IT Strategic Plan for Perisher Blue Pvt. Limited - Assignment Example

IT Strategic Plan Name Date Table of Contents 1- Executive Summary Strategy is a way and extent of a firm above the long-standing: that helps the firm to attain benefits in the course of its arrangement of possessions inside a demanding setting, to come to the standards of the marketplaces as well as to convince stakeholder expectations. An information systems strategy carries together the corporate objects; a consideration of the information required to up-hold those objectives, plus the establishment of computer systems to offer that information. It is an arrangement intended for the development of systems in the direction of a number of future visions of the function of information systems in the organization. An information system strategy is something that is fundamentally a planning procedure in the minds of the users, decision makers and developers of the systems. It is sustained and up-held by means of written reports as well as policies; however they are of secondary importance. The progress of the information technology is continued, and we are seeing better and developed business and corporate structures. These new technology based arrangements are able to support the business in a much better way (Turban et al., 2005; Laudon & Laudon, 1999; Stair & Reynolds, 2003). Perisher Blue business is a new emerging business in Australia regarding skiing, hospitality and entertainment. As business structure enhanced the need of business also emerged regarding better business operational and functional management. In such scenario the management has decided to establish and implement a new technology based structure regarding enhanced business management. The present report is based on the research and analysis of related findings. In this report I will present the comprehensive analysis of some of the main aspects of the IT Strategic Plan and IS Strategy development regarding the new information systems implementation across all areas of the business. 2- Purpose for IS strategy Allen (1995) stated that the information strategy performs as the key player between the business (corporate) strategy and the IS strategy. It gives response to the problems like what business information is needed? And where is the business information necessary to up-hold the main jobs, or main objectives of the academic strategy. It as well inquires the suitability of the important statements at the back of the corporate strategy in light of the varying situation and varying views. This judgment or assessment procedure is one of the foundational perceptions at the back of this model (Allen, 1995). Perisher Blue Pty. Limited (’Perisher Blue’) is aimed to enhance the customer services through offering enhanced operational facilities. In such scenario information technology support is one of the main elements for offering business clients a better and effective opportunity for enjoying advanced business facilities. The management of Perisher Blue Pty. Limited (Perisher Blue) has passed a new plan for the establishment of the new information technology based arrangement at the business. In this scenario there is need to implement an efficient strategy. Here this information strategy offers a path for the overall implementation of the new technology arrangements at the business. The fundamental purpose of development of this IT Strategic Plan or information system strategy is to develop and establish a proper way for analyzing and implementing new technology based system, those are according to the needs of the business of Perisher Blue. Through this policy the business will be able to have more milestones for fulfillment of possible business and corporate needs, in a more systematic way. Therefore we can say that the purpose of this Perisher Blue IT strategy plan to offer a systematic way for the establishment of new business technology arrangements. 3- Overview/summary of business strategy 3.1- Internal/External Analysis of Business Objectives 3.1.1- Business Overview This business of the Perisher Blue Pvt. Limited is based on the mountain resorts (hospitality and entertainment) and Skiing in Australia. The trend of tourism is emerging day by day through the invention of more fast and reliable options of travelling. Australia is one of biggest dream destination for the global tourists. In this scenario the business of the Perisher Blue Pvt. Limited is emerging day-by-day plus requiring extra and enhanced business handling, performance management, customer support and operational management. The business is possessing a chain of the mountain resorts and Skiing areas in Australia that are operational by means of the autonomous and stand-alone information technology system. The one of biggest problem that this business is facing is about the absence of the some centralized business information handling and management system. Here I will assess and analyze some internal and external business objectives regarding the new technology based system implementation. 3.1.2- Internal Business Objectives The business of the Perisher Blue business is a new emerging business in Australia regarding skiing, hospitality and entertainment. In such scenario business possesses multiple business departments, skiing areas, mountain resorts and operational areas. Perisher Blue is huge business structure that is requiring effective business operations handling and tasks management. For this purpose there is need for on time and critical business information. Here effective availability of business information will made it possible to enhance the business handling and management. In case of effective business handling through new Information Technology based arrangement we would have following main business internal objectives: Business Staff management Business Tasks management Business Supply chain handling On time resource availability Time and cost planning for all business areas Management decision support Business transactions recording Trends analysis Customer record keeping Business projects handling Skiing and mountain resorts allocation and management Booking orders and customer requests Demand management 3.1.3- External Business Objectives The business of Perisher Blue is huge business entity that is having a lot of business relations with major local and international business entities. Here also business needs international business identification. In such scenario the business of the Perisher Blue is having following main external business objectives: Supply chain support Supplier relation management On-demand products and goods delivery system External Transaction recording Marketing support Market positioning Customer targeting Market share development Customer and supplier attraction Web based business interaction 3.2- Environmental Assessment (SWOT etc.) In this section I will present the environmental assessment of the new information technology based structure implementation at the Perisher Blue business. For this I will perform the SWOT analysis that is outlined below: 3.2.1- SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a technique for analyzing a business and its environment. It is the preliminary step of business project and tasks planning as well as facilitates marketers to pay attention on basic issues. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In this analysis, opportunities and threats are outside factors on the other hand strengths and weaknesses are inner factors (Marketingteacher, 2010) & (Mind-Tools, 2010). 3.2.1.1- Strengths Perisher Blue business is going to implement the latest information technology for the better business handling that is having a much broader scope. Here main strength of this new technology based system implementation at the Perisher Blue business is the availability of a centralized business information system. This centralized business information system is intended to offer effective business services and operational support. Here we are also having better business information record keeping which can be helpful in better business decision making and issues assessment tasks. The new technology promises to offer effective business handling and management. Here main strength the customer support through the web based business availability for the recording and responding customers requests. 3.2.1.2-Weaknesses Where we are having lot of business advantages there are also some weaknesses regarding the new information technology structure establishment at the Perisher Blue business. Here main weakness we can observe is the time and cost. This project is so huge. For the overall business structure we are going to implement the new information technology arrangement. In this scenario availability of suitable budget resource and time resource is really significant. Another weakness we can face for this new technology based arrangement is availability of suitable technology arrangement form the market. 3.2.1.3- Opportunities If Perisher Blue business implements this latest technology then it will be able to get a new way of business management. Additionally, the firm will be able to manage relationships with customers since the new system will be able to repeatedly deal with customer’s requests and orders. In addition, after the implementation of new decision support system the firm will be able to get better help in business decision making process. Moreover, the web based platform of the business will be able to offer various facilities such as booking and online transactions management. They all will efficiently direct to successful business operational structure that can help offer the capacity to deal with the growing customer demands. Furthermore, the implementation of this latest technology to the business will also improve business poistion and ROI. 3.2.1.4- Threats In implementing this modern technology the major threat that a business can face is the information security and privacy. The basic reason is that, this threat is growing quickly with the passage of time. In addition, when an organization uses a network or a web based structure then there is more chance of this kind of threat to the business technology structure. 3.3- Critical Success Factors Perisher Blue business is going to establish a new technology arrangement that will facilitate the business for the effective operations management. Here the customary business management is turning out to be much harder as the Perisher Blue business grows and new trends and facilities grow regarding the tourism. Here the business analysts of Perisher Blue have assessed that 2.0%, 3.0% and 4.6% growth in next 25years till 2024. This growth is expected regarding enhancement of the business and overall tourism operating in the Australia. Perisher Blue business management wants to take advantage from this potential enhancement in the overall tourism business in next few years. In case of this new technology arrangement implementation we are having lot of possible critical success factors. Here are the possible critical successes factors of the Perisher Blue business new information technology arrangement are: Business transaction processing automation Supply chain automation Staff scheduling automaton Reporting and on-time availability of information Decision support for management Centralized business network Corporate resource management Web based customer support and services Online booking and payment system Online marketing support 4. Business Process and Information Requirements The business of Perisher Blue wants to enhance the services and facilities across the business areas. Here the Perisher Blue management is having huge business technology related problems. Perisher Blue management is having a strategic approach that is necessary in the planning of the overall lift system intended for repeat skiing and of other visitor services, like that mountain restaurants, ski patrol, Ski School facilities as well as competition services, plus operational facilities like that mountain workshops. There are communications among resort areas as well in terms of environmental procedures operating inside the resort, for instance, in relation to nature movement corridors across the entire resort as well as surrounding areas. 4.1 Current systems assessment (findings) The Perisher Blue management has decided to implement a new technology based arrangement that is aimed to enhance the business operating all through the Australia. Here business has established a new plan for the business enhancement that is about establishment of new business areas regarding skiing and mountain hotels. Here currently we are having 4 areas those have been recognized inside the area covered through the Perisher Blue new strategic plan: Perisher Valley: Perisher Valley is new project that is about the coving the lower south-easterly slopes of Mount Back Perisher that straightly overlook the resort, comprising the majority of the village region to the north as well as west of Perisher Creek. Smiggin Holes: Smiggin Holes project is about the establishment of well defined rim of the Smiggin Holes ski bowl, at the mountain side. Blue Cow: Blue Cow is another project that covers the majority of the slopes of Blue Cow Mountain as well as the previous Blue Cow resort. Guthega: Guthega project is about the covering the entire of the Guthega ski slopes. In all above project and previously working project there are huge number of requirements those are aligned for the better handling and management of the business working and operations. Here I have outlined some of main requirements regarding the Perisher Blue business new information technology platform implementation: 4.1.1- Functional Requirements Here are some main functional requirements regarding the Perisher Blue business: A centerline communication network among all business departments and sectors A standard data and information format for the overall business and communication Fast availability of business resources Management control over business operations Customer support Web based booking and services Availability of access to business services through web Mutual communication and data sharing among all business departments Effective business services support Advance booking and payment rough web portal Rooms and hotel facilities and resources management Fats response to customer complaints Customer satisfaction 4.1.2- Non- Functional Requirements Here are some non-functional requirements regarding the Perisher Blue business: Usability of system Security of overall Perisher Blue commendation network Security of overall Perisher Blue database structure User friendly user interface for web based users Efficiency of system services Effectiveness of the system services Information sharing Encryption of data Availability of password based access to systems Customer satisfaction No dirty data On time and fast delivery of reports 4.1.1 Changes impact on existing business processes In case of new information technology arrangement implementation at the Perisher Blue business we will be able to have potential change in the overall areas of the Perisher Blue business. Here I will outline some of the main impacts those will be drawn through the new technology based arrangement implementation. 4.1.1.1- Customer Support The new technology based structure will completely transform the traditional business arrangement and will offer more enhanced business and customer support. Here now customer will have new web based arrangement through which they will be able to book or reserve the lining areas or skiing facilities. This will also facilitate them to offer web based payment that will potentially reduce the on-site work load and offer more secure business and operational environment. 4.1.1.2- Business Support The IS and IT based working structure at the Perisher Blue business will offer more enhanced business operational and working facilities. One of biggest advantages that will be attained is the automation of all business operations this directly reduce the workload on the business staff. Here we will also require less HR for the business handling. This all collectively led to high business revenue. 4.1.1.3- Decision Support Perisher Blue business is able to have better decision support. This facility will be enabled through the availability of timely and accurate business data. The main reason for this support is to offer the business an enhanced business support through that it can avail present market opportunities and offer such offers those and present more business revenue. This will be done through centralized business arrangement that will offer business decision support through some OLAP or data mining based tool. 4.1.1.4- Risk Management There are lots of risks in each business sector especially in such a huge business like Perisher Blue. Availability of on time information and offering better decision support can facilitate in enhanced business decision support. 4.1.1.5- Projects Handling Perisher Blue has recently initiated four big projects those are extension of Perisher Blue hospitality and entertainment business. In this scenario establishment of some IT and IS based arrangement can valuably support all business areas and aspects. 4.2- Business process redesigns assessment (findings) Perisher Blue will be able to become a standard business arrangement after implementation of the new IS and IT based arrangement. In this scenario one of biggest redesign aspect we will observe is about the availability of fast and correct information for the business management. In case of new technology arrangement implementation we can face possible transformation and redesigning in following business areas. Customer management department Reservation Department Supply chain department Resource Management Department Human research department Services department Accounts department Marketing department 4.2.1 Argument for new IS/IT opportunities Perisher Blue can have some arguments regarding the new IS and IT opportunities at the business. In this scenario we need to resolve potential problems and aspects so that we can be able to have more enhanced business support and management of the business areas. Here the biggest argument is about the staff acceptance of the new technology. If staff members resist adopting the new technology arrangement then we can face a lot of business problems. Here another factor is HR technical skills to handler and run new technology based system. This is one of biggest aspects that we need to consider while new technology project implementation. 5. Recommendations This section is about the recommendation that I will propose for the Perisher Blue business regarding new IT and IS technology based infrastructure implementation. Here below we have different sections those will propose some of main areas and reconditions for the Perisher Blue business. 5.1- Applications for the Perisher Blue Perisher Blue business is having some potential changes and enhancements in the overall business areas. Here I will discuss technology systems those are possibly needed for Perisher Blue business: Web based business portal Online Marketing system Supply chain management system Decision support system (OLAP, Data Mining Tools) Customer Resource Management system Resource Management system Hospitality Management system (IBM’s COGNOS, Micros’s Micros Fidelio, or Opera) Online Payment system (PayPal, Credit Card, E-banking) 5.2- Data Perisher Blue business will have a variety of business data. This data will be of different business areas and sectors. Here in case of business operations management and operational handling we have possible two types of business data inputs and outputs. 5.2.1- Business Input Data Here we have a variety of business data that is about lot of business areas and sectors. This business data will serve as input for the different business operations. Here I have outlined some of main inputs of business data for the new IS and IT technology based arrangements. 5.2.1.1- Customer Information Information about business customers like name, registration number, address, contents, etc 5.2.1.2- Supplier information Information about business supplier of products and services for the hotels and skiing areas 5.2.1.3- Booking Information Information about customer booking through web based or traditional manual ways 5.2.1.4- Financial Records Information about business financial records, like business annual revenue, monthly income, liabilities 5.2.1.5- Transaction Details Information about daily transaction inside and outside the business 5.2.1.5- Projects Information Information about new or operational project that Perisher Blue has initiated for business enhancement 5.2.1.6- Business Staff Details Perisher Blue business staff details and information about staff member personal, skill and educational areas 5.2.2- Business output Data Perisher Blue business also have some possible business outputs data from the new IS and IT system for the enhanced business handling. I have outlined some of those areas below: 5.2.2.1- Business Reports Perisher Blue business reports for common business analysis 5.2.2.2- Decision Support Reporting Perisher Blue business reports especially for management decision support 5.2.2.3- Graphical Reports Perisher Blue business graphical charts, graphs and data cubes for the better business analysis 5.2.2.4- Staff Scheduling Information Perisher Blue daily staff management information regarding staff placement and shift management 5.2.2.5- Rooms and services information Daily room’s services and reservations handling 5.2.2.6- Etc. Other details and support for the skiing areas and small projects management 5.3- Technology infrastructure Perisher Blue business is going to establish new IS and IT based infrastructure for the overall business. Here we are having proposed business infrastructure that is outlined below: 5.3.1- Network infrastructure Perisher Blue business is going to establish a new and more enhanced business arrangement that is completely connected and linked among all business areas. For this we will establish a MAN or Metropolitan Area Network. This will larger then LAN and smaller then WAN. 5.3.2- Workstation infrastructure For handling customers and business working each staff member will have workstation that will be personal computer set connected to business communication and database network. Here is possible specification of this system: Processor: Dual Core 2.00 GHz Hard Disk: 80 GB RAM: 1 GB Network card 5.3.- Operating System infrastructure After specifying the business hardware we will also require the business workstation operating systems. So I have decided to propose the Windows Vista for the overall business workstation network handling and operating. 5.3.4- Servers infrastructure In case of business servers we will have a lot of business servers those will be of following types: Network Servers Internet Servers Data Servers Proxy Servers Data back-up Servers 6- IT action plan This part of report is about the analysis of the IT plan for the Perisher Blue business that encompasses following main sections. 6.1- Tactical plan This technical plan will address some aspects and scenario regarding problems analysis and time allocation. 6.1.1- Issues and problems arising from the strategy Here I will asses and present some issues those can create problem in the overall implementation of new technology setup at the Perisher Blue business. 6.1.1.1- Project Budget This section will present one of the biggest problems that is the project cost. This project is very large size. In such a huge project we need to invest more wisely. In case of some economic down-term our overall project can be disturbed. 6.1.1.2- Project Time This project needs to be completed within given project time line. One of the main reasons for this aspect is the project cost extension that can lead to overall project failure as stated in above factor. 6.1.1.3- Project HR Here project HR needs to be skilled enough for the overall handling and operating the new technology arrangement. The main reason for this aspects is the less capable working staff that is unable to handle the new technology system, therefore we can not able to take full advantage of overall new business IS and IT technology. 6.1.1.4- Management Involvement In such a huge project for instance, for Perisher Blue business the management involvement is really essential. The biggest reason for this thing is the constant support for overall project success. This can lead to non-stop financial aid to project that is biggest reason for the project success. 6.1.1.5- Technology Constraints Technology availability and business support is also one of the main aspects of this project success. In case of more enhanced and effective technology platform availability we can enjoy the success of this new technology implementation project. 6.1.2- Project implementation Schedule Project Plan Project Stage Duration Start Date End Date Must Follow Business Analysis 20 days 29-Sep-10 26-Oct-10 Problem Analysis 15 days 27-Oct-10 16-Nov-10 1 Requirements Analysis 20 days 17-Nov-10 14-Dec-10 2 New Technology Specification 15 days 15-Dec-10 4-Jan-11 3 New IS & IT system design 18 days 5-Jan-11 28-Jan-11 4 New Technology Development 30 days 31-Jan-11 11-Mar-11 5 New System Purchasing 25 days 14-Mar-11 15-Apr-11 6 New Systems Installation 10 days 18-Apr-11 29-Apr-11 7 Network Configurations 15 days 2-May-11 20-May-11 8 IS technology deployment 17 days 23-May-11 14-Jun-11 9 Testing 25 days 15-Jun-11 19-Jul-11 10 Performance analysis 10 days 20-Jul-11 2-Aug-11 11 Staff Training 30 days 3-Aug-11 13-Sep-11 12 Feed-Back 5 days 14-Sep-11 20-Sep-11 13 Project Closure 3 days 21-Sep-11 23-Sep-11 14 6.1.3- Outsourcing considerations Outsourcing is the option for purchasing the new IS and IT technology structure from any outside corporation. Here in this scenario we will analyze the business need and specify the systems those can be purchased or outsourced. Here we will choose this alternative if the new system that we need is not available in the market. Means we are not having any such system that can effectively fulfill our business needs and not able to support our business cycle. In such scenario we will perform the outsourcing alternative. This can be taken as if we need a document preparing system then we can easily buy the MS word however our Hotel and entertainment theme based business we will have small number of market systems. Here we will conduct a detailed analysis of such systems. If the company able to customize the new system according to our business needs then we will purchase the system otherwise we will move toward the out-sourcing alternative. 7- Conclusion The implementation of modern information technologies has become nessary for the organizations to achieve competitive advantage in the market. At the present, almost all the organizations are finding and implementing modern techniques and technologies to stay competive in this everlasting increasing competitive world. In this report I have presented a deep analysis for the Perisher Blue business regarding the new IS and IT strategy and plan. In this regard I have presented a comprehensive analysis regarding the overall new IT and IS planning for the Perisher Blue business and potential areas for the establishment of new technology arrangement. I hope this report will offer better insight regarding new IS and IT technology establishment at the Perisher Blue business. 8- Reference Allen, D., 1995. Information systems strategy formation in Higher Education Institutions. [Online] Available at: HYPERLINK "http://informationr.net/ir/1-1/paper3.html" http://informationr.net/ir/1-1/paper3.html [Accessed 2 October 2010]. Arif, M., Kulonda, D., Jones, J. & Proctor, M., 2005. 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