5.1 internet technologies can be involved in improving one`s business operations. Advertising of company’s products and services is done through the internet. The business organization that is having a website posts its product and services to the website and the customers are able to access them. The website can have a query section where customers ask questions and present their queries and from these responses from the customers, the organization seeks ways on how best to serve its customers.
5.2. A small company can implement an e-business application and the applications include having a business server. The business server will enable the business to run on internet. The business can use point of sale application to monitor the sales and the supplies in the business.
5.3. Automation of sales improves the productivity of the salesperson because the salesperson will be able to serve many customers in a short period. Through automation, the salesperson is able to accurately manage the stock of the business. This places the organization in a competitive advantage than its competitors that do not have their sales automated.
5.4. Every company should become customer focused. The customer is the employer and all the interests of the company must be focus on satisfying him. A company that focuses on its customers’ needs have a large market share. A customer served well will always come back to the company for the products and services offered.
5.5. Supply chain is properly managed by the forecasts in demand and if supply is made high to satisfy the overenthusiastic demand, the company will have to maintain large inventory stock. The problems are managed by adjustments in case the demand is low, having information as alternative to inventory and analyzing the situation properly.
5.6. The company should install e-business software suites because these suites have various applications for the business. The e-business software is advanced than the best of breed e-business software. The use of this software improves the productivity of the organization and its efficiency is improved. The costs are also low.
5.2 a. The NetSuite’s focus is on customer relationship management. The CRM enables the organization to know what the customer likes and what he does not. By having a good CRM, a company develops a good relation with the customer and the loyalty of the customer to the organization enhanced.
5.2 b. The success story of adjacent solutions emphasizes on the automation of the activities of the company. Automation has helped the company in a number of ways.
6.2 c. I will recommend the suite to the small business owner because it will help cut costs. The suite will help the business owner to have accurate tracking of the business activities in the company. The suite makes the operations done effectively and efficiently.
7.1. Planning is the process of finding a way to the future. A business can use planning and budgeting to face its challenges. The planning function helps the management to identify the challenges and the opportunities facing the business. The business then moves head to execute its operations after conducting a SWOT analysis.
7.2 prototyping is the creation of a model of a system to be developed. Business prototyping is the trying of new business idea in an environment without risk. This enables the business to know how the business will operate and if there are mistakes, they are eliminated before implementation in the actual business. Prototyping helps the business to avoid potential risks. Prototyping demonstrates to potential investors on the profitability of the business after implementation. The time to implement the business reduces because the business already has the idea on how much time is required to implement it. Prototyping also faces some disadvantages. Prototyping is costly because a developer who has the required experience in that specific field must do it. The process takes time and this may slow the implementation of the business.
7.3. SDLC is a process done by a system analyst to create an information system that will meet the requirements of the customer within the time given and the costs planned for the information system.
Stages of SDLC
- Investigation-This is the initial stage where the system developer identified the need of the organization before starting the development.
- Analysis-The analyst will analyze his findings and chose the best from the findings. The findings will enable him to produce the best information system.
- Design- This stage involves describing the features, having the layout and formulating the rules.
- Implementation- This is the putting the idea into action.
- Maintenance- The system analyst must provide maintenance to the information system. Here, correction and addition occurs.
7.4. Parallel program operate on the old and the new information system whereas the phased conversion shifts to a new information system in a number of phases. Pilot program allows one department in one location try on the new information system whereas the plunge allows the whole business organization change to the new information system. Parallel conversion is the best option because it has fewer risks compared to the rest.
7.2 a. Yes. Because it is too risky.
7.2 b. Risks associated with end-user development involves Loss of data, increased costs, inflexible systems that do not last long and waste of resources.
7.2 c. Ensure that experts who know how to go about it do the end-user development professionally. This is because the risks involved might cost the business heavily.
8.1 implementation of computer security policy, implementation of internet use policy in the business organization and use of internet security software’s to curb the malicious software’s from the internet.
8.2. The potential security problems involved in the using of internet and extranet include the loss of data and the data place in the website may be used by the competitors to outshine the business. To reduce data loss, the business needs to back up their information to avoid complete loss. The information posted in the internet should portray less of the organization strategies.
8.3. Disaster recovery is a process that an organization undertakes to safeguard and recover its information technology equipment and data in case there is a disaster. The school can select an insurance agency and insure its IT infrastructure.
8.4. Ensure that every department of the business uses IT. The staff will undergo training on the use of the IT infrastructure available in the organization. This will make the business serve many customers and develop customer loyalty.
8.2 a. Yes, I agree with the attorney in each of the scenarios. Internet usage policy in the organization is very essential.
8.2 b. In scenario one, my advice would be, whether the company is monitoring the usage of computers or not the employee should use the work computers appropriately.
In scenario two, the employer should ensure that the policy is given to the employees so that they can know that it is prohibited. The employees on the other hand should use the internet well even if the internet usage policy is not in place.
In scenario three, John Dee should use his own personal computer to download the adult material if it necessary for him to have. He should do it at his own home and not the work place.
8.2 c. it is ethical that the employees in an organization follow the usage of the internet in the office. The employer must also provide an internet usage policy to each employee. The employer should have internet usage policy displayed in the workplace for all employees to see. In scenario three, the employer should reprimand John Doe for the acts he is engaging himself.
