CMGT/583 Week 1

 Phoenix Fine Electronics Business Plan

•  Commonalities in the business strategy and IT  strategy
• Needed critical elements of information technology
• Describe the importance of the critical elements
• Identify recommended changes to better align the two plans
• Describe the value added that the business should

Discussion Question - The Information Age

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

We live in the Information Age. Most of us are connected 24/7 with mobile devices, work with IT, and do business in a virtual world. It takes many components to allow this to happen.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• What do you feel are the two most important technologies that allow organizations to have, live, and exist in an Information Age?
• What are the advantages we have today that we did not have 10 and 20 years ago?

CMGT/583Week 2

Phoenix Fine Electronics would like you to brief them on your system recommendation.

Create a chart in a Microsoft® program comparing how enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and business intelligence/decision support systems (BI/DSS) can help the business. Cite at least two sources within your chart. Compare the following information:

• Elements of the system
• How the system would support management
• How the system would create successful partnership between the business and IT

Write an executive summary of your recommendation for PFE's C-level management. As a general guideline, executive summaries are typically 1 to 2 pages in length, at 12-point font, and single-spaced. 

Include the following in your summary:

• An overview of the business needs and desired outcomes
• The system comparison chart (from above)
• Your system recommendation
• The scope of the project
• References

Submit your assignment.

Discussion Question - C-Level Roles

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

The era of mom-and-pop businesses, in which one person knew the business, is gone. Today’s businesses span entire states and countries and are often made up of multiple businesses. No one person today can understand the business, finances, IT, marketing, etc. With the growth we have seen, there is a need to have other chief executive-level positions to help manage the business as a team. Each of these chief executives need information specific to their area of expertise to make informed decisions.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Discuss the different needs of two C-level (CIO, CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, or CSO) leadership roles regarding information systems and why each C-level leader would need different information systems and what systems they may be able to all utilize. 

CMGT/583 Week 3

Phoenix Fine Electronics would like more information about their system options and your recommendation. They are interested in learning how the strengths of the system can be turned into measurable values for the business upon implementation.

Modify the chart from your Wk 2 assignment by adding the following:

• The strengths and weaknesses of each system
• The impact of the strength and weakness

Cite at least two sources in the additional columns in your chart.

Write a business case for your recommendation. This business case will be revisited in Wk 6. As a guideline, this section of the business case should be approximately 3 to 4 pages in length. Use the information from your executive summary and add the following information:

• At least three measurable organizational values the new system will bring

1. The benefits of the value to the business
2. How these values will differentiate the business to customers

• The risks of doing the project
• The risks of not doing the project
• The modified comparison chart (from above)
• References

Submit your assignment.

Discussion Question - Managing IT Resources

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

Technology is seen as the foundation of companies, from inventory tracking and the checkout process to online shopping and electronic funds transfers. Technology evolves and has new releases and upgraded products.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• What are some of the best practices for managing IT resources to help your company gain or maintain a competitive advantage over other businesses in the same market?

The strategic sourcing plan is a plan for how you will do business going forward. The sourcing plan can address how to supply resources to staff, your current and future systems, and how you will purchase raw materials or new IT systems.

Develop a high-level IT sourcing plan to guide Phoenix Fine Electronics to adopt enterprise solutions, rather than continuing to operate multiple stand-alone systems. As a guideline, your sourcing plan should be a 3- to 4-page outline or summary.

Include the following in your sourcing plan:

• The current technologies being utilized
• Major issues with that technology
• New technologies to implement as replacements for current technologies
• How it addresses the current issues
• Additional advantages or value added
• Approximate timeframe to implement the technology
• Any dependencies the company does not currently have in order to implement

Submit your assignment.

Discussion Question - COTS and SaaS

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

There are three different types of software: commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), software as a service (SaaS) (often referred to as cloud computing), and custom-developed software.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Discuss the differences between the three types of software, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. 

CMGT/583 Week 5

Determining when to develop a system in-house or to purchase a COTS system is not always clear. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis brings the strengths and opportunities to a focus point and highlights the threats and weaknesses so an informed decision can be made. This analysis is often completed by the stakeholders, including the business analyst.

Perform a SWOT analysis of buy versus build for your chosen system using the knowledge gained from the Wk 5 discussion, Purchasing Software Applications. You may use any Microsoft® program to create the SWOT analysis similar to the one featured in Ch. 12 of Information Technology for Management.

Use your SWOT analysis to create a guide for managers at Phoenix Fine Electronics to help determine if the business should build or buy a system. Incorporate feedback from the sourcing plan you created last week and support your guide with at least 2 references. As a guideline, this type of guide should be 4 to 5 pages in length, with written descriptions, charts, and outlines.

Include the following in your guide:

• The various steps needed to purchase or develop a system in-house
• Budget considerations
• Staffing considerations
• Time considerations
• Risks
• A maintenance plan
• References

Submit your assignment.

Discussion Question - Executing New Technologies

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

You worked closely with your IT managers to develop a complementing IT strategic plan, and your team identified the new technologies to be implemented in the next 2 years.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Discuss how you would proceed in advancing these technologies, from the planning phase to executing and utilizing them in the company.

CMGT/583 Week 6

Wk 6 - ROI of Implementation

ROI is one of the most common financial measuring tools. Being able to calculate the ROI, or expected ROI, allows us to make the best decisions about where to invest our funds for the most return on our investment over time.                        

Part 1 Using the numbers in Course Scenario: Phoenix Fine Electronics, which was provided in Wk 1, calculate the estimated ROI for an ERP implementation. Calculate the estimated productivity as a result of implementing an ERP system. Note: If you need help calculating ROI, review this week’s activity, LinkedIn Learning: Content Marketing ROI by Honigman.

Part 2 Complete your business case to present to the management team of Phoenix Fine Electronics. Incorporate your analysis and instructor feedback from the previous weeks' assignments. Include the following in your final business case:

• Executive summary
• High-level overview of business needs and desired outcomes
• Scope of the project
• Measurable values of the new system
• An explanation of the strategic alignment
• Estimated ROI and productivity (from Part 1)
• Final recommendation

Discussion Question - Measuring the Value Added to the Business

Includes Discussion Question Response! A+ Work!

Information systems are no longer being used only for data reporting. As information systems have become a major part of the business model—and IS budgets continue to rise as a result of increased investment in IT—there is also a growing need to understand the value of business systems.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Discuss the various models that are commonly used to help measure the value added to a business by information systems.