Ism 4300information Systems Operations Managementspring 2021 Class Pro ✓ Solved

ISM 4300 Information Systems Operations Management Spring 2021 Class Project You are the Information Technology Manager for Titan Industries, a Florida based company that makes Widgets for several clients all over the world. For years, the company has relied on outdated Information Technology assets to do business. The newly appointed CEO has approached you and said that he wants you to update the company’s IT infrastructure and equipment to better position the company to compete in today’s global marketplace. You have been asked to perform an assessment of the company’s current outdated Information Technology assets (hardware, software, etc.) and make recommendations for upgrades or replacement of those systems by writing a white paper for your upper management.

You will then give a slide presentation, to your upper management, to discuss your findings. First, you must do an Internet search and identify the IT assets that you wish to use as the baseline for the outdated Information Technology assets at Titan Industries. Second, identify the reasons why the current system is not sufficient for Titan Industries to compete in the global marketplace. Third, identify the upgrades or replacements that you wish to make to the existing technologies. Include the costs for all equipment, software, installation, training, and any other costs associated with your recommendations.

Finally, discuss how Titan Industries will benefit from the new technologies that you are recommending. Your white paper should have the following format: · Cover Page containing the following information: · The Title of the paper · Your Name · Your Title with the company (e.g. Information Technology Manager) · The Date · The Titan Industries Logo (you may create one or modify one you find online) · Table of Contents · Introduction - discusses the problem and why you are writing this white paper · Outdated Information Technology Assets Description · Reasons why the current system is considered outdated · Recommended upgrades or replacements (include all costs) · Benefits of the new system to Titan Industries · Conclusions · References Your slide presentation should have the following format: · Title slide containing the following information: · The Title of your slide presentation · Your Name · Your Title with the company (e.g.

Information Technology Manager) · The Date · The Titan Industries Logo (you may create one or modify one you find online) · Agenda slide (similar to the table of contents) · Introduction slide · Slide which discusses the Outdated Information Technology Assets Description · Slide which explains the reasons why the current system is considered outdated · Slide which outlines your recommended upgrades or replacements · Slide which Benefits of the new system to Titan Industries · Conclusions slide · References slide Your white paper (not the slides) should be in Microsoft Word format, one inch margins, Times New Roman font, size 12, and be double spaced. Your papers should be between 10 to 12 pages in length, not counting the Cover Page.

Your slide presentation should be in Microsoft PowerPoint format and should adhere to the outline discussed above. Please use a font and character size that is large enough for the class to be able to read your slides. You will be graded on the content, structure, and conformity to the guidelines discussed above, and the overall appearance of your white paper, your slide presentation, and your in-class presentation.

Paper for above instructions

Your Name
Information Technology Manager
Date: October 2023
Titan Industries Logo

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Outdated Information Technology Assets Description
3. Reasons Why the Current System Is Considered Outdated
4. Recommended Upgrades or Replacements
5. Benefits of the New System to Titan Industries
6. Conclusions
7. References

Introduction

As the Information Technology Manager of Titan Industries, I am tasked with evaluating our current Information Technology (IT) environment in light of the recent directive from our CEO to modernize our IT infrastructure. The challenge posed is not just technical but strategic; our outdated systems are hindering our ability to compete effectively within the global marketplace. This paper aims to provide an assessment of our existing technology environment, identify the reasons for its inadequacy, and make recommendations for upgrades that will enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Outdated Information Technology Assets Description

Titan Industries has been using an assortment of legacy systems, primarily comprising dated hardware and software. For instance, our server systems are based on Windows Server 2008, which is no longer supported by Microsoft, leading to potential security vulnerabilities. Additionally, our desktop environment consists largely of outdated models from 2014 with insufficient processing power to handle current software requirements. Our primary business applications operate on outdated versions that lack necessary features to enhance productivity, such as automated reporting and cloud integration.

Reasons Why the Current System Is Considered Outdated

1. Security Risks: Running unsupported operating systems exposes the company to security vulnerabilities (Fitzgerald, 2021). As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, outdated systems can jeopardize sensitive data and halt operations.
2. Decreased Productivity: Legacy systems often slow down operational processes due to poor hardware performance and lack of support for new applications (Parker, 2020). Employees spend more time troubleshooting these systems rather than focusing on their core responsibilities.
3. Incompatibility: Many of our existing applications do not integrate well with modern technologies such as cloud-based platforms and data analytics tools, impeding information flow and decision-making processes (Harrison, 2022).
4. High Maintenance Costs: Maintaining outdated technology can be more expensive than upgrading, not only because of the costs associated with repairs but also due to loss of productivity during downtimes (Paul & Barry, 2021).
5. Competitive Disadvantages: Competitors utilizing modern technology will continue to gain an edge over us in terms of efficiency, customer service, and overall operational agility (Smith & Jones, 2020).

Recommended Upgrades or Replacements

To modernize our IT infrastructure effectively, I propose the following upgrades:
1. Hardware Refresh
- Desktops: Replace all current desktops (approximately 100 units) with Dell OptiPlex 7000 series – estimated cost: ,000.
- Servers: Upgrade to Dell PowerEdge T340 servers – estimated cost: ,000 for 2 servers.
- Network Equipment: Upgrade to Cisco Catalyst switches for improved connectivity – estimated cost: ,000.
2. Software Upgrades
- Operating System: Update to Windows 11 Professional License for all desktops – estimated cost: ,000.
- Office Suite: Change to Microsoft 365 Business Standard for collaboration and cloud savings – estimated cost: ,000 annually.
- Security Software: Deploy a comprehensive security suite (e.g., Symantec Endpoint Protection) – estimated cost: