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Project Deliverable 1: Start of project plan
Due in week 2 and worth 110 points
This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a project introduction and a project plan. You must submit both sections as separate files to complete this assignment. Name each file according to the section of the assignment it was written for. In addition, you may make and/or assume any necessary assumptions required for the performance of that task.
You are a newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a $25 million data collection and analytics company that has been in business for less than two (2) years. It is expected to grow 60% over the next eighteen (18) months. Your company currently collects data using web analytics and combines it with data from operating systems. Web analytics is an increasingly important part of most business marketing plans. Your company is looking for ways to leverage the data it collects, but wants to ensure that the IT infrastructure can support the anticipated growth that the company expects. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has given you sixty (60) days to create a comprehensive information systems project plan that accommodates the organizational growth of the company. The company will expand from one (1) floor to three (3) floors within six (6) months. Being a relatively new company, there is currently limited technological infrastructure to support the business. All information technology (hardware and software) must be redesigned to meet the needs of the organization. The solution should be implemented as either a hosted solution, an on-premises solution, or a hybrid model. The CEO expects you to integrate different technologies from different partners and integrate industry best practices and cost-effective solutions in connection with the development of technological systems. Additionally, the CEO is very interested in cloud computing technologies and software-as-a-service (SaaS), but is wary of security issues that may come with them. However, he is confident that you will implement the correct security protocols. The company currently consists of twenty (20) employees, of which four (4), including you, are dedicated to the IT organization.
Section 1: Project Introduction
Write a four to six page (4-6) project brief that documents the current status of the organization, expands on the information provided above, and includes:
Company background information.
Details of the type of business in which the company is engaged.
A description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities.
Identification of currently qualified information systems personnel by position and responsibilities.
The specific types of data the company collects.
A description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business. The description should contain at least the following:
operating systems and databases
Analytics and Interfaces
infrastructure and security
The use of at least two (2) high quality resources in this task. Note: Wikipedia and similar sites are not considered quality resources.
Your task must conform to these formatting requirements:
Be double-spaced, in Times New Roman font (size 12) with 1-inch margins on all sides; Citations and references must conform to APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for additional instructions.
Include a cover sheet with the assignment title, student name, professor name, course title, and date. The cover sheet and reference sheet are not included in the required length of the task page.
Section 2: Project Plan
Use Microsoft Project to:
Create a project plan (summary and detail) using Microsoft Office Project. The project plan should:
Capture all tasks, subtasks, resources and time related to the project.
Outline the planning, analysis, design and implementation phases.
Develop according to the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Describe the various information systems functions and activities, including the role of IT management and the CIO, the structuring of IS management within an organization, and the management of IS professionals within the organization.
Use technology and information resources to study problems in information systems.
Write clearly and concisely about strategic information systems issues and practices, using proper writing mechanics and technical stylistic conventions.
Section 1: Project IntroductionWrite a four to six (4-6) page project introduction that documents the current status of the organization, expands on the information given above, and includes: Company background information. Details of the type of business in which the company is involved. A description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. Identification of the current qualified information systems personnel by position and responsibilities. The specific types of data the company collects. A description of the information systems that the company currently needs to support business. The description should include at least the following: Operating systems and databases Analytics and interfaces Infrastructure and security The use of at least two (2) high quality resources in this task. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites are not considered quality resources. Use a front page, abstract, in-text citations, and references
See SDLC details below
1. Planning
This is the first phase of the system development process. Identify if a new system is required to achieve the company's strategic goals.
2. System Analysis and Requirements
In the second stage, organizations work on the root cause of their problem or need for change. In case of a problem, possible solutions are presented and analyzed to determine the best solution for the end goal(s) of the project. Systems analysis is crucial in determining what a company's needs are and how they can be met, who is responsible for individual parts of the project, and what type of timeframe to expect
3. Systemdesign
The third phase describes in detail the necessary specifications, features and operations that will meet the functional requirements of the proposed system that will be in place. During this phase, you will consider the essential components (hardware and/or software), structure (networking capabilities), processing, and procedures for the system to achieve its goals.
4. Development
The fourth phase is where the real work begins, especially when a programmer, network engineer, and/or database engineer is brought in to do the bulk of the work on the project. This work involves the use of a flowchart to ensure that the process of the system is properly organized. The development phase is also characterized by installation and change. Focusing on training can be of great benefit at this stage.
5. Integration and Testing
The fifth phase involves systems integration and system testing (of programs and processes) - typically performed by a Quality Assurance (QA) professional - to determine whether the proposed design meets initial business objectives. Testing can be repeated, especially to check for errors, bugs and interoperability. These tests are carried out until the end user finds them acceptable. Another part of this phase is verification and validation, both of which help ensure the successful completion of the program.
6. Implementation
In the sixth phase, most of the program is written. In addition, this phase includes the actual installation of the newly developed system. This step brings the project into production by moving the data and components from the old system and placing them in the new system via a direct switchover. While this can be a risky (and complicated) move, the switchover typically occurs during off-peak hours, minimizing risk. Both system analysts and end users should now see the realization of the project that implemented changes.
7. Operation and Maintenance
The seventh and final phase involves maintenance and the periodic updates that are required. In this step, end users can fine tune the system if desired to increase performance, add new features, or meet additional user requirements.
——————————————————————————————Section 2: Project Plan Use Microsoft Project to: Create a project plan (summary and detailed) with Microsoft to create Office project. The project plan should: Record all tasks, subtasks, resources and time related to the project. Outline the planning, analysis, design and implementation phases. Develop in accordance with the Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC).