Analysis of IT in Business: Agile Methods, Outsourcing & Supply Chain

This report provides an overview of the role of IT in business, focusing on agile methods, IT outsourcing, and supply chain management (SCM). It discusses the advantages and risks of agile methods, highlighting their support for change, fast product delivery, user focus, teamwork, and increased productivity, while also noting their inflexibility and limitations in user feedback. The report further examines the benefits and risks of outsourcing IT services, emphasizing cost control and competitiveness but also addressing security concerns and coordination challenges. Additionally, it defines SCM and the role of RFID technology in improving transparency, data quality, and efficiency within the supply chain. The report concludes that agile methods, IT services, and SCM provide significant benefits to organizations.

Running head: IT for business
IT for business

IT for business
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Advantages and risks of agile methods........................................................................................................3
Benefits and risks of outsourcing IT services..............................................................................................3
Development of information system............................................................................................................4
Supply chain................................................................................................................................................4
RFID and role in SCM................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................4
References...................................................................................................................................................4
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IT for business
Introduction
The paper outlines the benefits and risks of agile methods and outsourcing IT services. Along
with this, it provides a brief information about SCM and RFID.
Advantages and risks of agile methods
The advantages of agile methods such as the traditional SDLC have been discussed below.
 Supports change is one of the significant advantages of agile method.
 Fast product delivery system is also a significant benefit of agile method.
 User focused and customer participation can be done easily with the help of agile
method.
 These methods also increase teamwork and collaboration among the team members.
 The agile methods increase productivity and efficiency of the company (Gluck, 2018).
Although, agile methods provide benefits but it also consists some risks that have been detailed
below.
 The agile and waterfall development methods such as the traditional SDLC are not
suitable and flexible for developers.
 It does not permit user feedback until after product is deployed.
 Due to lack of reboot, it is less effective.
Benefits and risks of outsourcing IT services
The benefits and risks of outsourcing IT services have been discussed below.
Benefits
 It controls IT costs.
 Reduces labor costs.
 Further, outsourcing IT services increase competitiveness and effectiveness in the global
market.
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IT for business
Risks
 There is less control and security issue always existed.
 Lack of coordination and cooperation between IT goals and business goals.
Development of information system
Yes, it is true that the development of information systems by end users should be encouraged
and they provide various benefits to the organization and employees for handling risks and
challenges.
Supply chain
A supply chain may be defined as a system of people, organizations, activities, resources and
information involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. The main
purpose of the supply chain management system is to provide sufficient inventory to the
customers for fulfilling their needs and demands in the competitive market.
RFID and role in SCM
RFID stands for radio frequency identification. This technology is used to identify and track tags
to fulfill the desired goals and objectives of the firm. RFID plays a vital role in supply chain
management system (Tesoriero et al, 2010). RFID improves the transparency and quality of data
in the SCM. Along with this, it reduces the inventory time and increases the accuracy of the
system. It further boosts efficiency of the firm and reduces the extra cost of the company.
Conclusion
The above mentioned analysis shows that how agile method, IT services and SCM provide
benefits to the organization. RFID technology also has been explained in the task.
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IT for business
References
Gluck.S.2018. Benefits Vs. Risks of outsourcing IT services [Online]. Available from
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-vs-risks-outsourcing-services-2504.html [Accessed as
on 12th September 2018].
Tesoriero, R., Tebar, R., Gallud, J.A., Lozano, M.D. and Penichet, V.M.R., 2010. Improving
location awareness in indoor spaces using RFID technology. Expert Systems with
Applications, 37(1), pp.894-898.
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