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Intranets
Do the facts indicate that Liu did an adequate research job before he purchased the system.
No, first mistake was to receive no input from the actual users which will make actual success a real possibility.
Second, (although not completely his direct fault) was assigning a human with to much to do in other operations the additional opportunity of system analysis ( or additional burden ) and expecting a correct analysis.
Third, actual selection of four choices (with half of them automatically being voted against) is not actually a choice, but a rather simple decision.
Forth, any intelligence "unit administrator" who believes that two days of training is all that is required for any software program, is not intelligence at all and should have such a position in any application.
How should Liu gain the users support, since he did not get their input on the system or the vendors.
By not getting their input at the beginning, the task of receiving trust from the users is twice (or more) as hard to accomplish.
It is not impossible however, and outside input is always available and should be done. I believe this is the first step in getting trust. Being present "in the trenches" is also a positive in the eyes of the "warriors". Whenever a leader does not care to be in trenches, the complete trust of the "warriors" will only fade, unless the countries propaganda is damn good. ~ German propaganda leader ~ Mr. Groubells 1933-1945. Name is not spelled correctly.
He should receive input by: Face to Face input, unnamed input by surveys or other methods which will receive the same desired information. Any means of completion of this task is justified and must be done.
Who should determine what reports the system will deliver and when should that decision be made.
The managers must have some say in the conclusion or will not take responsibility for decisions made completely by other people, or at least not take these decisions in the "optimal way" toward the success of the firms strategic goals.
One actual method which is done daily in retail management is the acceptance of corporate goals and the tasks which must be done. Corporate management lets store manager set some of their own methods toward completion and therefore the store manager must take responsibility, since the store manager partially set the rules. This way failure is easily set on a name if failure actually does occur. ~ like Office Depot.
The decisions should be made before actual choices for system analysis is done. After all this is the reason for the new system and slacking here will one major reason if project is a failure.
What can Liu do in the sale of the new system applying "internal marketing", and who he must sell this system to and list his alternatives.
Lets do part b first since the answer is shortest. 1.b He needs to sell the system to 1. The management, 2. The users. The more he can sell it , the more possible the success of it. If the system analysis is aware of their responsibilities, they will realize this is a prime concern and has to be dealt with for successful implementation.
1.a Internal marketing most likely consist of several application.
Pointing out the main problems of the firm in present time.
State how computers can be applied to solve these problem.
Address the employees concerns in both the business and their personal desires in their careers.
State some numbers in the actual "net increase" of the savings involved and address the benefits that the employees will gain upon the successful implement of the project (~ appox~ 1 year). I do not care what any "expert" will say, money will still give excellent motivation.
The drawbacks must also be stated for early frustration to be avoided.
Examples, additional burden , which will need to be done at the same time of everyday operations.
A new way of operations, a new vocabulary, all at the same time as day to day work.
This is way compensation either direct or indirect is required, if you lose the users motivation, failure will most likely have a very fair chance of occurring.
His only real alternatives are the methods he uses to complete the above points.
~ Bring in additional training by instructors, by training packages, maybe a internal sponsor will do the training themselves..
All points above, 1-5 must be dealt with ( most likely additional ones also)
with the alternatives being
1. Who will do it.
How to do it.
How long to do it.
Who will give feedback and how often and with which methods to use to fulfill these tasks.
These tasks questions should also be answered before the answers are actually needed. And feedback obtained also.
Should the organization hire an assistance for Mr.Liu.
Yes, his present tasks are:
Manage all business functions.
Including personnel , accounting, operation with both divisions of the organization.
A "image" documentation system , I believe, would be proper in this decision.
This means that either Dr. Liu or an additional person must be brought in, at least temporary , for anyone to believe that both of these tasks can be done at the same time with a single employee would be asking for a lot as well as the amount of time needed to do both should be illegal. Yes he should have a assistance or a separate title.
5b. What qualification do this new position call for.
A unit ~ Head of Information Services.
My first thoughts are to let Dr. Liu specialize on what he does best. This case tells me he is not as good as he believes in information management. And anyway a position as important as head of accounting should not be burden with all the changes in computers. He should be studying way to optimize the accounting laws with strategic goals and of course communicate with the Head of information Services to find out what is needed and how to get this reports in action.
The new person should offset their cost by a portion of the new system cost benefits.
5c. What are the consequences of my decisions.
Could range from a slight increase to a major increase. Could , or will make the different in a successful growth structure. If retirement is a quick solution, then doing nothing could be an option, however any potential buyer will not like these collection problems stated in "the problem". An optimal solution would most likely be at least a plan for the future.
Their present problems will only be increased by additional business, which means something will have to be done, if the business is going to grow and continue to be successful.
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