IT Management Issues and Recommendations for Mainland-Safari

This report analyzes the IT management issues faced by Mainland-Safari following a merger and the adoption of an online booking system. The discussion covers the impact of IT advancements on management decisions, highlighting the benefits of the online system for 24/7 service availability and...Read More

IT MANAGEMENT
ISSUES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................1
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REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................4

DISCUSSION
The regular advancements in IT and IS infrastructure affects the management decisions
and the quality of business services provided by the organisation (Schwalbe, 2015). Mainland-
Safari has decided to continue with the online booking system. The decision can be considered as
effective because it will allow organisation to provide services for all 7 days and 24 hours
(Waddock, 2016). The merger will increase the operational scope as well as the number of
employees. Thus, the management must also consider to review the existing database and IS.
From the growth and future perspective the existing online booking system may require some
modifications in its storage capacity and benchmarks which can support the increased number of
users and customers (Xiang, Magnini and Fesenmaier, 2015). It is evaluated that the information
system allows the interaction of the resources, people and technology with the help of
information technology (IT). Thus, for the quality services and operational improvement
management must make decisions which enhances the efficiency of IT systems. Earlier in both
the travel groups agents and tour operators were having important role in increasing sales. Both
IT and information systems can have performance issues which must be resolved for the quality
services. For sustaining the long term success it is required that business service providers must
adopt significant IT changes. However, to avoid the related IT risks these advancements must
also be in alignment with the management practices.
By the merger and adoption of the online booking system Mainland-Safari has tried to
reduce the role of agents and tour operators so that direct profit can be increased to the company
(DeGeorge, 2017). For instance when consumers will book tickets through agents then they will
be charged additional 15%. Instead, if people will book directly through online system then they
will get bookings in lower prices. This decision will reduce the commission of agents and overall
profitability of Mainland-Safari will be increased. With the help of merger and acquisition both
the companies will be benefitted as Mainland safaris is having advance system which could be
used by both. Due to merger of both company they could keep their existing staff members,
buses tour and destinations as well and then there will be no conflict respect to their scheduling.
While on other hand all existing staff who do not know how to use online booking system before
could not be able to use it. They would be in need of training for using this express advanced and
smart system. Both the tour service operators provide the unique and qualitative services. Thus,
the fare and routing paths are not changed in the merger. This will help Mainland-Safari to
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encourage customer loyalty and brand patronage will also be improved. However, the proposed
changes can enhances the operational cost involved in the maintenance of IT systems and
expanded business needs. So management will need to modify its operational approaches to meet
the increasing business needs.
The authorised access features in the data base will prevent the misuse of data and
privacy of the data will also be protected. The negligence to security aspects can lead
organisation into legal trouble as an act of privacy violation (Benckendorff, Xiang and Sheldon,
2019). In order to avoid the performance related issues Mainland-Safari must also ensure that all
information systems are aligned with the latest IT so that networking and information threats can
be overcome. The system maintenance, privacy concerns and up gradation to the latest
technologies can influence the overall customer satisfaction and performance of the Mainland-
Safari (Urden, Stacy and Lough, 2017). IT issues can have critical impact on the customer's
satisfaction and loyalty. Since both the groups are well known and successful consumers have
huge expectations regarding service quality. The online bookings and service availability for all
duration will improve the number of bookings. The system will also help to manage the
customer's data so that more customised services can be provided to them for better experience
(Avgerou and Walsham, 2017). The system will also allow the easy communication between
service providers and customers so that services will be improved. Earlier Safari was using
manual methods for the management of data as it IS. However, after the merger database and
software will be used for the storage and management purpose (Tuttle, 2018). The operational
range of Mainland was not as vast as it will be after merger. Thus, the existing database and
online booking system may lacks security. For instance since booking system involves the
payment details and personal information of the customers it is necessary that this information
must be protected.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Avgerou, C. and Walsham, G. eds., 2017. Information technology in context: Studies from the
perspective of developing countries: Studies from the perspective of developing countries.
Routledge.
Benckendorff, P.J., Xiang, Z. and Sheldon, P.J., 2019. Tourism information technology. Cabi.
DeGeorge, R.T., 2017. Ethical issues in information technology. The Blackwell guide to business
ethics. pp.267-288.
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Tuttle, R.M., 2018. Controversial issues in thyroid cancer management. Journal of Nuclear
Medicine. 59(8). pp.1187-1194.
Urden, L.D., Stacy, K.M. and Lough, M.E., 2017. Critical care nursing: diagnosis and
management. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Waddock, S., 2016. Taking Stock of SIM: Social Issues in Management Division of the
Academy of Management. Business & Society. pp.0007650316661306.
Xiang, Z., Magnini, V.P. and Fesenmaier, D.R., 2015. Information technology and consumer
behavior in travel and tourism: Insights from travel planning using the internet. Journal
of Retailing and Consumer Services, 22, pp.244-249.
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