Analysis of IT Infrastructure Management and Enterprise Systems

This report provides an overview of IT Infrastructure Management, focusing on enterprise systems and their applications. It discusses the reasons for the failure of legacy systems, using the Queensland Health implementation as a case study, and identifies IBM as primarily responsible due to inadequate analysis and lack of proper training. The report highlights successful uses of IT in healthcare, such as hybrid operating rooms and surgical technologies. It also addresses the improper utilization of the WorkBrain system and recommends appointing dedicated project managers and risk analysts to fix current problems. Furthermore, the report elaborates on various types of enterprise systems, including Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Business Intelligence (BI), emphasizing their importance in improving productivity, inventory management, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Desklib provides access to this and many other solved assignments for students.

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I.T. Infrastructure Management
By [Name]
Course
Professor’s Name
Institution
Location of Institution
Date

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Task A
1. What were the key reasons for the
IT implementation failure?
Before any IS system is implemented, it
should have gone through various activities
and processes, upon which the Queensland
Health system did not undergo, this led to its
implementation failure. Some of the
activities which the system didn’t undergo
leading to its failure include the following;
There was no appropriate implementation
strategy. Queensland Health did not perform
a complete parallel test of the system.
Queensland Health was supposed to give the
system a pre-trial period rather than just
making it go live where this stage was
crucial as it highlights the defects which are
likely to occur. Client consultation and
communication with the vendor is very
essential during the development plan of the
system. In this scenario, there was three
involved parties who had different roles and
different goals, CorpTech responsible for the
prime contract management, the prime
contractor who was IBM and now
Queensland Health. This was a quasi-
multiple party relationship which needed
proper communication and since it lacked to
be utilized, failure was the outcome of this.
Furthermore, there lacked proper project
management which would have put in place
legacy systems which guides the general
implementation of the system.
2. In your view, who is responsible
for the failure and why?
The prime contractor in this case; IBM is
responsible for this IT implementation
failure. Any company which is responsible
for delivering an Enterprise Resource
Planning system should do a complete
analysis and also foresee any shortcomings
which could arise and hence look for ways
to curb the problems. IBM was supposed to
conduct a severe and in-depth research on
the ERP system before letting it go online
despite the pressure it had been given. IBM
should also have given the workforce in
Queensland Health a prior training on how
to use the system.
3. Do some research on the use of IT
by hospitals/health departments –
give examples of success stories of
the IT implementations and
outline reasons for the success?
Technology nowadays is now being
integrated almost in every health facility all
over globally. Medical technology changing
at a good significant pace, where now every
detail concerning an individual in a health
facility is captured and put into the database
for real time reviews. Examples of use of

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technology in health facilities include the
following;
Invention of Hybrid operating rooms.
Numerous hospitals have incorporated
technology and installed hybrid operating
rooms over the years. A good instance
which was successful is Lourdes Hospital in
Paducah and St. Vincent's Medical Center
(Beckershospitalreview.com, 2018)
Surgical technologies
Surgical technologies invention has been
utilized by many health facilities. Doctors
suggest and say that currently surgery
processes have been made mass scale to
slightly invasion procedures where the
systems acts as robots. An example of a well
implanted surgical technology is the da
Vinci Surgical System which provides high
quality care to the patients.
(Beckershospitalreview.com, 2018)
4. Why was ‘’WorkBrain’’ not
utilized properly?
WorkBrain system had some purpose it was
developed for which involved to processes
time sheets and then pass them to the SAP
system where SAP system would then
further process the time sheets into a modes
that was agreed to the necessary financials
departments so that the Queensland
employees could be paid. WorkBrain
roistering system was not properly utilized
since there before it had not been
incorporated in any other government
agency and in this specific scenario, its use
resulted in lagging the system and this
emphasized on the call for better interfaces
between it and the SAP system.
Furthermore, WorkBrain has not been
implemented in a big organization as this
one.
5. What would you recommend the
Health Department to do to fix the
current problems?
Basing the recommendations according to
the Queensland health facility problem,
there are many of them that other Health
Department should follow;
These departments will need to appoint
dedicated and self-driven project managers.
This is the person who manages system
implementation projects.
Health Departments will need to hire risk
analysts who perform risk analysis before a
system is implemented and give a fined
turned report on the likely risks to occur
when a system is being implemented.
(Hoebler, 2018)

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In order to fix the current problem, the
department should appoint a piloting
committee who will be responsible for
overall implementation of the project and
oversee overall resources are well used and
more importantly champion the projects to a
success. (Hoebler, 2018)

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Task B
Topic: Enterprise systems and applications
Abstract
Enterprise Systems are multifaceted and comprehensive applications that formulate the
core business and market operating structure for many corporations globally and all over most
industries. This paper gives a concise introduction to enterprise systems and applications.
Enterprise systems and applications aims at integrating and be able to bring all the business´s or
institution’s data at par and how it can also be connected to the business partners of the company.
These Enterprise applications embrace an open-integration strategy that will incorporate and
support other business’ applications as part of its enterprise computing platform. Furthermore
these ES applications comes with pre implemented modules which are usually the different
businesses departments where these modules requires the best skills of implementation approach
and a strong key focus on modeling and project management skills analysis.
Index terms
Enterprise systems and Applications
Enterprise resources planning (ERP)
Business production

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Introduction
The current trend in business industries is that many organizations depend on information
systems to assist them to make information up to date & accessible and also to do their day to
day operations efficiently and effectively. Enterprise systems (ES) are large-scale application
software packages that support business processes, information flows, reporting, and data
analytics in complex organizations. (En.wikipedia.org, 2018) Enterprise Systems are replacing
the small and the specialized software which are not well integrated with other systems.
Enterprise systems are widely scaled application packages which cover almost every department
in an organization and integrate with any other system may it be internally or externally. The
main characteristic of these systems is the complexities they poses both in regards to processing
business data and the way they affect business practices & individual tasks. (Lech,
2014)Examples of enterprise applications includes Customer Relationship Management (CRM),
enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems,& Supply Chain Management (SCM) whereas
Enterprise systems include like SAP’s NetWeaver & Oracle's Fusion.
Components of an Enterprise Systems
Enterprise Systems is composed of several and different installations which make up the
entire project a whole. These different modules are the different subsystems used in different
departments to ensure the core functionality is effectively developed and put online. A typical
Enterprise System consists of three systems;
Development system
Unit testing is performed at this very stage and the testing rarely involves the client. The
functionality system is usually developed and the testing is initially done here. Real business data
is not used in this system. (Hoebler, 2018)
Integration system
This system is also referred to as simulation system as well as the test system. Real
business data is used to set up the system and testing of functionalities is done under realistic

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circumstances. The intended functionalities are not developed and the client experts conducts
tests and give the analysis. (Hoebler, 2018)
Production system
The Enterprise system is put into actual use. The intended functionalities have already
been tested in the integration system. Due to the business´ daily operations, the system is usually
run under parallel traditional system as the new system stabilizes. Any upgrades and bug fixes
are usually fixed at the time when the business is closed like in the evening. (Hoebler, 2018)
Types of Enterprise Systems and applications
Enterprise Systems have evolved into different enterprise software applications.
Examples of available types of enterprise systems and where applied include;
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Supply Chain Management system involves the management of supply chain activities
through efficient and effective supply chain firms that offer a business a strategic advantage.
Some of these activities include; production and logistics, product development, information
systems and also coordinating these processes into one activity. (Smallbusiness.chron.com,
2018)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
These type of systems were designed and developed to curb the need that had aroused of
wanting to increase the department’s productivity and also to provide an effective way of
increasing a company sales. CRM provides subsystems such as sales opportunity management
which assists a company management to know more about its customers, its products & services,
selling patterns and also integrates the market information which results in proper marketing
plans and eventually leading to provision of quality services and products. CRM has other
attributes which include allowing integration of mobile devices with it allowing accesses of the
systems remotely and also allows mail communication between the workforces.(Bizfluent, 2018)
Enterprise resources planning (ERP)

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The enterprise resource planning system combines applications modules as a company
integrates its different business department such as human resources department, finance
department, purchasing department, inventory among others. The key focus is integration of
different processes within a company hence utilizing the meaning of enterprise word. ERP
allows resource sharing hence reducing resource and waste inefficiencies.
(Smallbusiness.chron.com, 2018)
Business Intelligence (BI)
These type of systems began to be heard of in 21st century where they are used to
describe the application of data and software solutions to get out more informed decisions. BI
implementers are intended get lid of intuitions in making business decisions. Generally and more
specifically, BI systems are currently used to trail business performance in making of decisions
gathering, packing, and analyzing information across a company. (Bizfluent, 2018)
The importance of Enterprise Systems
Enterprise systems are systems that can be used with great benefits to the business
organization. The potential benefits of these systems vary on the strategies they are employed to
increase and improve the whole organization processes. Enterprise Systems are replacing the
small and the specialized software which are not well integrated with other systems. Enterprise
systems are widely scaled application packages which cover almost every department in an
organization and integrate with any other system may it be internally or externally. The main
characteristic of these systems is the complexities they poses both in regards to processing
business data and the way they affect business practices & individual tasks.
Improved Productivity
Redundancies in business processes are experienced sometimes when an ERP is not
available since there is repetition of tasks manually. This can have a large negative impact at the
end line. This ERP system will eliminate the wastage of time which in turn have a positive
ending of improved productivity and profitability.
Upgraded Inventory and Production Management

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If a business involves production and inventory management, an ERP simplifies the task
of reducing the overall management and improves the delivery schedules plus the production.
Through implementation of an ERP system, there is optimized efforts and increased inventory
management. (Eresourceerp.com, 2018)
Reduced costs
Purchasing and implementing an ERP system may seem very expensive and rather not
save a business costs but this is the opposite. The ERP system combines all of the very many
systems that are fragmented in the business like the finance systems, supply chain managements
among others. By combining all these small systems, ERP lays a platform which is cost effective
and efficient. This is due to not having to hire many experts of different systems and rather
training few users on one system which is associated with time and cost savings.
(Eresourceerp.com, 2018)
Customer satisfaction
Despite an ERP system being an internal system, one may think that it has nothing to do
with customer satisfaction but alas, it has all what it partakes to improve the satisfaction. The
right ERP system helps the business to conduct better communication with its clients through all
processes involved. The system is involved in marketing strategies and client acquisition leading
to customer retention and contentment.
Improved Partnership
ERP applications depend on the program and system the business is using. These
subsystems assist the businesses workforce to share and edit information data and also to
improve and increase security and access. Since all business´s data is collected, stored and made
accessible through one general system, there is improved partnership across the entire
organization. (Eresourceerp.com, 2018). Enterprise systems and applications aims at integrating
and be able to bring all the business´s or institution’s data at par and how it can also be
connected to the business partners of the company. These Enterprise applications embrace an
open-integration strategy that will incorporate and support other business’ applications as part of
its enterprise computing platform. Furthermore these ES applications comes with pre
implemented modules which are usually the different businesses departments where these

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modules requires the best skills of implementation approach and a strong key focus on modeling
and project management skills analysis.

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Enterprise Systems failure
Implementing an ERP system in a business or organization is the best investment a
business can consider doing. This system creates the central backbone and nervous system in a
company. It assists business´s management on understanding what is happening to clients,
suppliers and also the workforce. Despite any ERP having all those advantages and crucial
enabled processes, it sometimes fails in some business when it comes on the implementation of
the system. Some of the reasons that led to this failure include the following;
Lack of a project manager
Sometimes business lacks an expert in project management which is a crucial thing in
ERP implementation as it makes a lot of difference. It can either be the business should hire a
person skilled in project management or the ICT department manager should be equipped with
project management skills. Software projects like in this case of ERP, needs experienced and
self-dedicated project managers. The business owners or the executive of the company cannot
manage a project as well as other managerial activities since neither will be done according to
standards. The project manager requires to steer and oversee the whole system providing
accountability and transparency. (Bistasolutions.com, 2018)
Under-estimating the required resources
Resources such as time and cost in an ERP system implementation are very hard to
estimate and come up with a crucial analysis. It is advisable to come up with a solid plan and
understanding of the internal and external properties required to see the implementation a
success. Time constraints on the workers and users of the system really affect on how they will
train with the system. Costs resources should be done in phases so that consultants and prime
contractors can have the right resources and on time without lack. (Bistasolutions.com, 2018)
Too much reliance on consultants
Depending on the hired consultants can make the business teamwork start having
redundant issues. Consultants are helpful since they provide experienced assistance but it poses a
risk that the business teamwork will become over reliant on them. The management board should

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make the users have a hand in the development of the system as it will assist the knowledge
transfer process to be smooth. (Bistasolutions.com, 2018)
Insufficient initial testing
In integration type of system during implementation, initial testing is one of the key
activities that happens. This should happen as a rectifying stage which should be seen as a test if
the business requirements are met and also if the system outputs the needed results and rather not
as a test for if the system works. Poor system testing increases the risk of having defects as well
as the ERP having some functionalities not functioning leading to abandoning of the system.
Poor employee training
Poor user training is a key important issue which leads to project failure if not well
addressed. The implementation of the system should not commence before the employees of the
business have adequate training. ERP system is used many users with the business department
and hence it needs expertise training. If the system is not accepted by the users themselves, it is a
definite way that the system will eventually collapse.(Bistasolutions.com, 2018)
No conclusive plans in place
A detailed and pivoted plan is very important for a successful implementation of
enterprise system. Sometimes business draft a plan that is too broad or that underestimates the
change in business which results to poor development and implementation of the system. This
remains the most and common reason for enterprise system failure. IT systems and business
systems plans needs to be well versant, detailed and all rounded such that nothing unusual will
come out of its way. This also means that there will be smooth development and implementation
of the system.(Bistasolutions.com, 2018)
Conclusion
When summarizing this study, it is crucial to note that Enterprise systems are very
expensive to implement and maintain but the end results of their systematic use provides smooth
running of activities & processes and also it minimizes the running cost of activities. Enterprise
systems failure can easily occur if the right procedures were not put in place.