elsewhere. Also, when stores share inventory, more times than not, the information is never entered into the independent databases. This results in one store showing a missing item while another store is showing an excess.
Each store has a manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of that store and is paid a portion of that store's profits. The computer manager records inventory, sales, payroll, and commission information and must keep the corporation's data up to date. Due to this process, data are lost, and data are also inefficient because of old operating systems.
The company sells some of the vendor's products online, but the high-end machines must be sold by a local authorized dealer because they require some amount of training and face-to-face support.
The owner of SewWorld has realized that the information system and internal processes create inaccuracy, loss, inefficiency, and diminished productivity. The owner has decided to update the operational data system for SewWorld, and you have been hired to analyze, develop, and implement the new information system with your team. Your main goal is to bring the information systems' issues in-line. You're also open to accepting a full-time position with SewWorld if the need arises.
SewWorld's current infrastructure is described as follows:
• Each store is equipped with 2-6 microcomputers, used for running off-the-shelf point of sale (POS) software or responding to e-mail.
• All data are stored locally on the microcomputers themselves because no store owns a server.
• Stores are not configured with a Local Area Network (LAN) nor are any stores interconnected by a Wide Area Network (WAN).
• Each location has 1 dial-up Internet account and 1 e-mail address for the store manager.
Part 1:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 4-5 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
Managing information technology (IT) projects and overseeing the development of information systems fall into the job duties of a variety of people in an enterprise. In the last 5 years, new job titles and duties have been created to assist the organization in managing its internal information system.
• With an eye on the future at SewWorld, discuss the importance of new job titles for the enterprise, and give a description of each title while considering the growth of the company's infrastructure.
• With the support from your IT peers and your own thoughts, discuss the following:
o The network infrastructure
o The profile of a leader for the corporation's position
o Each leadership skill that would be considered for the management positions in the company
Part 2:
One of the first things you need to do is convince the current owner of SewWorld that he needs to collect data. Here's what you want to get across to him: data are the facts, figures, and details collected about an organization. The data becomes information when it is put into meaningful context. Information systems help develop greater knowledge about the organization if the consumer of the information can manage and manipulate the data in appropriate ways for the enterprise.
Create a PowerPoint presentation to share with the owner. The presentation should be structured with the following topics addressed:
• Review some of the tools you use, whether at home or in school, that help turn the data you are exposed to into information for making decisions.
• Elaborate further on the definition of information systems by answering the following questions:
o Define data.
o Define information.
o Describe what knowledge is and how it is used to create technology systems.
o How does an information system increase a company's competitive position?
• Identify what kinds of business information SewWorld would likely be interested in storing, retaining, and reporting on.
Part 3:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400-600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
You are at an information technology event, and talk turns to how technology has impacted the global business environment. Research and discuss why organizations such as SewWorld would consider investing in information technology.
• Identify 3-5 online articles from the CTU Library that discuss how IT allows organizations to remain competitive in changing market conditions.
• Explain why you believe it would be important for SewWorld's leadership to read articles like those you selected and how to apply current events to their situation.
Part 4:
Group Portion: Continue to analyze SewWorld's needs and system requirements with a team of peers. Propose a project with your small group to answer the question: What are the 6 elements of an information system?
Prepare a presentation, assigning each member of your group one of the 6 elements. Each group member should define, explain, and discuss one of the following:
• Hardware
• Software
• Telecommunications
• Internet
• Information technology
• Database management system
Individual Portion: In a PowerPoint presentation, give a full definition of your assigned element and a thorough response to the following questions:
• Why is this element essential to SewWorld?
• What role does this element play in the overall management of an information system?
• How would the 6 elements assist SewWorld's information system?
• What components would be assigned to each of the departments at SewWorld?
Part 5:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 4-5 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
The owner was impressed with your presentation last week and is willing to move forward with the implementation of the new information system. You have recommended some components for the new information system to the CEO, which will assist in SewWorld's growth into new areas and will make the most of its existing markets.
• Discuss ways in which the changes will be implemented.
• How will these changes affect the company? Keep cost-effectiveness in mind.
• State the advantages and disadvantages for implementing the new information system, and discuss the possible outcome.
Part 6: Until now, SewWorld has made only minimal use of the Internet and the Web for doing business. They currently have e-mail addresses for each store but no Web presence to speak of, and no way in which the different locations are connected.
• Prepare a short presentation identifying the differences between extranets, intranets, and the Internet.
• Which of these would be appropriate for SewWorld to leverage?
Part 7:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 5-6 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
To improve the speed, accuracy, and reliability of their information system, SewWorld has the option to either purchase software or to create an internal operation system.
• Use the Library to research information system development tools, and state which features would be sufficient for SewWorld.
• How would SewWorld use software development life cycle principles and systems analysis tools to execute their software strategy?
Part 8:
Post your presentation from Phase 2 Task 3 to the Small Group Discussion Board. Using the Small Group Discussion Board, discuss and review each other's presentations, using the following questions as a guide:
• In terms of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, and the Internet, what specific recommendations are you prepared to make to SewWorld to improve the speed, accuracy, and reliability of their information system?
• How should SewWorld approach the development of the new software system? Should they use a vendor or develop the new system with a database management system tool?
• What recommendations would you offer SewWorld in regard to updating their information system? What operational system would you recommend that is cost-effective?
• What disadvantages would your recommendations present to SewWorld? Do you foresee any pitfalls?
• What are the advantages of your recommendation?
• Discuss the implementation process, including the 7 steps from the life cycle of the database.
Part 9:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 4-5 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
Creating new information technology systems for a company requires the staff to understand the reasoning and operation of the systems in which they interact.
• How would you prepare the staff for training as you develop SewWorld's operation system?
• How will you create the support needed to build the recommended information systems?
Part 10:
Now that your group has prepared a presentation with a set of recommendations for the upgrade of their overall IT infrastructure including the advantages and disadvantages, the next step is to look at some of the emerging technologies to see if they can be planned for too.
• Discuss and explain how cloud computing might play a role in their future.
• Discuss and explain how virtualization can be utilized to better connect the three stores.
• Discuss and explain how the internet will continue to support SewWorld's future growth.