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Reflection

Yes people, I hope you are all well! This is my final blog before Christmas break, and I am going to be reflecting on my semester, specifically the workshop I took part in for Digital Economy, in college.  For anyone that has been reading since day 1 (I know who you guys are) you would have seen different topics that I touch on week on week. These were the same topics that I studied in class. I found blogging about the topics afterwards enabled me to learn more and retain what my lecturer spoke about.  We were faced with the challenge of preparing and executing a workshop for our class. This began with us making a group of five. Firstly, we learned what a Gantt Chart was, and created our own. This showed a breakdown of the different parts of the project we each did and if it was individual work or team work. I found it really satisfying to see the different pieces of it come together.  Our topic for the workshop was "Enterprise Applications" and we were the first group up...

Project Management : The Struggle of Implementing Information Systems


Information Systems (IS) has evolved into the backbone of organizational operations in the constantly evolving digital age. There are many obstacles that businesses face from conceiving digital transformation to its successful execution. In today's blog I will be diving into the complex network of causes behind the difficulties in implementation challenges in Information Systems. 


Companies can find themselves in precarious situations when the goals of developing their Information Systems are unclear. An unfortunate example is the 2013 Target Corporation data breach in the United States. Due to unclear goals and objectives, the retails giants attempt to protect customer data fell short and in turn had serious repercussions and compromise of sensitive data. It is estimated that the company lost over $200 million.


The difficulties Nike encountered in 2010 in implementing a new Supply Chain Management system serve as an example of how inadequate preparation frequently becomes a roadblock. Due to underestimating the system's complexity, the organization experienced delays and cost overruns, highlighting the need for rigorous planning when handling complicated IS integrations. Nike spent around $400 million on this rushed ERP project.


The decline of Kodak serves as a strong illustration of how difficult it is for people to adapt to change. Kodak, a pioneer in analog photography, delayed the transition to digital, which ultimately contributed to its demise. This reluctance served as a stark example of the difficulties organizations face when accepting change and the results of skipping investments in digital technologies. The company focused on it's existing business and did not move with the times. 


Even the most advanced technologies might become unsuccessful due to inadequate user training. 2011 saw difficulties for the UK's National Health Service (NHS) when a new electronic patient record system was implemented. Healthcare workers made mistakes and showed reluctance as a result of inadequate training, which hindered the adoption of the new technology.



The hazards associated with relying on outside vendors are demonstrated by Boeing's struggles with the 787 Dreamliner project. Because of difficulties with the adoption of a sophisticated supply chain management system by its suppliers, the aerospace company experienced delays and quality problems.


Data migration issues frequently develop during transformations, as the UK-based bank TSB observed in 2019. During the transition to a new banking platform, the bank experienced a serious IT meltdown, which rendered customers unable to access their accounts and seriously damaged the bank's reputation.

Organizations may find it difficult to keep up with the complexity that comes with the technology's quick evolution. One instance is Airbus's use of a unique ERP system. Due to the project's unchecked scope extension, there were concerns with scope creep, which resulted in delays and higher expenses.


As one of the biggest credit reporting agencies, Equifax, discovered in 2017, failing to consider cybersecurity when implementing IS can have serious repercussions. Sensitive information was disclosed by a significant data breach, endangering millions of customers and having legal repercussions.

In conclusion, real-world scenarios serve as the basis for the obstacles associated with implementing information systems. Companies may improve their strategy, encourage adaptation, and better navigate the challenges of IS adoption by taking lessons from these scenarios and ensuring the accomplishment of digital excellence.

Thanks for tuning in again and I look forward to next week's blog! 

Jack.


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