Table

SaaS

In today’s computer world, there are three different types of services used by companies to deliver web-based business applications. [1] The different types are Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform of a Service (PasS). [2]

I chose to focus on the Software as a Service, which is described as “a service that allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business application software by paying a monthly service charge or a per-use fee.” [1] A popular accounting software is Quicken by Intuit. “SaaS accounting software helps you keep your finances organized and properly tracked, without needing a finance degree”. [3] This program can be used efficiently to manage the financial aspect of your company in four different packages, from deluxe to home and business. Of course one of the most popular SaaS is Microsoft Word. This word processing application is the application I am using right now to write this task. It allows you to document thoughts and documents and file them away in a neat and orderly fashion so you can call upon them whenever they are needed. The third type of SaaS, is of the project management kind, and its called Time Line by Symantec. This program allows you to “track employee hours, hire more intelligently, schedule more effectively, and automate payroll”. [3] This is perfect for the human resource department.

Common challenges faced when dealing with SaaS are; design and development, revenue models, sales and compensation, partners and distribution, customer service, product support and maintenance, research and development, legal, valuation and funding, exits and liquidity, SaaS pure play vs. dual environment, and finally deciding if SaaS is right for you. [4]

The competitive advantage is quite simply, if you can master all the challenges above, you have most likely created a successful company. If you are successful at those simple steps, it would be extremely difficult to fail, considering these are most of the steps of running a business in general.

Not knowing much about how these computer systems actually work, it’s a little difficult for me to sit here and critique such intricately made computer programs, and try to improve upon them. But if I had to pick a key issue, I’d say to keep up on the security of the systems. Computer hackers and viruses are constantly evolving and getting more dangerous, the last thing a computer system needs is for someone to get into the system and steal valuable data. No one wants to trust a system that could give up personal information at any point. Just look at what recently happened to Sony and the PS3 accounts being stolen. That was a huge problem for the company involved, and a business owner you want no part in a problem that possibly catastrophic. To prevent hackers from breaking the system, you have to keep creating new systems, so that when they finally get a hold of your old system you are already onto a new one.

1. Fundamentals of Information Systems

2. http://www.cloudave.com/9239/the-confusions-of-iaas-paas-and-saas/

3. http://enterprisefeatures.com/2011/08/most-popular-types-of-saas-and-cloud-software/

4. http://bouldersoftwareclub.amivisions.com/Presentation%20BSC%20The%20Challenges%20of%20Saas%20080130.pdf

Memory Software Capacity

T3.3

If a small business is trying to get into the mobile faction of information systems, there are a couple key hardware and software components they’ll need. This could be a risky, yet helpful, endeavor for a small business. First of all, I think a storage area network (SAN) could be very useful. If a small business wants to rely on a mobile device, a storage network could be crucial. How many times do even the smartest- smart phones freeze and you have to restart them? In the middle of something important this could be devastating. Having a system there that can back up information, and make sharing information easier is a must-have. Next, I think touch-screen hardware is self-explanatory. Coming from experience, a touch-screen phone is much easier to handle and navigate. Now a days, the newest and best phones are touch screen, and to run a business from a mobile device, you must have the fastest and brightest technology. A Motorola Raz’r just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Just like the touch screen, a cell phone embedded system and operating system is a no-brainer. Thanks to the Blackberry, in 2002, the phone has evolved into the closest thing to a handheld computer we’ve ever seen. Not having a phone like this and trying to run a business from it would be extremely foolish. The proprietary software is another option, I feel, would pay large dividends. If you can figure out a way to make software that fits your needs perfectly, then it should be done immediately; this will allow your business to run flawlessly. If that’s not possible, off-the-shelf software is also available for a cheaper price to help you along the way. Finally, the personal application software is important because from a business standpoint you can handle word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, project management, financial management, and desktop publishing if need be. And without most of these types of software, you would be left behind in the stone-age writing your information out on paper. As you can see, these types of hardware and software would be very helpful when it comes to moving your business into the future with a mobile regime.

T2.4

Overall, a system is “a set of components that interact with one another and serve for a common purpose or goal.” [1] Inside the system there are two different basic types. There are abstract and physical systems. An abstract system comes from the human mind, and can not be seen. They can be studied and examined though. A physical system, on the other hand, can be drawn, photographed, or pictured because has it has material substance.

Both types of systems have pretty basic characteristics. First there are the environment and boundaries. [2] The boundary is pretty simple to understand, it’s where the sections fall within. It is the simple definition of a boundary, it describes the outline of the module. Next, is the environment in which the system operates. This environment is simply what’s outside the boundaries. Like a literal environment, the system takes place within this environment, being affected by it, and it affecting it back. The point where the boundary meets the environment is called the interface.

A subsystem, or a component, is the system within a system. This can be greatly useful to a system. Having a working subsystem, leads to smaller broken pieces to be fixed individually without having to fix the system as a whole. This allows systems to be worked on without interfering with the system’s processes as a whole. This is called being interrelated. The SlideShare website has a great example of this, “in the Store system, the work of one component, such as producing a daily report of customer orders, may not progress successfully until the work of another component is finished, such as sorting the customers orders by date of receipt.” I think this example is a simple to understand comparison.

Next the process and transformation process is another characteristic of the systems. This simply makes inputs into outputs. The input enters the system, while the output is what leaves the system. The outputs are sometimes returned to the system to normalize the activity of the system, this is called feedback. [3] As you can see a lot goes into a system, but upon breaking it down, its quite simple to master the basics of what makes a system tick.

T2.3

The value chain for the new business, of selling used CD’s, I started is pretty basic. The raw materials I need are the used CD’s themselves. To sell them, I first have to have them in my possession. The inbound logistics are how I will be buying the used CD’s to sell. Some I’ve had for a while, others I’ve picked up at different locations. Warehouse and storage is simple. I will keep the CD’s, in stock, at my house until they are sold and then I’ll ship them out (bring them to school) and deliver them to the customer. Since the CD’s are used I will not need to produce them. The finished product storage is the same as warehouse and storage as of now, being a used CD, they will stay at my house. The outbound logistics will be when I bring them into school after they have been bought, and I will deliver them to the customer. Marketing and sales will happen everyday, as I try my best to convince classmates to buy the CD’s during school hours. I will also make a list of all the CD’s I have so everyone can see the product list. Customer service will be simply how I deal with the customers, until the business can take off and I can afford to bring on employees.

T2.1

For T2.1 I decided to choose the Management Information System, or the MIS. The reading describes the MIS as the organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices that provide routine information to managers and decision makers. Originally, business computers were very basic, only consisting of things like payroll figures and other simple data. As computer systems got more intricate however, so did the information getting put into these computers. Over time the management information system was created to give management more control over important, confidential files that were not suitable for the company to see. The MIS supply managers with info about inventories, other data, and sales that would help in running the business. The most important thing about the MIS is user permission. A manager doesn’t want everyone through out the company to be able to access everything on the network. Security is one of the most important issues in a business infrastructure. With out security, an important product layout can be taken and used by other competitive companies. As a business manager, this could be disastrous, and could ultimately lead to the end of the company. The important business diagrams should only be accessible by the managers. The receptionist certainly should have access to the company’s sensitive material. Examples of this sensitive material could be competitor analysis or product development. Another important issue the MIS brings up is that it allows the system to be organized for the managers, and it creates a system that can be synchronized so that communication can be smooth and concise. If managers within the company can not communicate thoroughly and easily, it makes the whole operation less effective. The communication through out the levels of a company should run like a well-oiled machine, glitch free. The MIS allows for this to happen.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Kenny Stengel

Kenny Stengel

Overall, a system is “a set of components that interact with one another and serve for a common purpose or goal.” [1] Inside the system there are two different basic types.  There are abstract and physical systems.  An abstract system comes from the human mind, and can not be seen.  They can be studied and examined though.  A physical system, on the other hand, can be drawn, photographed, or pictured because has it has material substance.  
            Both types of systems have pretty basic characteristics.  First there are the environment and boundaries.  [2] The boundary is pretty simple to understand, it’s where the sections fall within.  It is the simple definition of a boundary, it describes the outline of the module.  Next, is the environment in which the system operates.  This environment is simply what’s outside the boundaries.  Like a literal environment, the system takes place within this environment, being affected by it, and it affecting it back. The point where the boundary meets the environment is called the interface. 
            A subsystem, or a component, is the system within a system.  This can be greatly useful to a system.  Having a working subsystem, leads to smaller broken pieces to be fixed individually without having to fix the system as a whole.  This allows systems to be worked on without interfering with the system’s processes as a whole.  This is called being interrelated.  The SlideShare website has a great example of this, “in the Store system, the work of one component, such as producing a daily report of customer orders, may not progress successfully until the work of another component is finished, such as sorting the customers orders by date of receipt.”  I think this example is a simple to understand comparison.
            Next the process and transformation process is another characteristic of the systems.  This simply makes inputs into outputs.  The input enters the system, while the output is what leaves the system.   The outputs are sometimes returned to the system to normalize the activity of the system, this is called feedback. [3]  As you can see a lot goes into a system, but upon breaking it down, its quite simple to master the basics of what makes a system tick. 
           















  1. SlideShare Inc. (2011) http://www.slideshare.net/joelogs/general-systems-theory-and-systems-analysis-presentation
  2. Wikipedia. (2011) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System
General Systems Concepts.  http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/52/04712314/0471231452.pdf
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