Information Systems and Organisations: Smart Constructions Limited

Running head: INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Information Systems and Organisations: Smart Constructions Limited
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
2.1 Task 1: IT Provision and Enterprise Systems..................................................................2
2.2 Task 2: Decision Support Systems or DSS......................................................................6
2.3 Task 3: Use of Technology in Smart Homes.................................................................10
2.4 Task 4: Outsourcing Relationship Management or ORM System.................................13
2.5 Task 5: Smart homes Impact on Society and Environment...........................................15
3. Conclusion............................................................................................................................17
References................................................................................................................................18

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1. Introduction
IT or information technology can be referred to as a proper utilization of systems for
the core purpose of storing, retrieving, transmitting as well as manipulation of data and
information within the context of an enterprise or a business (Schwalbe 2015). Smart
Constructions Limited or SCL is a new construction organization, which has speciality in
building several residential houses, named as Smart Homes. They are currently operating in
highly competitive market. The unique selling point of this organization is provision of smart
living environments for residents in houses by using latest smart devices like smart electrical
switch, remotely adjustable thermostat, self-regulating actuator and digital sensor. They are
even using certain information systems for bringing major advantages by using long term
business strategy for embracing several initiatives like balanced portfolio development,
acquiring new technologically based partner companies and many more. The following report
outlines a brief discussion on the case study of Smart Constructions Limited with relevant
details regarding information systems.
2. Discussion
2.1 Task 1: IT Provision and Enterprise Systems
IT provisioning refers to the procedure for preparation and equipping any network and
hence allowing it to provide innovative and new services to the users. It is a major type of
enterprise wide configuration, management as well as implementation of several kinds of
resources for IT system (Dutta, Geiger and Lanvin 2015). This provisioning is the fourth
distinctive step within the management of OAMP or operations, administration, maintenance
and provisioning. This type of provisioning even provides services, software and equipment
to the customers, employees and users for having context in computer networking as well as
telecommunications. IT provisioning even provides different aspects in different

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telecommunications and thus is sub divided into few subsets like grid computing
provisioning, server provisioning, user provisioning, internet access provisioning and many
more.
Enterprise systems or ES are the large scale application software packages, which
eventually support all types of business processes, flow of information, usage of data
analytics in complex companies and many more (Bilbao-Osorio, Dutta and Lanvin 2013).
These types of systems also involve ERP or enterprise resource planning system, customer
relationship management software and enterprise planning system. Business intelligence and
data warehousing systems are enterprise wide packaged application software that is being
sold by the vendors of enterprise systems as they do not directly support proper execution of
business procedures and hence they are removed from the term. In Smart Constructions
Limited, a proper IT provision and enterprise systems are required for their long term as well
as short term strategies (Marchewka 2014). The details of this provisioning are provided in
the following paragraphs.
Importance of Implementation of IT Portfolio Management
Portfolio management can be referred to as the major skill, which an individual needs
to manage investments or resources efficiently. The IT or information technology portfolio
management eventually takes into account each and every planned or current IT resources
and hence providing a significant framework to analyse, plan as well as execute the IT
portfolio in the entire organization (Dahlstrom, Walker and Dziuban 2013). This type of
management also exist for creation, providing and even measuring the business value of
information technology. The information technology portfolio management is being built on
certain tools, which have the capability to measure the data like benefits, risks and costs
associated with the successful deployment of few IT resources that are spread in the entire

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enterprise. The entire process of portfolio development majorly starts with proper analysis,
planning, creation, assessment and balancing in three major areas of project, infrastructure
and application portfolios.
This specific portfolio management is being built on the core infrastructure related
services and resources like networks, storage, servers and systems for dealing with the
factors, which ensure that manageability and availability of portfolio items are possible and
these could be advantageous in respect to total financial or investment value within any
specific company (Holtshouse 2013). SCL has considered to examine their existing portfolio
of several enterprise systems for determination of new information systems and also deciding
on current systems that require replacement or up gradation. They can take up newly planned
initiatives and ongoing IT services so that they able to complete their IT provisioning and
enterprise system implementation in a better manner. These two would be extremely
beneficial for the organization as it would help them in application of systematic management
to the investments, activities and projects of IT department and enterprise systems (Lloyd
2017).
Mechanisms for Performing APM or Applications Portfolio Management
APM or application portfolio management can be referred to as a framework to
manage the enterprise IT software application as well as software based service. This APM
even provides the managers with the core inventory of organizational software applications or
metrics for illustrating the business advantages of every application (Bloom et al. 2014). The
complete visibility into an application landscape is extremely helpful for a company to
manage the expenses, to ensure alignment within business value chain and software for the
core purpose of promoting innovation and agility. All of these solutions even provide clearer

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insights regarding number of applications being used, respective business values and the
supporting technologies.
The most effective mechanisms for application portfolio management in SCL are as
follows:
i) Knowing Internal Customers: The internal customers’ demands are required to be
known by SCL so that they are able to deal with the organizational value chain and software.
ii) Creation and Sharing of Target Output List: A proper creation and sharing of the
target output list is the second mechanism that is appropriate for application portfolio
management (Kellermann and Jones 2013).
iii) Determination of Data Owners: The respective data owners are being determined
by this mechanism and it would be extremely effective for SCL.
Merits and Demerits of Purchasing Information Systems vs Leasing or Hiring these
systems from Vendors
The major merits and demerits of purchasing information systems are as follows:
i) Merits: The main merits are given below:
a) Information systems are assets to a company and hence purchasing them allows
better communication and constant availability of resources (Sittig and Singh 2015).
b) As it is a onetime investment, purchasing even ensures cost effectiveness and better
productivity.
ii) Demerits: In spite of having few advantages, there are some disadvantages as well,
which are as follows: