1 Last Chance Securities

Situation:

The IT director opened the department staff meeting today by saying "I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that management approved the pay roll system project this morning. The new system will reduce clerical time and errors, improve morale in the payroll department, and avoid possible fines and penalties for noncompliance. The bad news is that the system must installed by the end of December in order to meet new federal reporting rules, costs must be within the budgeted amount, the new system must interact with existing systems, and the vice president of finance insists on approving the final desiring."

1. Name the constraints and indicate whether each is present, future, internal, external, mandatory, or desirable.

2. Explain why it is important to define the payroll project's scope. Explain how to define project scope.

3. Identify tangible and intangible benefits of the new payroll system.

4. What topics should be included in a report to management at the end of the preliminary investigation?

2 Way Out Bikes

Situation:

The owner of Way Out Bikes asked you for advice about acquiring and information system for her business. The company specializes in helping customers select exactly the right bicycle for their needs and lifestyles. Way Out cannot compete on price with mass merchandisers, but it seeks to offer value and expertise for which customers are willing to pay. You ask the owner wherther she has long range plans for the company, and she replies that she has not really thought beyond a one-year time frame.

1. Explain the concept of strategic planning to Way Out`s owner.

2. Decide what else you might want to know about Way Out's owner.

3. Draft a misson statement for Way Out

4. Make a list of Way Out's stakeholders.

3 The Monday IT Department Staff Meeting

Situation:

Your boss, the IT manager, was ready to explode. "Why can't we get our priorities straight?" he fumed "Here we go again, working on a low-value project, just because it's a favorite of the marketing group. I wish we could get away from departmental politics! I want you to draft a memo that proposes a systems review committee for this company. Explain the advantages, but don't step on anyone's toes!"

1. Write a draft of the proposal, as your boss requested.

2. Write a memo to your boss explaining potential disadvantages of the committee approach.

3. Draft a set of ground rules for committee meetings Try to suggest rules that will minimize political differences and focus on the overall benefit to the company.

4. Most people serve on a committee at some point in their lives. Write a brief memo describing your committee experience, good or bad.

4 The Friday IT Department Staff Meeting

Situation:

By the end of the week, things quieted down. The IT staff discussed how to prioritize IT project requests, taking into account technical, operational, economic, and schedule feasibility. The IT manager asked for suggestions from the group.

1. Provide three examples of why a project might lack technical feasibility.

2. Provide three examples of why a project might lack operational feasibility.

3. Provide three examples of why a project might lack economic feasibility.

4. Provide three examples of why a project might lack schedule feasibility.