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Essay Available:
Pages:
3 pages/β‰ˆ825 words
Sources:
4 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Technology
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 16.2
Topic:

Implementing Coordinated Information Technology

Essay Instructions:

There is a great deal of interest in the process of implementing information technology to achieve coordinated management of operations and other aspects of the firm. ERP systems are supposedly effective agents for such coordination, but they are notoriously hard to implement and maintain. Less ambitious information technology initiatives may be easier to put into place, but often fail to achieve sufficient coordination. Clearly, being able to do do "large-scale" right can be a major advantage—the question is to what degree is it really a competitive advantage, rather than simply a matter of management efficiency. Coordination is nice, but it may or may not be worth the price.

Here are some takes on this issue:

Dutton, S. (2013). Transparency: Burden or competitive advantage. SAP Business Innovation. Retrieved from http://blogs(dot)sap(dot)com/innovation/innovation/transparency-burden-competitive-advantage-0727121  

All, Al. (2011). Secrets of an (Almost) pain-free ERP implementation. IT Business Edge. Retrieved from http://www(dot)entrypointconsulting(dot)com/press-releases/2011-press-releases/

Neville Turbit . ERP Implementation - The Traps. Project Perfect. http://www(dot)projectperfect(dot)com(dot)au/info_erp_imp.php

Houston Neal. (2011). ERP Implementation Strategies - A Guide to ERP Implementation Methodology. Software Advice. Retrieved from http://www(dot)softwareadvice(dot)com/articles/manufacturing/erp-implementation-strategies-1031101/.

After reading these articles and reviewing other information from the Background and other sources, prepare a 3- to 5-page paper on the following topic:

Is skill in implementing coordinated information technology really a competitive advantage for a firm? Why or why not?

Assignment Expectations

Your paper should be from three to five pages. Take a definite stand on the issues, and develop your supporting argument carefully. Using material from the Background information and any other sources you can find to support specific points in your argument is highly recommended; try to avoid making assertions for which you can find no support other than your own opinion.

You will be particularly assessed on:

  • Precision: Draw on a range of sources and establish your understanding of the historical context of the question. Carry out the exercise as assigned, or carefully explain the limitations that might have prevented your completing some parts. (Running out of time isn’t generally considered an adequate limitation.)
  • Support for assertions: Use examples, citations (especially to the required readings), and elaboration to support assertions. Provide evidence that you have read the required Background materials.
  • Clarity: Provide clear answers that show good understanding of the topic. Understand the module's purpose, and structure your paper accordingly.
  • Breadth and depth: Make the scope of your paper relate directly to the questions of the assignment and the learning outcomes of the module.
  • Critical thinking: Incorporate your reactions, examples, and applications of the material to business in a way that illustrates your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts. Read the Required Readings posted in the Background material plus others you find relevant. Providing informed commentary and analysis is vital—simply repeating what sources say does not constitute an adequate paper.
  • Overall quality: Turn in a well-written paper whose references, where needed, are properly cited and listed. (Refer to the University guidelines (http://support(dot)trident(dot)edu/files/Well-Written-Paper.pdf if you are uncertain about formats or other issues.)
Essay Sample Content Preview:


Implementing Coordinated Information Technology
Name
Institution
Implementing Coordinated Information Technology
In today’s intricate market, certain skills are still hard to acquire. This is especially the case when it comes to putting into practice Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that are timely and within the budgetary allocations. Given the many challenges that stand in the way of effective implementation of information technology, many companies choose to forego this procedure. Considering the uphill task that organizations are faced with in trying to conduct this exercise, many people are left wondering whether skill in implementing coordinated information technology is really a competitive advantage for an organization. While there are varying answers to this question, the truth is that this process offers competitive advantage to an organization.
According to Craig Zampa the Vice President of Technology Solutions for TNG Worldwide, the major reasons IT related projects fail to take off are poor planning, change of business objectives in the course of the project, and unavailability organizational management support. This leads most IT-related projects to fail realizing their possible payback while a sizable number of others are dismissed before maturity. In addition to this, in a large number of the completed projects, the technology is implemented in a vacuity making it less appealing to users (All, 2011).
As Ann All (2011) notes in her analysis of how companies can have pain-free ERP implementation, a large number of IT projects go so awry to the point where they threaten the very existence of the organization. Apart from this, large IT project goes well beyond the projected budget and consume more time than expected and still end up falling short of the organization’s expectations. This makes the implementation of coordinated information technology anything but unattractive for most organizations. According to experts, a large number of people who implement IT projects start the projects well assured that their levels of success are minimal.
According to Shelly Dutton (2013), what makes the implementation of coordinated information technology even less attractive for most business managers is that making your operations available to everyone can be used to reveal things that the managers would want to remain hidden. However, she notes that having the right skill in the implementation process can make this task not only enjoyable but it is a competitive advantage, as most customers are now demanding for transparency in the companies that they invest in. As most businesses seem to be failing in every attempt to implement coordinated information technology within their businesses, there are still very important lessons that these business managers can learn from organizations such as TNG Worldwide that has continued to experience success in the implementation of IT projects in their organization.
As the above analysis shows, ERP implementation is a hard thing to accomplish and it is even more challenging when a new system that is meant to move all the organizations data into ...
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