Options Analysis of Software Platform Decisions - Paper Example

Option 1: Transit to a Central IBM Computing Environment

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The first option was to transit to a central IBM computing environment. Under this particular option, IMT will have to obligate to stay with the mainframe for all critical applications, deject using the sun, as well as IMB stations of work while permeating employment of Linux on the principal frame while eliminating the AS/400 (Brown, 2010).

However, IBM had already substituted the AS/400 with the eServer iSeries a year later upon the acquisition of the companys system. The robust platform was not only capable of running the companys existing system; OS/400, rather it was also capable of running AIX which is IBMs UNIX version as well as Linux. This strategy was capable of optimizing the employment of the lower cost and energy competent mainframe (Brown, 2010).

The companys commitment to this mainframe would have to be permanent. In order to sustain a large centralized mainframe and gain new applications as well as complete access all users may need a comprehensive plan. This plan would involve all principal AS/400 applications being ported to the eServer iSeries mainframe so as to guarantee control, central usage, and support. Principal packages of the mainframe would have to be re-evaluated for upgrades that are likely to hold Fort Waynes existing capacity and necessities (Jha, 2016).

Older packages that are employed in Fort Wayne would have to be phased out in a period of five years. PCs that are connected via LANS to the mainframe would be employed in spreadsheets as well as word processing, but virtually all computational work would be employed on the mainframe. However, the downside of option one in spite of its viability is that most employees would be upset given that they are used to the Sun and IBM workstations (Jha, 2016).

Apart from that, members of staff may not be ready for the adoption of this technology and would have to be trained before its adoption. UNIX and LANs have the stability of vendors since many companies have used them before (Li, 2014).

Option 2: Work Station Computing

In this option, which is the most appropriate option the mainframe will have to be completely phased out with time. In the same breath, the company will heavily invest in the Sun as well as the IBM workstations that run the LANs, UNIX, PCs and large UNIX servers (Li, 2014).

The company will employ the Linux on the workstations. This kind of architecture would permeate transition to a complete client-server setting. A high-speed internet would have to be installed to ensure that all computers are linked. Data, as well as application servers, would be disbursed via functional areas and profit centers such as testing, marketing, human resources and development engineering (Park, 2016).

CAD seats would then be transferred gradually from the principal frame to committed workstations. In the period of transition, the network will be linked to the mainframe and will be availed to be accessed by all workstations. One relational cluster of data base server is capable of serving the whole UNIX system of networks, but there would be a necessary existence of local data bases. PCs will be linked through LANs as well as Wide Area Networks (WAN) which will have to be installed as a bridge between the networks (Taudes, 2000).

The downside of this option is that it would be somehow expensive and it would end up creating a disjointed computing environment. Most companies that have used this option ended up reverting to centralized management after a short while. Apart from that, members of staff may not be ready for the adoption of this technology and would have to be trained before its adoption (Park, 2016).

The UNIX, LANs and WAN systems have a stability of vendors since many companies have used them before. The budget and capacity planning for UNIX, LANs and WAN systems will not be an uphill task since their positive impact is immediate (Brown, 2010).

Option 3: Outsource Server Management to an external Data Center Hosting Firm

In this option, the company will have to outsource its server management to an external data center hosting firm. This outsourcing firm will have to set up and control the companys virtual machines (Taudes, 2000).

The company will then operate as though it had a practically limitless number of servers. It will then get rid of the need for extra investment in computer hardware and just pay for what it needs every month. Through this option, the company will begin to abandon the mainframe yet convert the full computing podium to a Linux powered setting that would be more flexible (Brown, 2010).

The Linux solution is likely to give the company more flexibility in light of its diverse needs. The Linux solutions would also be employed in the monitoring of production, tracking quality control and machine management. Also, most data center hosting firms that employ Linux founded servers have an assured 99% uptime (Jha, 2016).

As a matter of fact, Linux was very helpful at Ford as well as DaimlerChrysler automobile simulations. Apart from that the durability of the platform was proved by Amerada Hess and numerous oil companies via their exploration activities. In spite of these merits, this is a critical step from IMTs existing conservative setting for third parties would be responsible for running the companys centralized computers; a very risky affair at that (Jha, 2016).

Also, members of staff may not be ready in the adoption of this technology and would have to be trained before its adoption. The Linux technology has a stability of vendors since many companies have used it before. The budget and capacity planning for Linux adoption will be a big challenge because it is not known the period it will take for the company to start registering positive results from this technology (Li, 2014).

Option 4: Cautiously Waiting and Watching

The fourth and final option will just be about cautiously waiting and watching. The company can choose particular changes in the system in relation to how situations will force it to adjust. In light of the watch cautiously alternative decisions will only be made as a reaction to immediate demands. For instance, Linux could be adopted and allow some members of staff to experiment with it (Park, 2016).

However, the downside of this option is that it may not be clear if a certain decision, for instance, adopting Linux would be prime time. This would call for some experimenting years to establish if the solution is viable for the company. Members of staff may not be ready for the adoption of this technology and would have to be trained before its adoption. Software Licensing will not be a problem since it is the software companies themselves that would be involved in installing this software at IMT (Taudes, 2000).

References

Brown, Carol, V., Dehaves, Daniel, W. (2010), Managing information technology Seventh Edition. New York: Prentice Hall.

Jha, S. K., Pinsonneault, A., & Dube, L. (2016). The evolution of an ict platform-enabled ecosystem for poverty alleviation: the case of ekutir. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 431-446.

Li, X. (2014). Relational Contracts, Growth Options, and Heterogeneous Beliefs: A Game-Theoretic Perspective on Information Technology Outsourcing. Journal Of Management Information Systems, 31(2), 319-350. doi:10.2753/MIS0742-1222310211

Park, E. H., Ramesh, B., & Cao, L. (2016). Emotion in IT Investment Decision Making with A Real Options Perspective: The Intertwining of Cognition and Regret. Journal Of Management Information Systems, 33(3), 652-683. doi:10.1080/07421222.2016.1243893

Taudes, A., Feurstein, M., & Mild, A. (2000). Options analysis of software platform decisions: A Case study. MIS Quarterly, 24(2), 227-243.