Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Article Ch. 15: Global Strategy
This article discusses how important it is for companies to choose the right strategies from the very beginning. Down the road it may make or break the company. When a company decides to choose to go into the global market it is imperative to have the correct strategy in place.
Case Study: Offshore Outsourcing: Good, Bad, or Does not make a difference?
1. No, I don’t think outsourcing created an ethical dilemma because this concept is the way the business sector has evolved into.
2. No, I don’t think is should be restricted because when firms make the decision to outsource that normally means that they have decided upon outsourcing because it will fit with that particular companies business direction.
3. The outsourcing of jobs can create new one in the United States because new white collar jobs will continue to open.
2. No, I don’t think is should be restricted because when firms make the decision to outsource that normally means that they have decided upon outsourcing because it will fit with that particular companies business direction.
3. The outsourcing of jobs can create new one in the United States because new white collar jobs will continue to open.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Article Ch.14 : Agile Processes Go Lean
A company named Allscripts purchased the rights to a medical practices management and billing system from a third party company. Allscripts launched a project to test, debug and enhance the system to fit into its business lines. Unfortunately developers at the company hit a roadblock. The requirements for the system were unclear, continually changing and not based on a solid understanding of the product. At this point the company turned to agile development. This is a methodology based on iterative development and team collaboration. The agile development breaks big projects down into smaller segments and allows software features and plans to be adjusted as development projects progress. The agile approach was created out of the need to build software faster and at a higher quality level.
Companies that have successfully implemented this method have found themselves using the lean principle. His had helped a lot of companies solve many cultural and organizational problems tied to software development. The lean approach challenges traditional techniques and replaces them with ones that reduce waste and increase value for the customer.
In the past traditional development approaches have led to a confrontational relationship with the business partner or customer. The agile method turns this relationship into a collaborative one that requires a close working relationship with the customer.
They found organizations that take advantage of both agile development and lean approaches together have seen benefits such as, reduced costs, improved time to market and higher quality.
West, A (2009) Agile Processes Go Lean: Lean approaches make it more likely agile development can deliver on its promise. Information Week: April 27, 2009, 32.
Companies that have successfully implemented this method have found themselves using the lean principle. His had helped a lot of companies solve many cultural and organizational problems tied to software development. The lean approach challenges traditional techniques and replaces them with ones that reduce waste and increase value for the customer.
In the past traditional development approaches have led to a confrontational relationship with the business partner or customer. The agile method turns this relationship into a collaborative one that requires a close working relationship with the customer.
They found organizations that take advantage of both agile development and lean approaches together have seen benefits such as, reduced costs, improved time to market and higher quality.
West, A (2009) Agile Processes Go Lean: Lean approaches make it more likely agile development can deliver on its promise. Information Week: April 27, 2009, 32.
Case Study Ch. 13: Business Process Re-Design at the small business administration
What was wrong with the existing computer system (ALCS) and why did SBA decide to replace it?
A majority of their process was paper based and the only system they had in place was ALCS. This system was outdated, unreliable and did not comply with the current IT security requirements. ALCS was a tracking system that handled all of the details of a loan. SBA decided to replace his system because it didn’t meet the companies IT requirements. SBA needed a loan control system.
What was the purpose of re-organizing the ODA and centralizing IT in a single office, and centralizing other functions like the call center in a single office?
SBA had organized its agencies into regional areas. They had established four agencies throughout the country that had different IT infrastructures. Each center was a duplicate of the other. In the past files were mailed across the country several times and paperwork was lost, data was entered incorrectly or multiple times. SBA wasted a lot of time trying to send paperwork back and forth, and re-directing victims based on their region. SBA realized that this was inefficient and decided to centralize each process to one area in order to have better control of the process and be more effective and efficient.
In what other ways could the agency use information systems to improve the process of loan application, approval, and maintenance?
SBA can develop a system that allows the victims to apply online. This would save the company a lot of time and money because the company wouldn’t have to set up centers at various disaster locations. It was also reduce the time it takes to process the application because they would receive the application as soon as the victim submits it online. Through this system they can grant approvals and also have the ability to trace the progress of each application.
A majority of their process was paper based and the only system they had in place was ALCS. This system was outdated, unreliable and did not comply with the current IT security requirements. ALCS was a tracking system that handled all of the details of a loan. SBA decided to replace his system because it didn’t meet the companies IT requirements. SBA needed a loan control system.
What was the purpose of re-organizing the ODA and centralizing IT in a single office, and centralizing other functions like the call center in a single office?
SBA had organized its agencies into regional areas. They had established four agencies throughout the country that had different IT infrastructures. Each center was a duplicate of the other. In the past files were mailed across the country several times and paperwork was lost, data was entered incorrectly or multiple times. SBA wasted a lot of time trying to send paperwork back and forth, and re-directing victims based on their region. SBA realized that this was inefficient and decided to centralize each process to one area in order to have better control of the process and be more effective and efficient.
In what other ways could the agency use information systems to improve the process of loan application, approval, and maintenance?
SBA can develop a system that allows the victims to apply online. This would save the company a lot of time and money because the company wouldn’t have to set up centers at various disaster locations. It was also reduce the time it takes to process the application because they would receive the application as soon as the victim submits it online. Through this system they can grant approvals and also have the ability to trace the progress of each application.
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