IT CASE STUDY
1. Project Description.
The IT project that I proposed to KYLOD had three strategic objectives aimed at improving the client services, reduce pick up and drop off time, and make sure that the company’s trucks meet federal and state regulations. The project also provides a risk management plans for any type of risk that is likely to face the company. The major functions that the system would perform includes, product development that is; provide a warehouse management system. Another function would be to provide an accurate financial reporting system for the finance department. Another major function would be to provide a mobile application system for the marketing department, and provide an interface with a routing system for the sales department.
2. Strategic Alignment.
This is how the proposed project aligns with the business strategic objectives; to make the products available at the local level, to ensure that they are readily available upon the consumers’ demand. This is aimed at reducing the time spent in delivering the products and to improving customer satisfaction. The next business strategic plan is to reduce the time and costs associated with pickup and delivery of freight. To do so, the project proposes that there be a common geographical area for the freight pickup and delivery so that the two activities happens simultaneously. The next business strategic plan is to offer the clients the exact delivery time and date. The project proposes that the trucks be tracked in their terminals in order to make sure that the company knows the precise location of the trucks when providing the clients with the dates. The last business strategic plan is to ensure that the truck drivers are safe and that they meet company’s expectations. The project proposes that there be a truck safety check for every 10,000 miles to ensure that the trucks are in good conditions and repair any damages that may be on the trucks to reduce and prevent accidents.
This is how the proposed project aligns with the IT strategies; digitization of the delivery process so that all deliveries are registered to a data base and that a delivery schedule is assigned by a system. The system will also track the goods so that communication through mobile phones will not be needed, and the clients will know the location of their products and how long they have to wait for them. Digitization of the warehouse management system to ensure that deliveries are managed well and that all products are monitored. Automation of the fleet management system to show when a vehicle is due for maintenance, this will cut on time by speeding up the maintenance process. The last strategy is to speed up the system development plan so that it can be incorporated in the company as soon as possible.
3. IT Portfolio Roadmap Alignment.
This is how the project fits in the IT portfolio; automation and digitization of systems in order to cut on costs and reduce time have been included in the project. It supports the delivery, and warehousing in the company. The IT strategy should take priority because once everything is developed, every operation in the company will run smoothly.
4. IT Architecture.
This project fits with other systems in the company such as marketing and sales. When all the developments in the project are done, marketing of the KYLOD products will be digitized, as well as sales and consumer interactions. The project should share data with other systems whether they are already in place or in development. This will ensure that all systems in the company are at par and that all operations run smoothly. The project does not replace another system at the KYLOD, it just develops and makes better the already existing systems.
5. Benefits.
Benefit Business Strategic Objective/ Explanation of Alignment of Benefit to Business Strategic Objectives
Improvement of the delivery process Scheduling of deliveries automation to ensure that all deliveries are registered to one database and that clients can track their order delivery.
Efficient management of the warehouse By providing a warehouse management system, every aspect of the warehouse will be monitored and managed well.
Saving on the time used for vehicle maintenance. Automation of the fleet management system shows when a vehicle is due for maintenance and speeds up the maintenance process.
6. Requirements.
Requirement/Explanation of the Requirement Business/User; IT/System or system Performance
Warehouse management system Business requirement
Automation of delivery schedules Business requirement and system performance
Improved fleet management system Business requirement
Improved delivery system Business and system requirement
An accurate financial reporting system Business requirement
Network upgrade IT requirement
Marketing- mobile application Business requirement
Sales interface with a routing system Business and IT requirement
Improved fleet management system Business requirement
Business continuity plan Business and system requirement
7. Cost Estimation
Assessment of Project size and Complexity
Size/complexity small medium large
Very complex x
Moderately complex x
straightfoward x
8. Performance Measures.
Benefit to business measure
Reduced delivery time Delivery takes less time.
Increased product sales Increased number of sales
An accurate financial reporting Reduced amount of mistakes in financial reporting.
9. System Development.
The system development life cycle (SDLC).
• Planning. Proper planning involves definition of the problem and the magnitude of the existing problems. It also involves confirmation of the project feasibility, and a feasibility report of the entire project. Jenny should verify the feasibility of her project at this stage.
• Design. A system design includes application, databases, system interfaces, and network design. It also includes creation of a contingency, training, planning, and maintenance plan. The proposed designed should be reviewed at this stage by Jenny’s team to ensure that the final design meets the stated requirements. Finally, the design document to be used is prepared.
• Build. Data base developers and programmers hired by Jenny should be incorporated into the project at this stage. At this point, installation and change, and production begins.
• Test. Programs and systems are tested at this stage. The procedures should be carried out by Jenny’s Quality Assurance (QA) professional team to ensure that the proposed design meets the set business goals of the KYLOD.
• Launch. The launching or implementation of the project is the final stage. New developed systems should be installed by Jenny’s IT team, and all the data from the old system would be transferred to the new developed system.
