ICT Strategy and Management Report: School IT Development and Planning

This report explores the implementation of an ICT strategy to support school management, focusing on a case study of a primary school. It examines the development of IT strategies to enhance performance and create new business models, including the use of software tools for administration and teaching. The report discusses the roles of administrative staff, teachers, and heads in leveraging ICT, and it evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing and in-sourcing IT services. It presents criteria for school decision-making regarding ICT purchases, such as laptops, PCs, and tablets, considering factors like aim, scalability, mobility, price, and longevity. Furthermore, the report recommends strategies for IT implementation, including in-sourcing and outsourcing, to optimize cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency within the school environment. The report also covers information and knowledge management, including the cost of conversion, and concludes with recommendations on software projects to facilitate collaboration, legal, social, and moral aspects.

ICT FOR MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1........................................................................................................................................................1
Developing IT strategy to support management ...................................................................1
2........................................................................................................................................................5
Criteria which are important for school to make decisions....................................................5
Multi-criteria decisions matrix in decision-making process with recommendation..............7
b. Information management and knowledge management.....................................................8
3........................................................................................................................................................9
Cost of conversion..................................................................................................................9
4......................................................................................................................................................15
Recommend with discuss issues such as legal, social, moral collaboration process ..........15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION
ICT stands for Information Communication Technology which plays an important role to
enhance the quality of education. With the help of administration and management applications,
ICT is becoming very popular these days (Kowalkowski, Kindström and Gebauer, 2013). In this
aspect, capabilities of IT also facilitating for administration activities in data storage for enhance
knowledge to make decisions in the organisation. Further, it also helps to determine several types
of applications and their effectiveness to increase the utilization of ICT. To accomplish goals and
objectives, ICT demonstrate several tools and facilities in schools that create several facilities.
This is used in schools and management for following objectives and activities:
 To assess applications for ICT in school administration and management
 To know about the applications, tools of ICT which can be used in management and
administration (Makewa, Meremo and Role, 2013).
 To understand effectiveness for schools administrative and management activities.
In this context, present study is based on primary school which was closed down in tiny
Welsh hamlet. There were 56 pupils who were age of 4 to 11 and had to travel a journey for
almost 10 miles to attend schools in the nearest town which is large. Town has various number of
schools, a large high school and three middles schools exists. Due to some reasons, children left
school. In this way, system was too old and PCs not working over there (Chmiel, Fraccaroli and
Sverke, 2017). In order to focus on present report, it covers current IT system which develop and
support the management to make business process and effective teaching or learning process.
Furthermore, it includes multi-criteria decision making to make recommendation in school.
Moreover, it includes management of information and knowledge to discuss about the
knowledge management at last, report provide recommendation on three software projects which
could be used for solution and facilitate collaboration process (Hampel, 2015).
1.
Developing IT strategy to support management
Developing IT strategy is an essential element to make changes in a school program to
enhance performances and create new business model. In recent years, ICT applications have
been use in school’s administration and management to provide support for sustainable
development (Lindberg, Lindberg and Fransson, 2017). With the help of software based tools
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and applications, computer programs have been developed in schools so that pupils can learn
several things. It will assist to execute useful task for educations such as word processing,
running of database, publishing desktop, creation of e-mail program and presentations, etc. (Lau
and Yuen, 2014). There are mainly three groups of administration applied on ICT for different
activities and actions. In order to determine administration and management job at school, there
are different aspects which can be implemented:
 Administration head
 Administration teachers
 Administration staff
Administration head: In the administration head, school principal required basic skills
of IT to perform functions of administration and management (Owate, Williams and Nnanna,
2014). Principals function determines as the role model when computer technology applied to
manage the risk. Instruction leader facilitate to teachers and it is integrate teaching and learning
in transformational leaders. With the help of encouragement and creativity, staff member can
also develop skills of open mind and facilitate with the technology adoption (Prause and Hunke,
2014). Instructional leader directly and indirectly develop success with competencies in respect
to develop technology. These types of people also integrate technology in classrooms together
with curriculum activities. Administrator plays a vital role to provide successful learning
environment to adopt new technology. With the help of this IT sources, technology can be
expanded in positive aspect and ascertain more specific results (Kim and Lee, 2013). Therefore,
understanding and knowledge can be increase through different outsourced company.
Administration teachers: Administration teachers are those people who pursue teaching
activities with administration responsibilities. These types of teachers are front line directors and
chief officers in department (Brindley, 2017). They can be divided into three groups such as
curriculum head, co-curriculum head and student affair head. They maintain all records in
particular format to contain specific information.
Administration staff: ICT application is also used by the administration staff to pursue
daily responsibilities faster and accurate as well. With the help of different tools, financial work
can be handled and records can be kept in proper manner (Verma, 2016).
Outsourcing in the school management creates several advantages and disadvantages as
well. They are as follows:
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Increasing of IT experts: One main advantage of outsourcing is enhancement in IT
experts. In this way, company can easily get positive results for information technology in
current system of IT team in the school. Therefore, it also helps to enhance knowledge in
information technology With the help of IT experts, the business can easily reduce their cost of
different products. It will help in developing outcomes and results in successful aspect. As
results, in school advance technology can be implemented so that performances of students will
be accomplish. With the help of IT experts, the business can easily reduce their cost of different
products. It will help in developing outcomes and results in successful aspect. As results, in
school advance technology can be implemented so that performances of students will be
accomplish.
Prioritise the important tasks: Further, school has also responsibility to complete
necessary tasks with prioriting the activities. It will be helpful to take business risk through
passing auxiliary processes to the subcontracting the enterprise (Chen, 2013). In this aspect, all
activity will be achieve in the positive aspect for development of school. In addition to this,
important fundamental can be included for assess overall results.
Simplify work relationships: Most enterprise such as school in the present case
established friendship with family on the basis of delegate task and work appropriately to the
workers. It is the big issue in front of school to address demand (Sultan, 2013). Out-sourcing also
helps to make relationship with several people and staff member in business. As results, it will be
helpful to simplify task in significant manner.
Beside this, outsourcing also has certain disadvantage that are as follows:
Security threats: It is very important for school to exercise caution because we are
existing in that era where personal data can be stolen by other people. Passing data to outsider is
highly riskier which create negative impact on the organisation’s performances (Soto-Acosta,
Soto-Acosta and Cegarra-Navarro, 2016).
Reduced quality: Subcontracted organisation interested in respect to gather profit rather
than the creating well products and services. Due to high expectations of students, school
required to increase IT programs instead of putting money in it.
Risk of public criticism: Majority of people also take moral against the subcontracting.
School will be run into effective manner to understand students and hiring people outside the
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institution. Critics against outsourcing believe in training of current employees instead to getting
experts from outside.
In-sourcing is the alternative for outsourcing which is better where the organisation looks
forward to cut hidden cost which are associated with outsourcing. It can also help the
management to control and to create jobs for locals in the organisation (Corcoran and Mc
Guckin, 2014). Manufacturing enterprises mainly employ this strategy to reduce cost and taxes
as well. According to the present case study, this strategy can be helpful to cut cost of hiring and
also maintaining IT experts. In addition to this, outsourcing is necessary aspect for long term
plans because in-sourcing is not useful for it. It helps only in short term plans (Owate, Williams
and Nnanna, 2014).
In order to make recommendations, following elements can be suggested to present
school:
Recommendation for in-sourcing: In respect to implement in-sourcing, school need to
make their small activities as per the business requirement for significant results. It can be
applied in prevalent and manufacturing companies to ascertain more effective results. In addition
to this, cost can be cut that control and manage creation of the job in systematic way. In the
manufacturing companies it reduces tax burden for ascertain effective functions and results. It
prevents to the business which dissatisfied with several services of outsourcing agencies (Toth
and Vigo, 2014). Within the case scenario, it could be helps in reducing cost of hiring and
maintenance of IT experts. As results, short term plan can be develops in school. It is the best
alternative which work for permanent results and performances in the organisation.
Recommendation for outsourcing: In this way, cost saving tactic should be adopted by
school to focus on core competencies. With this regard, non-core functions also providing in
different countries and nations as well. Outsourcing is the main element which could be support
to lead with local jobs (Still, Huhtamäki and Rubens, 2014). Outsourcing is the main element
which could be support to lead with local jobs. At global environment, outsourcing assists to
make multiple dimensions that develops non-core functions stored out. Companies also turning
to third parties that helps in performing strategic such as research and development of business
transformation. Sourcing ad procurement disciplines are main topics in school that required for
ascertain necessary things (Lin, Tsai and Kang, 2014).
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2.
Criteria which are important for school to make decisions
Criteria of critical decision need to be examined within the school when it will be used
for purchasing laptop, PC and tablet from ICT. School committee suggested purchasing either 20
Pcs or laptop or tablet to take decision which need to be employed for IT aspect (Istenic Starcic
and Bagon, 2014)
Aim
It is the main parameter to be considered and choose right workstation. Computer
application must also be considered for ensuring maximum utility. Therefore, it will assist in
prioritising activities in graphic design program. Computer elements such as maximum utility of
the program, memory space and other aspects need to be considered for advance results in
business (Eze, Awa and Anazodo, 2013). Scalability is also important concept that is used for
prioritizing the task. In school, scalability is important element because it enhances memory
space and working power of future.
Mobility: Computer mobility is the criterion that assists to put consideration to purchase
a computer. School board of the committee includes asking themselves whether staff working for
future or not (Reuter, 2015). Further, flexibility is very important aspect which used to
considered work at home for many employees of school. It increases satisfaction of customers
and enhance productivity as well.
Price point: Price point is another important criterion, when school choose the best
computer among various alternatives. School board of the committee need assess proper amount
of fund to purchase computer. Therefore, they will decide to purchase expensive computer or not
in the school. Purchasing products at a high price demonstrate high quality of products and
services in the school. In addition to this, school also need to concentrate on computer which
going to help in accomplish necessary tasks (Hendrick and Kleiner, 2016). Therefore, features of
the computer are necessary to prioritise to task and activity in the significant manner.
Longevity: Longevity is another major criterion which must be considered before buying
computer. It is estimated that computer comes with three or four year’s warranty. If any
computer has the big warrant, means that computer is running for last three to four years. In this
context, school need to decide that they have to purchase extended warranty period computer or
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not (Istenic Starcic and Bagon, 2014). In addition to this, it need to assess that computer
functionality is correlate or not with longevity.
In order to make decision to purchase any computer, following criterion need to be
adopted in the selected school:
Elements price Computer
power
Scalability Mobility longevity Total
Weights 13 15 42 32 54
Desktop 25 24 52 13 55 27
Laptop 23 22 32 43 35 37
Tablet 17 13 22 53 25 44
Computer power is the most powerful criterion which chooses to purchase computer with
the heavy applications. In this aspect, it is required to find out essentiality of computer program
in school. Because of the high building of school, desktop has upper hand working over the
laptop. Further, high quality of the products and services can be done through laptops and
building effectively in business unit. Laptop is the more significant and effective quality product
that used in to determines simple application in different aspects (Lindberg, Lindberg and
Fransson, 2017).
However, there is high price need to be arrange on product which possess predominant
least expensive and also have the best option as per the business requirement. Laptop are more
expensive than tablets. However, tablets also most expensive elements from the business
applications. Therefore, in school requirement need to be assesses as per the choice to serve
effective products and services in business unit. Because of the portability, tablets are most
expensive source. In addition to this, due to large RAM and GB capacity laptop generally like by
the most of people (Owate, Williams and Nnanna, 2014). Desktop has less expensive as the
tablets and computer so that school also prefer to purchase product of desktop in school.
Scalability is the most important and powerful element which is generally prefer by people in
application of computer program in significant manner. It also has ability to expand hardware
and software in computer to create high scalability in school. Desktop possess the high
scalability because it is known as the best choice for each workplace applications (Owate,
Williams and Nnanna, 2014). RAM and hard drive space possess limited accessibility which can
be compared with other products easily. Tablet has the effective scalability due to more space in
it. Institution grows very fast with increasing of work load in schools.
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In respect to take mobility, desktop has the least mobility as compare to the tablets. With
the help of effective use of the desktop, computer also developed in transport system as well.
However, students generally prefer to use the desktop which has high power quality to perform
functions and operations regarding study. In respect to assess the requirement, computer are not
easily movable any-where (Owate, Williams and Nnanna, 2014). Therefore, work effective and
monitoring the activity required to assess and manage functions and operations in business unit.
Majority of students in school prefer laptops that helps in enhance their learning process
in effective manner. Because of the high mobility in tablets, computers generally preferred in
several occasions. For example, in business meeting because it helps take notes and minutes of
the meeting. Information technology is the dissemination of some information which cater to
more audiences after collection of data from several sources. Management also entitles to the
business and monitor process, information circulation, structure in systematic way. Process of
collecting, sending and receiving information includes in it that assists in significant manner.
Knowledge management also includes for creating, managing and sharing of data in the
institution. It defines as accomplishment of managerial goals through multidisciplinary strategy
to utilize knowledge.
Multi-criteria decisions matrix in decision-making process with recommendation
Actual tendencies of the decision matrix need to be make with globalization to develop
information and communication facilities for the school team. Furthermore, it required
functionalities which define and considered knowledge management activities such as sharing,
transfer, acquisition, integration and archive. In addition to this, there are several meeting need to
be arrange in systematic manner to take decisions. In this way, recommendations need to be
given that develop effective communication. In this way, following recommendation can be
suggested for school enhancement:
Provide tablet to each staff member: With the help of providing tablet to each person
in school, performances of staff performances can be enhances in systematic manner. Therefore,
it will helpful to generate effective knowledge and information. Further, teacher can see
performances of their students and continuously watching on them to develop their knowledge. It
will be helpful to ensure significant management to regulate functions and operations. With the
help of tablet, additional information can be cater for effective working in business (Istenic
Starcic and Bagon, 2014).
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Provide laptop to each person: In addition to this, laptop stores more data so that it
would be beneficial to the staff member to carry it everywhere where it required. It is helpful to
tracking useful information and kept it for long time. It is also useful to monitor performances of
students in their work so that it enhance effective results in school. In respect to provide laptop to
each person, member can also enhance their monitoring on students.
Provide 20pc in the staff room: Further, staff rooms required 20pc so that desktop
would be better element to undertake different things. With the help of Pcs, in school data can be
stores in significant manner. It will help in developing effective results in regular check of
students work. In addition to this, in school students can also done their assignment who have no
tablets and laptop. Hence, it will assist to enhance performances of students in school and also
create positive impact on them (Owate, Williams and Nnanna, 2014).
b. Information management and knowledge management
Knowledge management and the information need to be flow to right people with the
help of different source. In order to this, organisation requires clear ideas and specific goals as
well which need to be achieve in systematic way. Further, ICT is stand for information computer
technology that helps in information and knowledge both management in different ways.
ICT in knowledge management:
In the today's competition, there are several industries in which knowledge management
become very important for demonstrate success in the enterprise. It is also facilitates with ICT
technologies that share knowledge with right people of the institution. ICT also helps in
enhancing self action of the workers and making high efficiency with organisation resources. In
addition to this, there are many other sources that enable through ICT technologies example
telephones, database, search engine, etc. For instance, new employees required information
regarding organisation which mandatory to execute and sharing information within the
organisation which could be stored in emails and computers as well (Subashini, Rita and Vivek,
2017).
In today's time, within the organisation management consists with 90% people and 10%
technology. Without technological elements, knowledge management never accomplish goals
and objectives. It includes computers, emails and index as well. It demonstrates ability to
distribute knowledge electronically which impeded and organisation also able to achieve their
goals. For example, in school information need to be install and learning syllabus in the
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computer program with sending the data to each and every staff member in the school. In the
present case, new teachers are also employed because they want to know teaching process which
used in school through emails (Istenic Starcic and Bagon, 2014).
In addition to this, new stakeholders also demanded for vital information which concern
about revenue collection in school so that it would be beneficial to make informed decision
before an investment.
ICT on information management
Since information management includes gathering of different types of information with
taking one source and also disseminating it as well. This process of information computer
technology advance in the organisation for next level (Owate, Williams and Nnanna, 2014). With
the help of information technology, information management can be enhances that facilitates by
the computer. Data warehousing also stressed to capture information from the diverse source for
access and analysis with enhancing deploying of computer. Desktops, tablets and computer in
the school purchase for staff member that helps to facilitate information management. For
instance, teachers in school can use these technologies because it helps to plan different lesson
and also design assignment for students (Priorities: Information Management Framework,
2017).
3.
Cost of conversion
Year 1
Year 0 Year 1
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
conversion cost
£350,000
.00
income
Borders cost -
£8,000.0
0 £8,000.00
£720,00
0
Expenditure -
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Food at school - £150.00 £150.00 £135.00
Airport turnaround trip - £50.00 £50.00 £45.00
Lodge food and sundries - £420.00 £420.00 £378.00
Tuition (average) -
£3,500.0
0 £3,500.00
£3,150.0
0
Resident house mistress 1 per 20 borders -
£18,000.
00 - -
Resident matron -
£10,000.
00 - -
Nurse (occasional visits) -
£1,000.0
0 - -
Second matron (cover for each house mistress) -
£5,000.0
0 - -
Cook – (part of school kitchen team) -
£2,500.0
0 - -
Cleaner (part of school cleaning team) -
£1,000.0
0 - -
Maintenance -
£4,000.0
0 - -
Utilities -
£2,500.0
0 - -
Insurance -
£3,000.0
0 - -
Subtotal Expenditure -
£88,200.
00
£41,200.0
0
£37,080.
00
From the above calculation, it can be analysis that there are several types of expenditure
incurred in school. Therefore, different expenses create impact on the performances of the
school. For example, borders cost, tuition, cook, cleaner, etc. In addition to this, there are many
other expenses incurred such as insurance, nurse, residential house. Total expenditure incurred is
£37,080.00.
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