P1 explain the reasons for upgrading IT
systems in an organisation
Start
by listing what IT systems might be being used. I suggest that, after the
general things like networks and e-mail, internet services etc., you look at
some individual departments or areas of operation and what they use
particularly in each.
Then research what recent developments
there have been in a range of those and explain why upgrading might be a good
idea. Often the various brand pages will give you some good text - after all,
they'll be doing their best to explain precisely why customers should buy their
latest products!
IT used in business
General areas – hardware
and software used?
·
Networks, e-mail, internet connection, e-commerce,
Departments –
what do they use?
·
Finance
·
Marketing
·
Production / Quality control
·
Personnel / HR
·
Sales / Customer Service
Recent developments
Why
it might be a good idea to upgrade to the latest product
P2 explain the impact of IT
developments on an organisation
Having
explained why upgrades
may be a good idea, you should have some indications, should they be
implemented, of their impact.
For this you could usefully take several IT developments (not necessarily all
being used as some developments represent a totally new approach to how part of
an operation might work - e.g. creating an on-line store or utilising wireless
internet services or even robotics for production processes) and look at the
positive aspects and negative aspects involved.
The impact on staff, the need for training, the potential for outsourcing and costs in all options are all good themes for this.
The impact on staff, the need for training, the potential for outsourcing and costs in all options are all good themes for this.
Recent
developments
Description / product
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
|
|
|
P3 explain how organisations respond to
information technology developments
There
are a range of responses: get the latest stuff, wait and see what reviewers or
others in an industry think about it, do nothing
Look at each in the range and talk
about the merits of each approach, with some examples of actual recent
developments and how some organisations have embraced them enthusiastically or
not.
Recent development examples
Description
/ type / product
|
Response
|
P4 explain how an organisation can
manage risk when using IT technology [EP3]
Any
change brings risk. Risk inevitably means cost - either for protection against
it or for fixing things that go wrong. So identify the risks involved in recent
technology (websites, internet security, data sharing, staff changes and
experience, unfamiliar environments, etc.,) and for each chosen risk explain
how it might be effectively (or not) managed.
Management might imply better security,
tighter encoding and encryption, change of anti-virus and malware provider,
education re legal responsibilities, addition of required text to e-commerce
sites, training for staff, recruitment of experts in certain software,
redundancy amongst those unwilling or unable to change, accessibility
improvements, quality control benefits etc.)
Recent developments
Description
/ type / product
|
Risk
|
How it can be managed
|
|
|
|
P5 describe recent IT developments
The
emphasis here is on recent developments. You may have already listed several for
P2. For these and a few more recent developments describe what they entail -
again manufacturers' sites will be a useful source of information or, for the
more general, there should be plenty of articles in technology magazines or
blogs.
Recent
and new or planned developments
Description / product / version
|
What the press say
|
Other comments, views
|
|
|
|
P6 produce a proposal for an IT-enabled
improvement to a business system. [EP2]
For
this you need to describe an existing process in operation at the moment at an
organisation and explain how it might be improved by utilising IT in some way.
Describe the IT change or introduction you would make and indicate, ideally
with examples or illustrations of the process, where it would enhance
efficiency, security or profitability etc.
It
is just a proposal but it really should be based on something real and be
feasible and practical with a clear summary of its impact on costs and staff as
appropriate.
If
you pick a procedure that you understand well yourself or may even be familiar
with from work or a colleague's activities then this task will be considerably
easier than trying to envisage a theoretical situation. You will also find it
much simpler to get most of the research part of the task more or less done for
you by the person concerned! You then add in your proposal and impact
considerations.
Existing process
·
Description
of what it does, who does what, any links to other processes, illustrations or
examples if possible
·
Problems or
reasons why it might be a good idea to use IT or update use of existing IT
Your proposal
·
What it
does, who does what, any links etc. Illustrations, flow chart or examples if
possible.
·
Clear
indication of why this could be a good idea. Cost guide for introduction. Any
risks or problems to be overcome?