Imagine that you are an IT manager charged with keeping up with current technology. Create a PowerPoint presentation for the chief information officer that provides an overview of two areas that you want to update based on emerging technologies. Be sure to provide the new technologies’ capabilities and the advantages they will bring to the organization.
Be sure to cite all sources used in a reference slide with proper APA formatting. Your PowerPoint presentation must contain seven to ten slides; the cover and reference slides do not count in the length requirement.
You may also use the speaker’s notes function for the presentation part of your PowerPoint and provide transitions from one slide to the next.
sample paper
IT Support of Business Processes
- Information technology (IT) has radically transformed the way organizations conduct their operations.
- The modern organization can leverage on information technology to increase competitiveness.
- Recent developments in technology include cloud computing, advanced analytics, mobile trends, and others.
Information technology (IT) has radically transformed the way organizations conduct their operations. The information technology sector is one of the most dynamic sectors in the organization, with new technologies emerging every day. The modern organization can leverage on information technology to increase competitiveness or to gain a competitive advantage. Organizations that fail to take advantage of the developments in the field of technology may find themselves unable to compete in the highly volatile marketplace. Various technological innovations in the last decade have greatly enabled businesses to improve processes and the decision-making aspect. Some of the recent developments in the IT sector that has had a great impact to organizations include cloud infrastructure, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, new system development lifecycle trends, mobile trends, and among other technologies.
Cloud computing
- Cloud computing refers to a catalogue of hosting services provided via the internet and on a usage basis, with the capabilities to leverage on infrastructure provided by a wide range of users.
- Cloud providers maintain and operate the cloud.
- Deployment of cloud computing involves either the private deployment model or the public model.
Cloud computing is one of the new technologies that are changing the way organizations interact with their customers. Cloud computing refers to a catalogue of hosting services provided via the internet and on a usage basis, with the capabilities to leverage on infrastructure provided by a wide range of users (Merrill, 2014). Cloud providers maintain and operate the cloud. The cloud providers give the subscribers unlimited data storage, seamless access to various types of software, automatic upgrades, applications provisioning, and unlimited availability. Deployment of cloud computing involves either the private deployment model or the public model. The private model guarantees the highest security to the organization. It comprises of lines of dedicated networks, which provides the organization with greater control. On the other hand, public cloud involves sharing of a series of networks among a number of organizations. This helps in keeping the costs down.
Capabilities of cloud computing
- Cloud computing enhances sharing.
- Cloud computing is metered by use.
- Cloud computing utilizes internet technologies to reach consumers.
- Controlled interface.
Cloud computing enhances sharing. The technology enhances pooling of resources, which results to economies of scale. Sharing ensures that IT resources are utilized maximally thus creating efficiency in business. All the software in use, platforms and infrastructure are shared among users, which creates optimal use (Merrill, 2014). Cloud computing is metered by use. Usage metrics apply in measuring the value of services provided. Users or customers are able to choose from a variety of pricing plans, which include subscriptions, pay-as-you-go plans, free plans, and fixed plans. Cloud computing utilizes internet technologies to reach consumers. Service provision occurs through internet identifiers and through multiple protocols or formats such as HTTP, IP, URLs, and some web-oriented architectures (Merrill, 2014). Another capability of cloud computing is the controlled interface. Cloud computing is responsive to any changes that users may require. For instance, the possibility of using application program interfaces (APIs) to allow development of applications and services within the platform greatly helps cloud providers in maintaining control over applications.
Advantages of cloud computing
- Multiple applications and vast information database.
- Improving connectivity with customers and employees.
- Can help in transformation of IT.
- Reduced infrastructure costs.
- Provides capacity, scalability and speed.
Cloud computing contains thousands of applications and information that organizations may require for use. Cloud computing enables an organization to improve connectivity to customers and employees. This is often achieved through use of mobile devices and the social networking sites. Cloud computing can help an organization in transformation of IT. This is because cloud computing frees up time and other resources while enabling an organization to concentrate on other activities such as innovation. Another benefit of cloud computing is reduced infrastructure costs. Cloud subscribers access software and other services at reduced prices thus saving on costs. Cloud providers practice economies of scale, and thus they are able to pass the cost savings to customers. Cloud computing provides capacity, scalability and speed to organizations. Cloud subscribers may not necessarily purchase computing capacity for their organizations since the cloud provides unlimited scalability. Organizations are able to purchase only what they require without worrying about the future.
- It provides organizations with security and backup.
- Cloud computing provides availability, geography and mobility to organizations.
- Cloud computing can help an organizations with regulatory compliance.
Cloud computing provides organizations with security and backup. Organizations access automatic backup of their data in cloud. In terms of security, cloud computing provides geographic redundancy, which makes data more secure (Hoppe, 2013). Organizations often find it difficult to maintain technical security teams and to reproduce the organizational and physical aspects like those maintained by cloud providers. Cloud computing provides organizations with encrypted backup solutions, data replication, and other services which improve security of data. Cloud computing provides availability, geography and mobility to organizations. Cloud computing can be accessed virtually anywhere, as long as the organization has internet connection. Various cloud applications such as Microsoft CRM, Dropbox, iCloud and others are just a few examples of applications that are available everywhere, and anytime consumers require them (Hoppe, 2013). Cloud computing can help an organizations with regulatory compliance. The benefit of this lies in the fact that cloud providers ensure compliance with regulations in the areas of power redundancy, network monitoring, system testing, penetration testing, and other areas.
Analytics
- Advanced analytics refers to a system of new analytics technologies that can enable an organization examine structured and unstructured data.
- The ability to analyze vast amounts of data is a huge plus for organizations looking to identify new opportunities in the marketplace.
- Advanced analytic technologies such as in-memory processing enable organizations to access more data and to reduce response time.
The ability to analyze vast amounts of data is a huge plus for organizations looking to identify new opportunities in the marketplace. Advanced analytics refers to a system of new analytics technologies that can enable an organization examine structured and unstructured data (PWC, 2012). One of the challenges presented by big data is the unmanageable data volumes and new information sources that make it difficult to analyze data using traditional technologies. Over the last few years, large organizations has increasingly adopted advanced analytics, which means they are able to easily access data, improve user interfaces, apply new software tools, and use less expensive and time-saving computing platforms (PWC, 2012). Advanced analytic technologies such as in-memory processing enable organizations to access more data and to reduce response time. One of the major reasons why organizations are increasingly adopting analytics is improvement in decision-making.
Advanced analytics capabilities
- Analytics enables businesses to expand the range of data handling capacities.
- Analytics can enable an organization analyze structured and unstructured data.
- Analytics provide organizations with an integrated approach to handle data from multiple datasets and formats.
- Real-time analysis of data and information.
Analytics enables businesses to expand the range of data handling capacities. Advanced analytics provides businesses with the opportunity to review large data and within less period. Analytics can enable an organization analyze structured and unstructured data. Structured data relates to data coming from the organization. Unstructured data may be data derived from social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Analytics enhance collection of data, which can then be put to use for multiple purposes by organizations, vendors, customers, and other groups. Analytics provide organizations with an integrated approach to handle data from multiple datasets and formats. Analytics enable users to use an integrated approach rather than piecemeal solutions. Another capability of advanced analytics is real-time analysis, which involves analysis of current data and trends in the market.
Advantages of advanced analytics to the organization
- Advanced analytics enables organizations to identify operational errors instantly.
- It can help the organization keep up with new trends in the market.
- Advanced analytics enable organizations to gain better sales insights, which may translate to increased sales.
- Advanced analytics improves decision-making in the organization.
Advanced analytics enables organizations to identify operational errors instantly. Advanced analytics provides organizations with real-time insight thus enabling fast and easy identification of operational errors. Advanced analytics are crucial in helping an organization keep up with new consumer trends in the market. Analytics tools provide the opportunity for organizations to keep track of customer movements, promotions, and competitive offerings. Real-time analytics enable an organization to respond quickly to new market trends. Advanced analytics enable organizations to gain better sales insights, which may translate to increased sales. For instance, real-time analysis can enable an organization identify the type of products that are doing well in the market and thus avoid missing opportunities. Advanced analytics improves decision-making in the organization (PWC, 2012). Managers are able to analyze statistical data, which enables them to make better decisions.
- Advanced analytics helps in fraud prevention.
- Cost savings.
- Advanced analytics enable organizations to monitor their operations and processes in real time.
Another benefit of analytics is fraud prevention. Analytics enables organizations to identify fraud as it happens and thus take remedial action immediately (In Perner, 2014). Analytics tools act as a real-time safeguard tool for organizations against fraud. Analytics can greatly benefit an organization through cost savings. Although implementing advanced analytics tools may be expensive, there are more benefits to be derived in the long-run. Advanced analytics improves services drastically within an organization. Advanced analytics enable organizations to monitor their operations and processes in real time. If faults are detected in the line of production, the relevant authority is notified immediately for remedial action.
References
Hoppe, A. (2013). Implementation, usage and advantages of cloud computing within project management using the example of an offshore wind farm project. New York, NY: GRIM Verlag.
Industrial Conference on Data Mining, & In Perner, P. (2014). Advances in data mining: Applications and theoretical aspects : 14th Industrial Conference, ICDM 2014, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 16-20, 2014. Proceedings. Cham: Springer.
Merrill, T. (2014). Cloud computing: is your company weighing both benefits & risks? ACE Group. Retrieved from http://www.acegroup.com/us-en/assets/privacy-network-security-cloud-computing-is-your-company-weighing-both-benefits-risks.pdf
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). (2012). How to drive innovation and business growth: leveraging emerging technology for sustainable growth. Retrieved from https://www.pwc.com/us/en/supply-chain-management/assets/pwc-oracle-innovation-white-paper.pdf
