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Assignment 1: LASA 2: Evaluating Ethics and Security within an Organization
In this assignment, you will apply the knowledge gained about ethics and security to evaluate security risks and control procedures within your selected organization from Module 1 Assignment 3. Consider the ethics and security measures from all perspectives (e.g., the employees, the customers, and the organization itself). Provide recommendations for future improvements. Use the following points to guide you:
- Evaluate security measures currently in place in your selected organization. Consider security measures for the employees, the customers, and the organization itself (e.g., personal privacy, trade secrets, human error, hacking, monitoring, natural disasters, etc.).
- Predict typical security problems your selected organization might face, given the information systems currently in place.
- Describe and explain the types of control procedures that are currently in place at your selected organization.
- Discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by the organization when putting in control mechanisms.
- Provide recommendations to improve the security measures and integrity of your selected organizations for the future.
By Saturday, June 29, 2013, submit a 6 – 8 page white paper focusing on the best security measures and control mechanisms for your selected organization. Be sure to include a cover sheet and at least three credible references. Apply current APA standards for writing style to your work.
| Assignment 1 Grading Criteria | Maximum Points |
| Identify and discuss benefits of security measures currently in place at selected organization. | |
| Identify and discuss security problems and risks for selected organization. | |
| Identify and discuss control measures currently in place at selected organization. | |
| Describe ethical dilemmas as they pertain to an organization’s security. | |
| Provided recommendations to improve the security measures and integrity of selected organization. | |
|
Style (8 points): Tone, audience, and word choice Organization (16 points): Introduction, transitions, and conclusion Usage and Mechanics (16 points): Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure APA Elements (24 points): In text citations and references, paraphrasing, and appropriate use of quotations and other elements of style |
|
| Total: | 300 |
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Information technology
Jeffrey L. Ellis
Argosy University Online
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1
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Introduction
The analysis of Alpha books is centered on
stake holder and ownership
membership to financial group
business dealership
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 2
Company acquisition changes the face of the company and the operations of the company. Similarly, when a company stands on its own, the operations and internal systems change. As we shall learn in succeeding sections, the changes also affected the Information systems at Alpha books.
Beginning as a division of Macmillan, Alpha book has grown to stand on its own and becoming a member of the Penguin group. It is widely known for its production of the Complete Idiot’s Guides. One of the key elements of the success story of Alpha Books is its unique Information systems. In this paper, we analyze the impact of information systems to the operations of Alpha books and how it can be made better (Alpha Books). The various aspects of IT management and the divisions within the IT department at Alpha books are analyzed through topical questions.
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organization’s current and past use of information systems
There has been change of hands from
Macmillan administration to Alpha Books administration
From Pearson to Penguin
These changes have led to change in the Information systems at Alpha Books. The changes include from information systems operation as a branch to operations as a stand alone company.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
The information systems discussed in this section include the company website, inventory control system, payroll system and management systems among others.
There has not been much change from in the information technologies at Alpha books since it moved to Penguin in 2003. However, that change itself is a significant step that indeed changed the face of the information systems at Alpha books. While a division of Macmillan, Alpha books operated at the discretion of the parent company. The organization did not have a stand alone data base and the DSS was directly linked to Macmillan (Alpha Books). The sales at that moment were under Person Group and marketing was done under the same. The only systems that were maintained form the Alpha books departments were routine maintenance, preparation of payroll for its staff and inventory control (Lucey, 2004).
Currently, Alpha books has its own database that is only connected to Penguin group. The sales can be undertaken either from Penguin or from its website. All of its operations have now been incorporated and the DSS is a stand alone.
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impact on efficiency and operations
The efficiency level has changed in the
number of files being catered for in the new systems
Time required to carry out functions
Reduced decisions to be made and also
independence
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 4
The changes that have been evidenced and the current status of the ICT at Alpha Books have a great impact on both efficiency and operations. One, there is a difference on the operations of Person group from that at Penguin group. While penguin operates on its own, it is owned by shareholders. Thus there is a limitation of coverage since Penguin just like Alpha books operates mainly in New York, NY. This is one of the changes that the operations of Alpha books have to face. The information technology at Alpha books which includes the marketing branch covers as far as the bordering states with New York (Shajahan, 2009).
Changing from a division of Macmillan to stand on its own increased the efficiency at the decision making level. The DSS at Alpha books has a relatively less work load to cover and this makes the time taken to operate a decision less (Alpha Books). On the other hand, the use of Website helps Alpha books in its agenda of going national and eventually Global.
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impact on decision making and profitability
This section explains
Number of decisions made by the systems
How Information systems impact labor requirements
How the systems help in accurately calculating and reporting ratios
Production of financial reports using Information systems
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 5
The DSS at Alpha books as noted earlier in this paper has a lesser work load as compared to the DSS previously at Macmillan. The DSS covers a wide range of activities; inventory management, payroll system, and time management (Shajahan, 2009). The management at Alpha Books have been able to engage Information systems in coming up with technologies that have the capacity to facilitate the whole of customer interrogation up to the point of placing an order without engaging any of the staff. This indeed increases the profits of the company since less human input is required. Also, the ICT at Alpha has a database with all of its staff and is able to execute periodic statements. The preset systems help the management thus in not only coming up with the report but also in making future estimates (Lucey, 2004).
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usage and purpose of the IS system
The purpose of the IS system in Alpha Books is based on three main aspects; internal and external relations, management, and decision making, the latter is further explained in previous sections in this paper.
In managing internal and external relationships, the management at Alpha Books has always ensured that the IS has an interface for both. The interaction with internal environment includes sending of memos, communication on new deliveries, inter departmental communication as well as preparations of meetings. The management also convenes virtual meetings using tele-conference systems in the organization (Alpha Books).
On the other hand, management systems have been another effective role of the IS at Alpha books. The monitoring of staff, verifiability of processes, and consolidation of reports is easily done using the IS system at Alpha books (Shajahan, 2009).
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 6
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the improvements that can be made
While the advantages of the information systems noted earlier in this paper have already been attained, there are still areas that the management at Alpha books needs to improve on
First, the website usage is yet to be maximized.
Secondly, the IS at Alpha Books should be improved to provide access to interaction between the company and prospective human resources.
The management should also be able to increase the internal communication s through the IS systems.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 7
While the web provides the space required to the management, the management is not able to use it as an interface to its stakeholders. The company uses the website mainly as a sales point and a customer feed back system. Improvement would include publishing of its financial reports using the website. This would be largely be appreciated by the stakeholders (Shajahan, 2009).
While many other companies have been able to utilize internet based technology to search for human labor, the management at Alpha books have not been able to achieved this (Lucey, 2004).
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need for an information system
The key requirements for Information Systems in Alpha Books include
Data flow management
Human labor management
Inventory management
Sales management
Marketing management
Financial recording and reporting process
Time management , and,
General management decisions making process (Shajahan, 2009)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 8
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how decisions are made using the IT system
There are three main decisions made using the IT system
Structured and unstructured problems
Programmed and un-programmed problems, and
Certain and uncertain problems
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9
The procedure of making decisions in Information technology takes three steps; having the DSS ready for execution, inputting all relevant data and receiving the decision. The amount of data depends with the decision to be made. Also, there are decisions that cannot be completed without certain data. For example, decision on pricing cannot be completed without the desired margin and the price of a commodity.
In all of the above decision making scenarios, the management has the duty to input data into the system. Structured / unstructured problems are problems that the system has either to consult the user of the step to take or take the steps itself. For example, the systems may enquire whether to create a new file once new employee is employed or not to create. When a new file is created, the system may require the user to input data (unstructured) to the system (Lucey, 2004).
In programmed/un-programmed systems, the systems decide whether the user has a program that can be able to solve the problem at hand. Were this is not possible, the system notifies the user. In certain and uncertain problems, the system has two or more options of steps to make the decision thus is based on the best step chosen by the user. For example, at the end of an activity, the user may decide either to save the file, delete the file or save the file in another location (Lucey, 2004).
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key business requirements or needs that the system must meet
For an information system to be successful, it must be able to meet the factors that are laid down below
Create an interface between the system and the user
Ability to make key decisions on behalf of the user
Be compatible with the operation of the organizations
Ability to hold all the data that has been in put by the management (Shajahan, 2009)
The systems must be compatible with future changes or can be phased out where new system must take over, and
An effective information system must allow the user to execute all commands.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 10
While this section has noted the key elements of an ideal IS, there are salient features that any organization has and must be included in the Information system of that company and industry. The compatibility and capacity factors are notably repeated in this section. This explains the focus on the outcome that is expected from the information systems.
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types of decision-making support systems
As an IT professional, the efficiency at my department may rely mostly on the various DSS’s that are available ay my disposal and how best I am able to use the decision making tolls. Some of the DSS’s are
Executive support systems (ESS)
Group decision support systems (GDSS)
Decision support systems (DSS)
Management information systems (MIS)
Intelligent systems (Shajahan, 2009)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 11
Each of the Decision Support systems listed above are used singularly and corporately. They are used singularly in making departmental decisions and are used corporately in making the overall decision for the organization. None of the DSS can be able to be used for the overall decision making on its own.
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Conclusion
From the above data, the importance of information systems to Alpha Books and to many companies is evident. The operations using Information Systems are easier not only for management but also for the staff, the customers and other stakeholders in that organization (Lucey, 2004). The improvements that are recommended for the Information Systems at Alpha books are not final, the field of Information Technology continues to grow by the day. It is thus important to focus on continued improvements for the benefit of the company.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 12
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References
http://www.alphatextbooks.com/
Lucey, T., (2004). Management Information Systems. New York: SAGE
Shajahan, S., (2009). Management Information Systems. New York: Willey
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 13
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