Assignment 6 ::MIS1::

If you were hired by the university president as an IT consultant, what would you suggest (technology, infrastructure, innovations, steps, processes, etc) in order for the internet connectivity be improved? (3000words) An IT consultant works in partnership with clients, advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. Consultants work to improve the structure and efficiency and of an organization’s IT systems. IT consultants may be involved in a variety of activities, including marketing, project management, client relationship management and systems development. They may also be responsible for user training and feedback. In many companies, these tasks will be carried out by an IT project team. IT consultants are increasingly involved in sales and business development, as well as technical duties. Typical work activities Task typically involves: meeting with clients to determine requirements; working with clients to define the scope of a project; planning timescales and the resources needed; clarifying a client's system specifications, understanding their work practices and the nature of their business; traveling to customer sites; liaising with staff at all levels of a client organization; defining software, hardware and network requirements; analyzing IT requirements within companies and giving independent and objective advice on the use of IT; developing agreed solutions and implementing new systems; presenting solutions in written or oral reports; helping clients with change-management activities; project managing the design and implementation of preferred solutions; purchasing systems where appropriate; designing, testing, installing and monitoring new systems; preparing documentation and presenting progress reports to customers; organizing training for users and other consultants; being involved in sales and support and, where appropriate, maintaining contact with client organizations; Identifying potential clients and building and maintaining contacts. Technology For me if I were hire as an IT Consultant of our University which is University of Southeastern Philippines, I would rather to suggest that, we all know that technology continues to change rapidly time to time and year by year, each time that there will be a new technology invent or implement there are a lot of things change. I highly suggest to be more updated to such new things that help us a lot in terms of our technology, one good example of it is the Wireless Internet Access Service Provider (WISP) we called is the technology as a WI-FI. Moreover, it helps us also faster internet access…. Infrastructure For an organization's information technology, infrastructure management (IM) is the management of essential operation components, such as policies, processes, equipment, data, human resources, and external contacts, for overall effectiveness. Infrastructure management is sometimes divided into categories of systems management, network management, and storage management. Infrastructure management products are available from a number of vendors including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Microsoft. Among other purposes, infrastructure management seeks to: * Reduce duplication of effort * Ensure adherence to standards * Enhance the flow of information throughout an information system * Promote adaptability necessary for a changeable environment * Ensure interoperability among organizational and external entities * Maintain effective change management policies and practices Although all business activities depend upon the infrastructure, planning and projects to ensure its effective management are typically undervalued to the detriment of the organization. According to IDC, a prominent research firm (cited in an article in (DMReview), investments in infrastructure management have the largest single impact on an organization's revenue. It can also help the university in: *Installation Services *Maintenance Services *Desktop Support *System Support *Integration Services Innovation refers to a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental and emergent or radical and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations. Following Schumpeter (1934), contributors to the scholarly literature on innovation typically distinguish between invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully in practice. In many fields, something new must be substantially different to be innovative, not an insignificant change, e.g., in the arts, economics, business and government policy. In economics the change must increase value, customer value, or producer value. The goal of innovation is positive change, to make someone or something better. Innovation leading to increased productivity is the fundamental source of increasing wealth in an economy. Innovation is an important topic in the study of economics ,business , design, technology, sociology, and engineering. Colloquially, the word "innovation" is often synonymous with the output of the process. However, economists tend to focus on the process itself, from the origination of an idea to its transformation into something useful, to its implementation; and on the system within which the process of innovation unfolds. Consultant Steps and Guide: To provide all the materials, concepts, and exercises needed by a trained consultant to teach or consult on Strategic Planning and implementation of the Plan. 10 Steps: Plan-to-Plan The Future Visioning Process Key Success Measures Current State Assessment The Core Strategies and Cascade of Planning 3-Year Business Planning Annual Plans and Budgets Leading and Mastering Strategic Change The Essence of Strategic Management Implementation The Annual Strategic Review (and Update) To provide and train the consultant with key topics and fail-safe mechanisms to proceed towards mastery of Reinventing Strategic Management (Planning, Leadership, and Change) for the 21st century. To assist the consultant and trainer in clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the CEO, executives, department heads, and employees as well as internal and external consultants in Strategic Planning and Change. To provide a summary of all key consultant pages in the Haines Strategic Library on Strategic Management +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovation http://store.systemsthinkingpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CSGSP-E&Category_Code=