Report: Impact of IMS Upgrade on XYZ Company Performance

This report examines the impact of an updated Information Management System (IMS) on XYZ Company's decision-making and security. It utilizes deductive inferencing and qualitative analysis to explore how adopting a new IMS affects company performance. The report delves into various components, including hardware, software, networks, telecommunications, and decision support systems (DSS). It analyzes how data collected by the IMS, including the use of sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, and ANOVA, can be used to measure key and overall company performance. The findings emphasize the importance of secure data collection, data integrity, and the role of an efficient IMS in enhancing decision-making. Recommendations include adopting a new WLAN system and upgrading the IMS to improve data security and facilitate better business decisions. The report concludes that an upgraded IMS is crucial for company growth and security in the face of increasing cyber threats.

Executive summary
Several factors are often considered to be determinant of a company’s growth and
sustainability. Such factors may be human i.e. human resources or capital i.e. infrastructure,
technology, etcetera. In this report, the impact and process of adopting an updated information
management system on the decision-making and security of XYZ company is explored. The
report uses deductive inferencing and qualitative analysis to explore the impacts of various factor
adoptions on the measurement of company’s performance.
From the results, it is evident that adoption of new IMS will increase data integrity through
secure data collection as well as improve decision-making system. As a consequence, reliable
data will ensure accurate measurement of key and overall company performance.
Key words
Information Management Systems (IMS), Decision Support system (DSS)

1. Introduction
1.1 Background information
As the name information age suggests, survival and growth of business firms nowadays is
highly dependent on: the kind of information, reliability, and comprehensiveness of the
structures set up by the business for the utilization of the information. As it is, management
information systems can be adopted in a number of forms by the company. However, several
factors such as security which is the ultimate determinant of the integrity of data, are integral in
reliable information for the business.
Pedarpur et al. (2013) note that, “Information is the cultured data in the organization that
through order of their communication to provide accurate information, increases ensure
managing in making decisions…” reinforcing the fact that for the executive to come up with
good and conclusive decisions, the company ought to ensure it adapts with change in the tech
space, more so information.
According to Chetan (2015), the IMS process basically involves: collecting, organizing,
distributing, storage and managerial control and analysis of data.
1.2 Objective
The purpose of this report is to explore various components of information management
systems of XYZ company in regard as to how the upgrade of the whole system, is set to improve
security and decision making ability of the company’s executive. In addition, the paper is set to
examine how the underlying structures of information management systems which include:
hardware, software, networks and telecommunications, and decision support system will ensure

better performance of the company as well as how the data collected by the system, will be used
using various data analysis techniques e.g. ANOVA, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing,
etcetera will be used to report on key and overall performance of the company with special
interest on the strength and weakness of the company (to provide accurate information).
1.3 Research Problems
To aid in the research purpose, the following research questions are formulated:
i. Given the hardware, software, networks and telecommunications, and decision support
systems components of an information management system. (a)- How is the upgrade of
the components linked with security and improved performance of the company? (b)-
What are the latest existing technological options that the company can adopt in line with
the company’s current information system?
ii. How will the data be utilized to measure the performance of the company?

2. Analysis of findings
2.1 Hardware
In information management systems, hardware comprises: the computers, networking
devices, company printers, storage devices (Hard disks) and all the physical components of
technology used in the company.
When considering an upgrade of the hardware component of IMS, factors such random
access memory which is a key driver of how the information management software will be
executed in terms of speed and power is mandatory. An upgrade of the company’s computer
RAM and processing power of is set to ensure high reliance of the company’s IMS. Another
hardware consideration in the IMS is the hard disk capacity. With large storage capacity, the
company will be able to keep log of all security activities performed by the systems as well as
collect enough data which is important in the decision making process. Hempstead (2018)
emphasizes on the importance of ensuring security is a priority when selecting hardware for the
company IMS.
With recent boom in computer production, hardware components have increased in precision
and functionality (following the Moore’s law). However, such advancement has exposed the
corporate sector to threats of free flow of information from the computer hardware hence leaving
companies vulnerable to cyber threats and other infringements. Making purchases of hardware
from companies that design them with security in mind is important to ensure the security and
data integrity of the company is secured.

2.2 Software and Decision Support system
Decision support systems are software-based systems structured to use information mostly in
summarized form, exceptions, known patterns, as well as utilize analytical trends to enable the
executive reach the best decisions. Therefore, the components of the best DSS system should
have a database management system, model management system and support tools which
include a graphical interface and drop down menu which enables easy and convenient use.
Following the need to utilize data in the improvement and monitoring of the company’s
performance, adoption of a DSS structured for data analysis i.e. a Data Analysis System, which
according to Lee & Park (2014), “…needs comparative analysis and makes use of formula or an
algorithm, for example cash flow analysis, inventory analysis…” will be the best option when
upgrading the information management system.
2.3 Networks
2.3.1 Networks
A key component in IMS is network management system (NMS), which is an application
that analyzes, controls and manages a given organizational network (AlShourbaji, 2015). An
effective network management system:
a. Ensures correct configuration of telecommunication system of the IMS
b. Controls the IMS model
c. Ensures increased performance quality of the network system
d. Provides IMS network security
The main role of the IMS network is therefore to ensure fast and reliable transfer of
information as well as retrieval of the data securely and with its original elements when

retrieved. As such, adoption of encryption services for the company’s network system will
ensure secure data transfer and information sharing.
An NMS hence allows monitoring of the IMS through displaying of the collected data after
which the required changes can be applied to the IMS network component.
In 2018, a faster Wide large area network (WLAN) was released, i.e. the Wave 2 802.11ac
which offers speeds of up to 6Gbps a better version than its predecessor standards. “…The
main advantages of WLANs are mature technology and very low deployment
cost in small areas.” (Peppard & Ward, 2016).
2.4 Telecommunications
2.4.1 Telecommunication
Until recently, the best existing telecommunication network was the 3G systems also termed
as the Universal Mobile Telecommunication Network (UMTS). However, with the latest
upgrade of 3G to 4G network, data transfer has been tremendously improved due to faster
speeds. Therefore, integration of WLAN and 4G networks will ensure secure and fast data
transfer hence improved decision making in terms of information availability and speed
reliability (Oliveira, Fernandez & Lima, 2013).
2.5 Data
The whole idea of an Information management system is to ensure that the company’s
decisions are informed, i.e. through reliable information (data).

2.5.1 Data collection
Integrity of data is composed of secure data collection, uncompromised transfer to data
utilization stations such as marketing department, statistical analysis department etcetera.
Therefore, having an efficient IMS, ensures the collected data is secure and that the transfer is
not compromised. Often, data is collected into databases from where it is exported to readable
and portable formats such as excel files for statistical analysis.
2.5.2 Sampling distributions, hypothesis testing and inferences
2.5.2.1 Sampling distributions
Often, the collected data from IMS is large and a general “feeling” from the data is
required to make sense of the data i.e. using a sample of the whole data to draw inferences. A
graph of a given statistic from the sample data is thus a sampling distribution used to give the
general overview of the collected data.
In data analysis the commonly used sampling distributions in hypothesis testing are:
i. Sampling mean
ii. Difference between means
iii. Sample population
iv. Difference between two proportions
Where, sampling mean is used when the desire is to determining how the mean changes i.e.
mean production and the difference between mean is used to test whether there is a difference
between two methods of production. Similarly, the distribution of sample population is used for
testing how the population changes in relation to the selected statistic whereas the difference

between two proportions measures a characteristic given two different treatments in the
population.
2.5.2.2 Hypothesis testing
After data sampling and selection of a suitable sampling distribution, a set of hypotheses are
formulated, with one being a test of equality, and another, test of difference, i.e. the null
hypothesis (H0) which expresses equality and the alternative hypothesis (H1) which expresses
difference. Hypotheses are important in measuring how the company is performing on both key
and overall performance. The ANOVA is used in hypothesis testing where inferences are drawn
using various statistics such as the t-test, z-test, F-test etcetera.
In general, the hypothesis testing for sample distribution of mean is:
H0: μ1 = μ2 = μ3
H1: μ1 ≠ μ2or μ1 ≠ μ3 μ2 ≠ μ3
Where the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis is 1 − (1 − α)(1 − α) with α being the level
of significance e.g. 0.5, 0.01 depending on the confidence interval.
2.5.2.3 ANOVA
Analysis of variance uses the F-statistic i.e. the ratio between and group variances. Whereas in
main data analysis the interest is on the difference between group mean, the ANOVA is
interested in difference in variances (Kim, 2017).

Inferencing
Raw data is unhelpful and cannot provide any information. The purpose of data analysis is to
find insight in data, therefore, through inferencing, we can gain insight and draw conclusions for
decision-making.
General process of data analysis

Key performance indicator and general performance indicators
Measures such as growth cannot be generalized without prior definition of the parameters
that if achieved will have marked growth of the company. Therefore, Performance indicators are
the measurable values that demonstrate how the company scores with regard of the company
objectives.

By employing hypothesis testing, using ANOVA to test the hypotheses and interpreting
the results using statistical inferences, the company will be able to measure various performance
parameters such as how a new production procedure is faring compared to the existing
procedure. Through measuring the performance of the company, the executive will therefore be
able to draw inferences and conclusions on the company’s strength and weakness with the
weakness arising from low performance and strength being indicated by better performance on
specified parameters which may include product marketing, or sales generation.
Therefore, the general procedure of measuring a company’s performance and decision
making is:
i. Collection of clean data (through ensuring the data collection systems are secure and
reliable)
ii. Sampling the data
iii. Hypothesis formulation
iv. Hypothesis testing (use of ANOVA)
v. Statistical inferencing
vi. Data interpretation (measurement of company performance)
vii. Decision making (Determining weakness and strength of company)

3. Conclusion
Generally, with the fast paced computer generation, businesses are required to adapt with the
change. Such changes as with XYZ company is the need to adopt new technological changes.
From the research, we can therefore conclude that, systems with high integrity often lead to more
secure and reliable data collection and consequently better information on various business
issues which eventually lead to better decision-making. As such, adoption of updated IMS will
be integral to improving the decision support systems of the company, information security,
hence improved data collection.
Additionally, use of data is seen to be important in the measurement of the company’s
performance through which the company’s weakness and strengths can be assessed and be used
for betterment of the company by making better decisions. Conclusively, the information
management system of the company is the basis of the betterment of a number of company
sustainability factors which include growth and hence with adoption of upgraded and better IMS,
the company will have a growth and security chance despite increase in cyber threats.

4. Recommendations
i. The company should adopt a new WLAN system for improve information retrieval and
sharing, i.e. the 4.5G telecommunication network.
ii. The company should ensure the new information management system is integrated with
latest security patches for enhanced data and information security.
iii. The new information system should be user friendly i.e. with drop down menu for easy
use by the executive, both the tech-savvy and the average.

References
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