Sample Essay On Step 2: Restructuring It System Architecture

Implementing an IT system

The selection and acquisition process is the second phase of the implementation of an Information Technology (IT) system. It involves numerous steps as described below.

Step 1: Identifying, Planning, and Justifying the IT requirements

All the business processes of the organization must be aligned with the goals and objectives of the institution. The system requirements must be defined in a manner that it describes the outlined objectives. The Information System requirements must address the business of the organization, problems to be eliminated, system goals, the expectations of the users and the system deliverables. The process will be facilitated by interviews, questionnaires, benchmarking, and prototyping amongst others. This process helps the system implementers to choose the specific applications, stock to the timetable, respect the available budget and expectations.

Before the acquisition of IT, any organization is entitled to remodel the architecture of its information system (IS). The architecture is shaped by the ability of the organization’s objective to be met by the specific applications. The structural design of the system pronounces information flow, application functionality, data hierarchy, and organization architecture in the association. The result in the phase is the formulation of a strategic planning level that ensures that all components match the IS architecture requirements.

Step 3: Identifying a development alternative

Before making the decision to settle with the particular information system, the management should ensure that the interest of the organization remains a priority. The selected procuring method must best-fit the business of the organization. The options available for selection includes adoption of an in-house system, off-the self-solutions, custom made systems, Outsourcing, auctioning amongst others. The selected option must align itself with the business and IT strategy of the organization.

Step 4: Conducting a feasibility analysis

A feasibility analysis is carried out to highlight the constraints associated with the entire process. It is important to perform a cost-benefit analysis, technical feasibility, operational feasibility, political feasibility, and legal and contractual feasibility. A risk analysis review will help the management to make the right decisions.

Step 5: Performing the Selection Procedure.

A detailed and clear request for proposal (RFP) is very instrumental in this phase. As the most significant document in software acquisition, the RFP will be helpful in determining the best vendor. The RFP questions are composed in a way that they will generate meaningful and relevant vendor responses. The document analyzes the up to date technical and operating environment, current technical and operating problems and suggested solutions, goals and visions of the organization and the assigned roles and responsibilities.

Step 6: Proposal Evaluation Process

In the stage, the Key Stakeholders presents reviews of their submitted proposals and the management selects those that match the organization expectations. A software vendor is selected by considering the following factors: the background and potential of vendors, determining the evaluation criteria, evaluating providers and their applications, and selecting the provider.

Step 7: Implementing the selected solution

The negotiation of the contract is followed by an agreement between the management and the vendor. An acceptance plan is offered to the selected vendor. The company chooses the preferred option and gives directions to the vendor. The organization is charged with the responsibility to deal with resistance to change, training responsibilities and conversion strategies.
Monitoring and evaluation of the selection and acquisition process are kept ongoing. The advancement of technology may prompt the management to adjust and adopt the new systems. The selection and acquisition phase is critical since it guides an organization to meet their goals and objectives.

References

Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2013). Health care information systems: A practical approach for health care management.