Assignment:
Project 1: Project Plan Inception
Overview
This assignment consists of two 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 60 days to deliver an information technology project plan in anticipation of the company merger. Your company will be expanding from one floor to three floors within six months.
Since this merger will be bringing two 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 employees but is expected to increase to 65 employees when the merger is complete.
Instructions
Section 1: Project Introduction
Write a 4 to 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:
1. Background information of the company.
2. Details regarding the type of business activities that the company is engaged in.
3. Speculation on outsourcing and offshoring opportunities.
4. 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.
5. The use of at least two quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Section 2: Project Plan
Use Microsoft Project to create a project plan (summary and detailed) template. The project plan should:
6. Record all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project.
7. Outline the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases.
8. Develop in accordance with the SDLC.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
• Create a project introduction document and project plan template to initiate a project.
Project 2: Business Requirements
Overview
This assignment consists of two sections: a business requirements document 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.
Documenting the existing IT network and system is an important first step, but you, the CIO, know that capturing the needed changes can be critical to your success as an executive. You know that procuring and documenting quality business requirements is an important step toward the design of quality information systems. Completion of a quality requirements document allows user needs and expectations to be captured, so that infrastructure and information systems can be designed properly. Using the requirements document provided in the online course as a part of the requirements gathering process, you are to assess the needs of the company as it prepares to become a multinational organization. You must consider current and future trends and requirements; however, assumptions should be realistic and carefully considered. The needs of the organization should be documented. Later deliverables will focus on specifics of all requirements.
Instructions
Section 1: Business Requirements Document
Write a four to six page original business requirements document for the project plan using the Week 4 Business Requirement Document Template. Note: The template can also be found in the Student Center of the online course.
Describe the project needs, including the following:
1. Describe the scope and analyze how to control the scope.
2. Speculate and give justifications for how to control scope.
3. Identify possible risks, constraints, and assumptions.
4. Describe the needed integration with other systems and infrastructure. Note: database and data warehousing, cloud technology and virtualization, and network infrastructure and security.
5. Assess the human capital that may be needed to complete the project, ensuring that necessary skill sets are identified.
6. Speculate on possible outsourcing or offshoring needs that may be required to accomplish project.
7. Define relevant terms that will be used throughout the project.
8. Include cost projections for staffing, infrastructure, and other resources.
9. Use at least two quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Section 2: Revised Project Plan
Use Microsoft Project to:
10. Update the project plan (summary and detail) template, from Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception, with 3-5 new project tasks, each consisting of 5-10 subtasks.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
• Write a business requirements document for a project plan.