Case Study: Strategic Information Systems

Question 1:

For the respective organization(s) your group members are working in, briefly describe the strategic role that Information Systems can play. Identify any existing or potential applications which according to you could be categorized as Strategic Information Systems (SIS). Justify the basis for your classification of these systems as SIS. What according to you are the challenges faced in sustaining the strategic advantage derived from these systems (20 marks)

Answer 1:

Vipul Prajapati:

My organization being an Innovation driven company in Material Science field, speed of new technology introduction is one of the important levers in growth strategy. With culture of “Innovation and Collaboration” across all levels in the company,

We as employee are already realizing the benefits of the cloud computing. Two biggest advantages we are realizing are Access of data anywhere from any device and reduction in mail communications with documents attached to them. It has also helped in increased productivity and customer satisfaction by moving away from existing order process (Excel based order from distributors to Sales team, followed by compilation of similar orders and then putting the orders in Lotus notes based application).

The biggest threat I feel is the privacy of data. My organization being Innovation driven, with IP being our biggest asset, any concern over its privacy is a threat.

Vani Tripathi:

All the technologies are more or less on Cloud now a day. On one hand cloud computing has made information handy and available to employees in involved in a particular engagement irrespective of geographical boundaries. This is an advantage due to cloud computing, data is accessible on cloud which leaves no room for a repetitive meeting related information exchange between stakeholders, leads to lesser conference calls among teams regarding data requirements and ensure that no data will be lost whatever be. In addition to this, a strategic advantage of being on cloud is that we need to pay only for space what we use. For a small or medium business to invest on high capacity

As cloud is a web based service, the threat of exposing data to others is always there. The unpredicted downtime in cloud has been another threat that our organization may face on cloud anytime and this has put on doubts on the credibility of cloud computing as the downtimes issues are still standing as a challenge for running continuous business on cloud. In case of private servers, the downtimes are mostly predicted and hence it is much easier to manage business in case of an anticipated downtime.

Madhava Rao:

The Cloud computing technology has potential to redefine the way businesses are run in the coming days and offers significant advantages in terms of Scalability, flexibility and cost efficiency.

As a provider of Information system solutions, Cloud computing has the potential to open up new avenues for us, unthinkable hitherto, in the coming days.

As explained earlier the standalone, local hosting of solutions have been subjected to following limitations which has in turn affected their penetration:

a. High Cost of Infrastructure / Budgetary constraints

b. Inability of the legacy hardware/software systems to cope with fast changing technologies in terms of upgradation.

c. High cost of maintaining such systems when the core strength is not IT.

d. Each organization would need a team of domain experts, who are