Analysis of Information System Management at Spark New Zealand

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of information system management within Spark New Zealand, a telecommunications company. It begins with an introduction to information system management and the company's mission, followed by an assessment of Spark's environment using Porter's Five Forces, PEST, and SWOT analyses. The report details Spark's existing plans for disaster recovery, physical security, and privileged access, along with recommendations for improvement, including updating products, web application development, and software application development. It also explores business application areas, such as marketing, manufacturing, and human resource information systems, and outlines a process for improvement focused on data organization, business perspective, and crisis avoidance. Finally, the report discusses process and control mechanisms, including knowledge application, sharing, capture, and discovery, and concludes with recommendations on utilizing information systems effectively, emphasizing complexity control, adoption focus, and business-driven prioritization. The report is well-structured and offers practical insights into managing information systems in a dynamic business environment.

Information
System
Management
(Spark New
Zealand)

1. Introduction:
Management of Information System deals with
different computerized databases. Here different
financial data gets organized and programmed. Spark
New Zealand is a telecommunication company that
delivers internet and telephone services and mobile
network. Hence to understand information system
management, the story of Spark New Zealand is chosen
as the case study.
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Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

2. The mission of Spark New Zealand:
• To supply services in a most effective way
• Expanding wireless networks to their mobile customers
• Provide high-speed free Wi-Fi as needed by their
customers
3Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

3. The reason behind Spark’s
existence:
• Spark and their subsidiaries deliver Information and
Communication technology along with
telecommunication services and products, primarily in
the nation of New Zealand.
• Spark Home, their business and the mobile department
offer different voice services, data, services and
contents to various small-medium enterprises and
customers.
• Digital sector of Spark has integrated IT services and
telecommunications supplying a converged IT solution
(Durugbo, 2014).
4Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

4. Assessment of the
environment of Spark:
• Porter’s 5 Force Analysis:
5Porter’s Five
Force Analysis
Porter’s Five
Force AnalysisThreat of
substitutes
Threat of
substitutesRivalry among
existing
competitors
Rivalry among
existing
competitorsThreat of new
entrants
Threat of new
entrantsBargaining
power of
suppliers
Bargaining
power of
suppliersBargaining
power of
buyersBargaining
power of
buyers
Figure 1: “Porter’s five forces for Spark, NZ”
Source: ("Spark New Zealand Limited Porter Five (5)
Forces & Industry Analysis [Strategy]", 2018)Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

5. PEST Analysis:
6Political Factors
Political Factors•Rise in governmental support regarding automation.
•Rise in various international agreements of trade. •Rise in governmental support regarding automation.
•Rise in various international agreements of trade.Economic Factors
Economic Factors•Notable financial stability of New Zealand.
•High development of New Zealand. •Notable financial stability of New Zealand.
•High development of New Zealand.Social/ Socio-cultural
Factors
Social/ Socio-cultural
Factors•Rise in cultural diversity.
•Stable attitudes regarding leisure.
•Rise in cultural diversity.
•Stable attitudes regarding leisure.Technological Factors
Technological Factors•Fast adoption of mobile technology.
•A rise in the amount of online transactions.
•Rise in automation for Spark New Zealand’s business ("Spark New Zealand Limited PESTEL /
PEST & Environment Analysis[Strategy]", 2018).
•Fast adoption of mobile technology.
•A rise in the amount of online transactions.
•Rise in automation for Spark New Zealand’s business ("Spark New Zealand Limited PESTEL /
PEST & Environment Analysis[Strategy]", 2018).
Figure 2: “PEST Analysis for Spark”
Source: ("Spark New Zealand Limited
PESTEL / PEST & Environment
Analysis[Strategy]", 2018).
Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

6. SWOT Analysis:
7
SWOT AnalysisStrength
Tangible resources of
Spark New Zealand like
credit, distribution
channels, capital and
patent.
Alliances or cooperative
projects with capable
partners
Strength
Tangible resources of
Spark New Zealand like
credit, distribution
channels, capital and
patent.
Alliances or cooperative
projects with capable
partnersWeaknesses
Limited resources.
Subpar profits
Weaknesses
Limited resources.
Subpar profitsOpportunities
Smart timing to take
advantages of ongoing
opportunities.
New Zealand
Government (industrial
policy, favorable
changes in taxation,
philosophy)
Opportunities
Smart timing to take
advantages of ongoing
opportunities.
New Zealand
Government (industrial
policy, favorable
changes in taxation,
philosophy)Threats
A significant change
in the cost of
suppliers and
availability of various
raw materials.
A shift in consumer
behavior.
Threats
A significant change
in the cost of
suppliers and
availability of various
raw materials.
A shift in consumer
behavior.
Figure 3: “SWOT Analysis”
("Library Guides: Company and
Industry Research: Spark New
Zealand Ltd", 2018)Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

7. Existing Plans for Spark:
• Disaster recovery and Business Continuity:
It helps in delivering secured IT scenario ensuring stability and
continuity for Spark.
• Facilities for physical security:
Securing and controlling areas used to decline interference with
information and harm to information systems.
• Different privileged accesses:
It changes system configuration, change in control parameters
and many more. Moreover, it is helpful to audit and access
security monitoring system, exclusive access for troubleshooting
systems.
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8. Existing Plans for Spark:
• Hardening different operating environments: This delivers
opportunities towards multiple unauthorized access that leads to
fraud or disclosure of sensitive data.
• Hardening of databases: This includes disabling of unused and
undesired functionality in software and implementing access controls
on various related objects.
• Hardening of servers: It needs antivirus software and different
unused accounts are removed. Further, the default accounts get
renamed or deleted.
• Hardening of workstations: This includes deletion of unnecessary
software and elements of an operating system. Apart from this, it
blocks users to disable to install software as any approval is not done
(Baskerville, Spagnoletti & Kim, 2014).
9Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

9. Recommended plans for
Spark:
• Updating and patching of products:
Here testing plans could be described and various
security patches are needed to be implemented in
operating systems and applications.
• Web application development:
It must be determined that every potential point to
get access to Spark’s system is put in place correctly.
10Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

10. Recommended plans for
Spark:
• Developing a software application:
This step must be initiated since insecurely
developed applications lead to opportunities for
unauthorized users.
• Identification and authentication:
For the organization's community member unique
identification should be assured. Further, efficient access
mechanisms should be maintained across the various
technologies implemented.
11Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767

11. Business application areas
for Spark:
• Supporting business functions areas: This includes areas like sales,
marketing, productions, finance and accounting and human resources.
• Marketing Information Systems: This includes products, price, place
and promotion.
• Manufacturing information systems: Present market demand for
new construction that should be controlled for lean, agile, flexible and
quality.
• Human resource information systems: It deals with identifying
people working at Spark as the essential resource.
• Integration of functional systems for better organizational
performance: This deals with vital support to incorporate business
processes for Spark’s business customers, suppliers and partners.
12Archit Gupta Student ID: 1483767