Please support your response with analysis and facts. Some research on the issues would be helpful in analyzing the case study. Please follow the instructions and respond to Case Questions as posted here.

Link to Case study:
http://gresi.hec.ca/SHAPS/cp/gescah/formajout/ajout/test/uploaded/cahier0205.pdf

Note: The above case study is from this book (For Reference purpose only): McNurlin, B. & Sprague, R Information Systems Management in Practice: sixth Edition Prentice Hall 0131011391

Specific Instruction:

Case Abstract:

Before you start answering the case questions, summarize in no more than one paragraph, what this case is all about.

Case Questions:

1. What are the two main problems in this case?
2. What are the factors affecting the problems in this case?
3. Discuss the managerial, organization, and technological issues and resources in this case.
4. What role do different players (decision makers) play in the overall planning, implementation, and management of the IT applications?
5. What are the possible alternatives, and pros and cons of each, for dealing with the problems related to this case?
6. What recommendation would you make to management? Provide your arguments in support of your recommendation.
7: Case Epilogue: What are the lessons learned in this case?


Please use APA format.

For all questions, use a standard essay format. This should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your answers should reflect your ability to incorporate all relevant information regarding the question.

Text:
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digital Firm
10th Edition Sept.2007
ISBN: 0-13-230461-9
Authors: Kenneth C. Laudon and Jane P. Laudon

NOTE: A total of 4 questions completed is required. Complete one from each unit.


Unit One writing assignment: Answer (1) of the following questions:

1. Describe the qualities of a digital firm. Why are digital firms so powerful?
2. What are customer relationship management systems? How do they benefit business?
3. What is the value chain model? How can it be used to identify opportunities for strategic information systems?

Unit Two writing assignment: Answer (1) of the following questions:

1. Define IT Infrastructure and describe its components.
2. Name and describe the capabilities of a DBMS.
3. What is the Internet? How does it work? How does it provide business value?

Unit Three writing assignment: Answer (1) of the following questions:

1. How are partner relationship management (PRM) and employee relationship management (ERM) related to customer relationship management (CRM)?
2. List and describe the seven unique features of e-commerce technology.
3. List and describe the stages in decision-making.

Unit Four writing assignment: Answer (1) of the following questions:

1. Describe each of the four kinds of organizational change that can be promoted with information technology.
2. What is project management? List and describe the project management activities and variables addressed by project management.
3. Describe the five general cultural factors leading toward growth in global business and the four specific business factors. Describe the interconnection among these factors.

Preferred Writer - serban brebenel

Assignment: Develop an integrated plan incorporating project, operations and information systems management to improve organizational performance.

o Identify an important managerial challenge facing his or her work or other organization.
o Develop a plan that integrates project management, operations management, and information systems management to successfully meet this challenge and improve organizational performance, in a succinct report that includes an executive summary.

I really need help with this case study

Topic: Information Systems Management

Industry Analysis
Case Study, research an airline company (Delta Airlines) and give a brief overview of the company, identify the industry it is a part of, and complete a Five Forces Industry Analysis. Pages 77-78.

Research the airline company and be sure to include company information as well as industry information.
Include the following:
? A brief company background of the company
? Identification of the industry the company is a part of and give a brief overview of that industry
? Complete a Five Forces Industry Analysis of the industry identified to include: o A one or two sentence explanation of each force
? Indication if the force is high or low for the industry
? A brief justification of why you believe the force to be high or low

Reference:
Kroenke, D. M. (2013). Using MIS (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Chapter 3

My Order
I am studying master in Information Systems Management ( ISM ) which is related to information systems and information technologies, and now I am in the end of my study , so I have to prepare dissertation as a ( research project ) , and I have selected topic which I hope to be useful for my specialisation , the topic is (Evaluation of the failure In Information Systems and Information Technologies at Practice Place) , I am really interested with this area , because these days many organisations have spent a huge many to get a strong system and in the end they will be found some mistakes especially in implementation planning , however I have to meet my supervisor this week and he asked my by the email to bring ( Proposal ) for my topic , in other words , what am I going to do during the dissertation time , and also he asked me few questions such as :

1- Why did you choose this topic ?
2- Can you give us a general idea about this topic ?
3- What are the objects and aims of this project ?
4- What are the benefits of this topic and the research ?
5- What is the structure for this topic ?
6- Which methodology are you going to use in your research ?
7- How can your research provide critical analysis ?
8- Which kind of resources are you going to use ?
9- Explain the project plans during the project time ( start from 14 June until 15 August ) .
10- What is the relationship between your topic and your study ?
11- What are the main questions would you like to cover them in your research ?


Note :
1- If my supervisor gave me his agreement, I will send the research back to you to do this research .
2- He mentioned in his email ( Try to choose nice name for your research rather than the name which you have chosen) so please edit the topic above with appropriate name .
3- Also my supervisor asked my to show him a strong reasons for choosing this topic .
4- He didnt ask about any references now , so I will select 4 references in the form, anyway you can add more than four or less or never up to you, it is not big issue.
5- Please try to provide enough answers for above questions
6- Please use English (UK) words , it is very important.



MANY THANKS

Cover Page (Title: IT Governance)
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Sections and Subsections to include any charts/graphs
Conclusions
Documented Sources

* Discuss benefit of using IT governance company such as Mercury (see Mercury.com link)
* How do these companies leverage IT to improve the bottom line.
* Success stories of businesses using IT governance companies to help IT departments succeed and not be overlooked by upper-level business management.
* Explain it is just as important for the IT department's success as is the financial success of any company (big or small).
* Mercury's competition
* The rise and need of companies like Mercury to govern businesses IT departments and be their "IT efficiancy experts".
* Problems and issues when companies don't run IT like a business and top management fails to use IT department correctly.
* The missing link in Information Technology initiatives that fail.

From text book, Information Systems Management In Practice, Sixth Edition, Barbara C. McNurlin and Ralph H. Sprague, Jr.(2002), Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, page 46: Benefits of IT, Five "Waves of Innovation" 1. Reducing costs, 2. Leveraging investments, 3. Enhancing products and services, 4. Enhancing executive decision making, 5. Reaching the consumer


Sites to use:

1. http://www.itgi.org/Template_ITGI.cfm?Section=Recent_Publications&CONTENTID=6674&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

2. http://www.mercury.com

3. http://www.mercury.com/us/media/GMAC_success_lg.wmv

4. http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=109833&liFlavourID=1

5. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01376g.pdf

6. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=4170

7. http://www.mercury.com/us/customers/successes/sabre.html

8. http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/feature_stories/2003/03adaptivemgmt.html?mtxs=home-corp&mtxb=B1&mtxl=L1

9. http://www.sagebrushgroup.com/organic.htm#Risk%20Management

Assignment in following description:
1. Identify an important managerial challenge facing the United States Government---Managing finances during a budget crisis
2. Develop a plan that integrates project management, operations management, and information systems management to successfully meet this challenge and improve organizational performance, in a succinct report that includes an executive summary.
3. Need at least 5 scholarly references.

Hi Writer?s
Topic: Understanding the Impact of Compliance and IT Governance


Understanding the Impact of Compliance and IT Governance

In a two-page critique of the article, ?Crafting Information Technology Governance,? discuss the author?s view of the impact of IT governance on the organization. Discuss the author?s view of the importance of IT governance and your evaluation of Peterson?s position.

References
Peterson, R. (2004). CRAFTING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE. Information Systems Management, 21(4), 7-22.

Grading rubric


Criteria Non-performance Basic Proficient Distinguished
Analyze the impact of IT governance on the organization.
Does not analyze the impact of IT governance on the organization. Identifies the impact of IT governance on the organization. Analyzes the impact of IT governance on the organization. Provides detailed analysis of the impact of IT governance on the organization.
Analyze the importance of IT governance.
Does not analyze the importance of IT governance. Identifies the importance of IT governance. Analyzes the importance of IT governance. Provides detailed analysis of the importance of IT governance.
Evaluate the position presented by the author.
Does not evaluate the position presented by the author. Summarizes the position presented by the author. Evaluates the position presented by the author. Evaluates the position presented by the author compared and contrasted with other sources.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the analysis of IT governance.
Does not demonstrate critical thinking skills in the analysis of IT governance. Demonstrates only reductive thinking in the analysis of IT governance. Demonstrates critical thinking skills in the analysis of IT governance. Demonstrates critical thinking through synthesis or new research in the analysis of IT governance.
Demonstrate a writing style in which sentences are clear, concise, and direct.
Does not demonstrate a writing style in which sentences are clear, concise, and direct; has severe errors so as to make the message unintelligible. Demonstrates a writing style with sufficient errors to detract from the message. Demonstrates a writing style in which sentences are clear, concise, and direct. Demonstrates a writing style in which sentences are clear, concise, and direct using a scholarly tone with no grammatical errors.
Develop arguments in a manner that is logical and clear to the reader.
Does not develop arguments in a manner that is logical and clear to the reader. Development of arguments contains minor flaws that have minimal impact on the flow of the paper. Develops arguments in a manner that is logical and clear to the reader. Develops arguments in a manner that advances the reader's insight into the subject.
Provide well-supported analysis, using appropriately formatted references.
Does not provide well-supported analysis, and does not use appropriately formatted references. Supports analysis but fails to use academically appropriate sources or has formatting errors with citations or references. Provides well-supported analysis, using appropriately formatted references. Provides well-supported analysis, using appropriately formatted references that support the credibility of information presented

Strategic Resource Management


Scenario

For this assignment you will need to complete four activities which focus on the areas listed below:
?Human resource management
?Management of physical resources
?Marketing
?Information systems

You should complete all four activities using an organisation with which you are familiar and/or where you have access to the relevant information for the purposes of the research. Alternatively the individual tasks may be completed using different organisations. Where appropriate you may interview relevant staff and use the evidence to complete the tasks. In preparation for completing this assignment you need to investigate possible options and identify the organisation(s) you intend to use. You may wish to discuss your choices with your tutor before embarking on the work.


? Activity 1: Human Resource Management (HRM) ? essay ? approximately 1000 words

Produce a document which demonstrates your understanding of the role of HRM in supporting business strategy and shows how to develop human resources in organisations.

The document should include
?A consideration of the objectives for your chosen organisation and an explanation of how HRM contributes to their achievement
?A critical evaluation of the role of HRM in your chosen organisation
?An evaluation of the recruitment and retention strategies of your chosen organisation
?A critical assessment of the techniques used to develop employees in the organisation
?An evaluation of the contribution these techniques make to ensure the engagement of employees
?A systematic analysis of the effective strategies an HRM department must use to support the achievement of organisational strategy.

Finally as planning human resource requirements is important for the success of businesses you must also appraise the processes your chosen organisation uses

? Activity 2: Management of Physical Resources ? approximately 1000 words

Create a table which identifies the chosen organisation?s objectives and shows the physical resources required to ensure achievement of each of these objectives. Explain the resource management implications of the information in your table.

Using the table above critically evaluate the role of physical resource management within the organisation and systematically appraise the processes that are used to plan the physical requirements of the organisation. Your appraisal and evaluation must be supported with relevant theory and include recommendations where appropriate, to support and provide evidence for your work.

? Activity 3: Marketing ? report approximately 1000 words

In this section you must clearly show that you understand the role of marketing in supporting business strategy. Produce a report on your chosen organisation which:
?investigates how marketing activities contribute to achievement of organisational objectives in the organisation
?critically evaluates marketing operations in that organisation
?appraises the processes that the organisation uses to develop its markets

? Activity 4: Information Systems Management (ISM) approximately 1000 words

For your chosen organisation investigate and report on how ISM contributes to the achievement of the objectives of this organisation. In completing this investigation you must also critically evaluate the role ISM plays in the organisation

Finally as planning the requirements and place of information systems is important for the success of businesses you must also appraise the processes your chosen organisation uses to plan its ISM requirements
Suggested Resources

The suggested resources below provide useful theory, statistics and case studies relevant to management, healthcare management and tourism management. These resources can supplement the resources provided by your college and resources suggested by ATHE for each unit.

Always ensure you reference correctly when using information from any source.
www.Businesscasestudies.co.uk
This website provides useful case studies from The Times.
www.skillscfa.org
The Skills CFA is the sector skills council for business and administration, their website includes information such as labour market intelligence.
www.ft.com
The Financial Times is one of the world?s leading business and finance newspapers. Its website contains up to date financial and business information and news stories.
www.hse.gov.uk
The Health and Safety Executive is the UK's independent body watchdog for work related health and safety, illness and sickness. Its website contains templates on workplace risk assessments.
www.wri.org
The World Resources Institute provides information on climate change and how this affects business.
www.managementhelp.org
This website is a free online resource with articles in management.
www.open.edu/openlearn/money-management
The Open University provides free online resources and short courses.
www.businessballs.com
Businessballs is a free learning and development resource for people and organisations.
www.mindtools.com
This website provides practical and straightforward information to improve management skills and knowledge.
www.bbrt.org
Beyond Budgeting Round Table is a website which gives readers a new way of managing performance and shows case studies of companies that have used their methods.
www.researchproposalguide.com
This website gives information on how to write a good research proposal.
www.un.org
This is the main website of the United Nations; its document section contains information on the work of the UN and its member countries.
www.oecd.org
The Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development is an international organisation which
promotes the economic development of its member countries. Its website contains statistics and reports on its work

Subject: Information System Management
Essay Question: Describe the challenges that an organization will face when changing business processes and how information systems support business process.

Reference:
Kroenke, D. M. (2013). Using MIS (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Chapter 3 page 86-87
Chapter 10 pages 348-354
Chapter 10 Slides

research the following: Organizational and technical
issues of significance in the international or global management of information systems.

Basically: What problems can occur; language, system intigration, managing information resources, technologies for developing systems, etc .

Deliverable:
1. Abstract of paper (1 page max)
2. Final paper 17 pages
3. Appendix A - All figures, diagrams, tables, etc., unless embedded in text
4.References - Works cited (Final list)

Standards
The 5th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) manual shall govern standards for the final research paper. Include seventeen (17) total references.


One resource should be: Information Systems Management in Practice, 7th edition, McNurlin and Sprague

Cover Page

Table of Contents

Proposal (2-3 pages) 75 points:

1. Subject of Course Project
2. Business problem statement
3. General benefits it will provide the organization
4. High level approach(es)
5. Audience

Milestone 1 (minimum of 3 pages) 75 points:

1. Brief Company background
2. Discussion of business issues
3. Benefits of solving the problem
4. Business/technical approach
5. High level solution.

Milestone 2 (minimum of 3 additional pages) 75 points:

1. Technology or business practices used to augment the solution in milestone 1.
2. Value of the approach
3. Business process changes

Milestone 3 (minimum of 3 additional pages) 75 points:

1. Technology or business practices in addition to those described in milestone 2.
2. Conclusions and overall recommendations
3. High-level implementation plan
4. Summary of project

References

-------------------------------------------------
HERE IS MY PAPER, THAT YOU CAN USE AS AN EXAMPLE

Connie J. Thomas

Byrd Limousine Data
Update Proposal


Bryd
Managerial Applications of Information Technology IS535ON

Professor: Brooke Estabrook-Fishinghawk

May 17, 2012



?

Byrd Limousine Data Update Proposal

Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Problem 3
Benefits To The Organization 4
Milestone 1 4
References 7

?
BRYD LIMOUISINE DATA UPDATE PROPOSAL
Introduction
The Byrd Limousine is a business that provides limousine service in Southern California for 21 years. The Byrd Limousine business is owned and operated by Shelonda Byrd Hale. The Byrd Limousine business has seven limousine drivers, five males and two females. The company caters to people who want a limousine and driver so they can arrive in style at major events. The market that provides limousine service is very competitive one and it continues to change when there are newer models of limousines that come into the market. Byrd Limousine does business by manually processing data. My proposal of Transaction Processing System will allow Byrd Limousine to keep track of the daily elementary activities.
Problem
The current manual system is inadequate at the Byrd Limousine Company because people are slow, it?s time-consuming and completely inefficient. The processing of data manually could lead to human errors that will cut into the profits of the business. Which is why there is a need for extensive quality at Bryd Limousine? The Transaction Processing System offers the followings it?s less time consuming, accuracy and provides data that will keep up with the other limousine competitors in this field (Bryd Limousine).
Problem
? Slow manually
? Time Consuming
? Inefficient
? Human Errors
Benefits To The Organization
The proposed transaction processing system will be used to keep track of the transactions at Bryd Limousine such as sales, receipts, cash deposits, payroll, and credit transactions. The new system will improve the functionality of the business. The new system will improve relationships between the business and its customers. This transaction processing system will reduce errors and generate the functions automatically rather than manually.
Benefits
? Reduce errors
? Improves relations business and customers
? Generate functions automatically
? Keeps up with Demands of Industry
? More competitive

The information systems will automate many steps in the business processes that were formerly performed manually. I?m proposing to the Bryd Limousine Business that the transition to the Transaction Processing will change the flow of information making it possible for the Byrd Limousine Business to keep up with the demands of the industry and be more competitive in this field. This processing system will simultaneously eliminate delays in decisions to grow the business and change the way the business operates (Laudon, K.C. & Laudon, J.P. 2012).

Milestone 1
Bryd Limousine manual way of running the business will be solved and improved by putting in the transaction processing system and reduce the costs related to this new system. By putting in this new technology it will help the financial management aspects of the company and the strategic planning performance that will help the profit margin.
Company Background
Bryd Limousine is a small limousine company that is headquartered in the United States. Bryd Limousine was first started by the mother Mrs. Bryd and her daughter because they seen the need to provide quality low priced limousine service in Southern California. The company has nine employees. According to the Bryd Limousine Company website the business is offering great prices and great customer service. Byrd Limousine competitive rates encourage people to come back in repeat service. Byrd Limousine offers additional service for their corporate accounts.
The Transaction Processing System will reduce costs by reducing the manual time of the work. Limousines orders placed will be initially larger and replenishment will occur as levels increase. Predictions can be made, and orders can now be placed on the basis of real-time data, improving the accuracy of both, and are less likely to be left with stock they can't use. The trends realized by the new system may also be helpful in designing pricing structures, thus maximizing profits.
Transaction Processing System will improve customer service and quickly provide customers with up to date information. The customers will be rewarded for loyalty, tracked through the loyal repeat service database. The new system will improve relationships and allow access to some of the data gathered will predict trends more accurately in the wider industry context. The customers will now receive quick accurate information electronically, and so time is saved answering phone calls. Errors will also be reduced, since identical invoices can be generated automatically. The functionality that will be introduced during this project is only a small proportion of the functionality of the Transaction Processing System system, and so there is much scope for the development of further uses, for example an online catalogue that would be added to the website. The Transaction Processing System provides huge time-savings for the business. The number of manual stock tasks will be reduced which would save valuable time. The Transaction Processing System offers a wide selection of features to improve control and save time spent on inventory, purchasing and accounting.
In conclusion the transaction processing system is protected with software that restricts hackers and pilferers from gaining access. This system is able to do disaster recovery in case files do get lost, stolen or hacked. The system cannot be accessed other than the person who is authorized to do so and have the skill to operate its functions. Customers must know that a company can handle and supply the things they need and want, can deliver on time. One reliable way to keep a company?s eligibility in providing such needs and demands of customers is by using a good transaction processing system (Transaction Processing System).


?
References

Byrd Limousine (2012), Website: Retrieved May 4, 2012
http://www.byrdlimo.com/Home_Page.html
Laudon, K.C. & Laudon, J.P. (2012) Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm 12th Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Transaction Processing Website, Retrieved May 10, 2012
http://www.transactionprocessingsystem.org/




Choose a base idea that is expanded through a series of three milestones throughout the course.
These can be completely oriented toward business or could also be topics that reinforce the idea that we live in a technological world 24 hours a day. Mobile devices, social networking, cloud computing, and digital media are examples of this fact.
The Week 1 threaded discussion will help identify and choose appropriate instructor approved topics.
The graded proposal is submitted formally in Week 2.
Course Project Milestones 1, 2, and 3 are submitted in weeks 3, 5, and 7. The format for the course project is posted in DocSharing. This will be a single document that you continue to add content to (i.e. week 2 you will complete the proposal and add any references used on the reference page; week 3, add content to the original documet for Milestone 1, etc.)


Milestones

Week 1: Discussion and agreement on the Course Project (not graded, but required)
Week 2: Submission of the Course Project Proposal (graded)
Week 3: Course Project ? Milestone 1
Week 5: Course Project ? Milestone 2
Week 7: Course Project ? Milestone 3 ? Project Complete

I need a one page summary of the impact of Sarbannes/Oxley legislation on IT organizations.I must use the textbook by JAMES A. OBRIEN: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS:MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.6TH EDITION.MCGRAW HILL,IRWIN,NEW YORK,NEW YORK.2004.I need to cite this text and need three links as well.Again,this is just a summary

Hi Writer?s
Please download the instructions also, when you write the assignments can you separate the What is Cyberterrorism? and Cyberterrorism Moves to Commercial Enterprise for me please.

Please download the instruction.

What is Cyberterrorism?
Based on your reading of the article, ?Planning for Terrorism: How Far Should an Employer Go?? discuss what we are really guarding against. If you are the chief information officer of a company, and you are asked to develop a plan to fight cyberterrorism, what exactly will the plan include?
This question will require you to conduct research on this term, so that you can fully and intelligently develop and deliver a plan to the chief executives and the board of directors of the company.

References
Matchulat, J. J. (2006). Planning for terrorism: How far should an employer go? Risk Management, 53(12), 22-24,26-27. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/226996721?accountid=27965

Cyberterrorism Moves to Commercial Enterprise
Based on your reading of the article, ?Cyber-warfare Threatens Corporations: Expansion Into Commercial Environments,? discuss Knapps and Boulton?s (2006) 12 trends. Do you believe these are the only 12? Are there more, or less? Describe how you would choose to help your organization guard against these attacks.
While this is a new field, try to find any scholarly-based articles that offer suggestions on how to protect organizations from cyber attacks.

References
Knapp, K. J., & Boulton, W. R. (2006). CYBER-WARFARE THREATENS CORPORATIONS: EXPANSION INTO COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS.

Readings
Complete the following:
? Read Knapp?s 2006 article, ?Cyber-warfare Threatens Corporations: Expansion Into Commercial Environments,? from Information Systems Management, volume 23, issue 2, page 76. This paper presents the threat of cyberterrorism, and how it is expanding into corporations.
? Read Matchulat?s 2006 article, ?Planning for Terrorism: How Far Should an Employer Go?? from Risk Management, volume 53, issue 12, page 22. This paper asks how far corporations should venture into protection from a terrorist attack. Is it the government?s job, or corporations? responsibly to guard against this unseen threat?

A. Explain, citing specific examples the difference between an architecture and an infrastructure

B. What does "open source" mean?

Please only use below text book for reference:

McNurlin B & Sprague R (2004). Information Systems Management in Practice (6th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

This paper is to based on one book. The writer will need to analyze the following memo, applying the 11-step critical thinking model discussed in Asking the Right Questions. Apply the 11 steps of the critical thinking model to assess the arguments made in the following critical thinking assignment document. It is important to include all of the steps and address them in order. The writer will have to read the book which is will not take long.

The book is:

Browne, M. N., & Keeley, S.M. (2010). Asking the right questions: A guide to critical thinking (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

The memo to be analyzed is the following:

Federated State Employees Union

Local No. 343

Memo

To: Mr. Cesar Padilla (President, FSEU Local No. 343)

From: Ms. Barbara Glenn (FSEU Director of Human Resources)

CC: None (Confidential)

Date: May 25, 2010

Re: Illinois State Department of Transportation (DoT) Outsourcing

This is in response to your request for us to evaluate the notification sent to you by the governor indicating that she intends to privatize the states DoT information systems management function. You wanted to know if the union should oppose the outsourcing proposal.

1.0 Background

Governor Sally Bernstein sent a letter on April 12, 2010 notifying our union that the state intends to outsource and privatize the information systems management function within the Department of Transportation. This function is currently being performed by 75 state employees, 43 of whom are members of FSEU Local 343. The governor indicated that this proposed transition to a private sector service provider would save the state approximately $250,000 per year in budgeted personnel costs and would help to ensure that the DoT would continue to receive state-of-the-art information systems hardware, software, and professional expertise. Finally, the governor promises that our union members will be offered similar positions in other departments within the executive branch of government as vacancies arise through attrition.

2.0 Discussion

This proposed privatization is an assault on our union. It is anti-American. Foreign agents will bid for this privatization contract and accept wages lower than our members receive. This will set the stage for state government to decrease employee wages in the future. Moreover, by dispersing our members to other departments, the governor is just trying to demonstrate that management controls the union. The governor is a bully. If we allow this to happen in the Department of Transportation, it will happen in all departments everywhere. The stage will be set. We must oppose this action now, or we do a disservice to our members and will regret it later.

The governor offers displaced union members so-called "similar" positions in other departments. What does this mean? Employees will be forced learn new jobs or "relearn" their jobs in a new environment. This is an attempt to drive out experienced older workers who won't want to learn new jobs at this stage of their lives. And what assurance do we have that suitable vacancies will be available in sufficient numbers? Most likely it will mean that our members will be out on the street with no jobs at all. Outsourcing is the cause of the current recession; with the downturn in the economy and the rising gas prices, where are all these replacement "similar" jobs supposed to come from? My brother-in-law was downsized out of a job in Michigan last year and he is still unemployed. According to him, management uses a promise for rehire to gain union support for outsourcing and 80% of the time they dont keep their promise. Moreover, according to the online website Wikipedia, privatization is a potential violation of the Pendleton Act of 1883 which curbed arbitrary and capricious acts of management and established that civil servants will be hired and retained on the basis of merit.

Therefore, if you rebut the governors proposal, you will win the admiration of all our members. I had lunch the other day with a group of our members, and everyone was in agreement that if you opposed this measure, they would vote for you. This will set the stage for your re-election next year at the end of your present term. We dont have to go along with this; the governor will respect our wishes. I speak for truth and common sense and advise you to resist allowing the state to privatize the DoT information systems management function. If we give in to this proposal, the government will also not respect our power in future negotiations of any kind. We have to be strong and show no weakness.

Finally, privatization of public sector responsibilities is a bad idea, not just for the union, but for the citizens of our state. The state will lose control of information systems and data will be compromised. Corporations are accountable only to the bottom line. Providers of public service should be accountable to the public. Outsourcing public services to private corporations creates instability. If corporate greed isn't satisfied, the companies will pull out leaving the public high and dry. And it doesn't save money either. According to a recent article posted in a prestigious Wall Street newspaper, the additional costs of overseeing third-party contractors adds 20% of hidden costs to the price of each government outsourcing contract. In addition, as anyone who has dealt with customer service outsourced overseas knows, if the contract goes to a foreign country, we will have to deal with communication and culture clash problems as well, which will add further costs. We can point this out in our reply to the governor.

3.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

FSEU Local No. 343 should challenge the governors proposed privatization of the DoT information systems management function as an unfair management practice. Our members will lose their jobs not because of low productivity or malfeasance but merely to gain questionable -- and at most marginal -- efficiencies in government operations. This is unfair and violates the merit principle enshrined in the Pendleton Act of 1883. If the Governor wants to save money, she should abandon that wasteful convention center project, and leave our Union alone.


If the writer has any questions or confusion about what I am looking for at all, please ask me via email.

I am doing research in masters degree as a dissertation I have selected topic whish is related to my course , I am studying Information Systems Management, my topic is Risk management in software development projects, I have done most my research, unfortunately I have got an critical situation especially in mine chapter which is findings and discussions, in this chapter I have to discuss tow case studies and interviews, I have done recently the tow case studies which are 1 London Ambulance Service ( LAS) 2 Flight Control System ( FCS), my problem is I couldnt work with the interviews I have made interviews with ten people who have enough experience in this field and I have collected their answers some of them were by face to face and others was by phone or email
( Skype), I will give a general idea about my research:

Software development projects face various risks throughout the life cycle of the projects. Therefore, it is important for the management to be efficient and effective in identifying and mitigating these risks at various stages if they want to achieve higher success rates. The most important strategy in software development risk management is to reduce and minimize incidences. Thus, the strategy should be comprehensive in mapping all possible problems, measuring the risk magnitudes, prioritizing the identified risks and mitigating them at minimum costs. Over the decades, there have been many cases of expensive software projects flopping due to inappropriate risk management process.

My order is :
I have read some resources in interviews but really I am very confused because I couldnt understand them very well or let me say I couldnt know How can I employee them in my research, I will put the below and read them, try to make sentence with them such as analysing, discussions, definitions, benefits, ext.
You can use any Statistical Analysis you see it appropriate.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

List of interviewed people
NO Name Position Manner of interview
1 Ahmed Alsaleh Business Manager Face to face
2 Amr Jad Researcher in Risk Management Face to face
3 Fahad Altfery Senior IS Department Phone
4 Ibrahim Alquhtani Project Team Leader Phone
5 Haitham Almayyan Senior and work over engineer Skype
6 Hussein Zedan Technical Director of STRL Face to face
7 Khalid Alali Solutions Architect Phone
8 Mansour Alammari Project Risk Specialist Skype
9 Nasser Almalki Business Analyst Phone
10 Sultan Hamad Senior IT project Manager Phone


Q1: Have you worked with any software project? and if so, which stage did you work with it?

A.A: Yes, I have developed system for renting cars in Saudi Arabia.

A.J: Yes, I have worked in software project, I worked in planning stage for user interface.

F.A: Yes, if you work with any software especially developing websites you will face many problems, but you should be patient to solve them.

I.A: Definitely, my career has always centered on developing various applications and programs to our clients. As a Project Team Leader, I am always involved from start to finish with the software projects I am assigned to lead.

H.A: Yes I have, I worked with drilling operational risk assignment, and It was generic software program.

H.Z: Yes, I have from beginning to the end.

K.A: Majority of my work involves ensuring that designs and plans are properly executed during all phases of software projects; thus, I am always involved in all stages of the SDLC.

M.A: I have always been involved with software projects from beginning all the way to the end-of-life of the applications my company developed. However, my part in all aspects of software projects is concentrated on the risk side.

N.A: Being involved in software projects is my "bread and butter," and I always am at the forefront throughout all stages of the project since I have to always ensure that documented business process are properly developed into the correct applications.

S.H: Yes, I have worked with various software projects for over a decade now. I have worked on all stages of software projects as a developer, analyst and now I mostly handle the management side thereof.

Q2: Have you faced any problems or risks during this project? And if so, which kinds of those risks and how could you solve them?

A.A: Yes, we faced some problems in that project which was the previous system for the company manual system, and the had a huge number of data to transfer them into the new system, we solved this problem by hiring new staff to help us for transferring the old data into the new system.

A.J: Well , the main problem was faced me regarding or about the time, when I had a task to achieve it within tow weeks for example, sometimes we can do it at specific time, so we have to make a shift whether before or after tow weeks to make extension to solve this kind of problem.

F.A: Yes, if you work with any software especially developing websites you will face many problems, but you should be patient to solve them.

I.A: Human resources especially project team members have always been both a challenge and a risk for me. They either go absent during critical stages of the project or simply quit because they got better offers from other software development companies.

H.A: Some of them and it had been resolved by scarifying some targets, and the risk assessment was for justifying the extra cost and involving the high management with the decisions prior starting the work

H.Z: Yes, a lot of problems, such as changing mind of the customers, another problem was end-user, so we have to bring people to stay with us to tell us the requirements so we need to understand the stakeholders very well.K.A: Scope creeps have always been the challenge and risk to the software projects I have handled. This is in due largely to the major stakeholders wanting changes usually halfway through the development stage.
M.A: Challenges and risk to software projects abound. As the in charge of the overall risk aspects of projects, I have learnt that technological and human-caused risks are always manageable but naturally occurring risks are quite difficult because you cannot really fight Mother Nature.

N.A: The biggest challenge and risk I have encountered so far is when the identified business processes did not coincide with the applications being developed. The reason being was that the business process owners did not provide in detail their needs and requirements.

S.H: Projects always come with their inherent and unexpected problems and risks. The challenges and risks that pose the greatest threat to projects have always been human caused either through ignorance, apathy or malicious intent.






Q3: Are there challenges in software development process, and if so where can we identify those challenges ?

A.A: Any software project must have challenges but the question how can we reduce those challenges to be easy at running time, for example, we can face challenge when we work with critical systems or let me say when we work with e-bank system, because these systems usually need high degree of security, and another point we face challenge when we want to collect data from stakeholders, they sometimes dont help us to obtain full picture for developing new system.

A.J: I think the main challenges can be faced any analysts or any team work who are working within the life cycle will be about the time , that is included because you cannot estimate or forecast any expected risk, that is main challenge to still find out something to solve it.

F.A: I think the challenge will focus on how can you provide the success in your project without losing time and effort and money,

I.A: My worst nightmare had come through when several of my projects saw majority of my developers absent or quitting on me. I was challenge with the task to find replacements pronto otherwise; we would have been penalized for the delay.

H.A: Yes, any software has some challenges, butthose challenges are different from system to another one, and the degree of challenge will increase if we worked with critical system.

H.Z: The big challenge to be honest the gap between the concept and the requirement, such as what the users want and the articulation of what users, because the users are not engineer or have enough knowledge in computer scents. So the main challenge in software project how can we understand the users to provide for them good services.


K.A: Despite the best laid and developed project plan, during the development stage, there will be items that are out of scope and yet are critical to the overall completion of the software project. The challenge then is going back to the plan and try to incorporate the scope creeps based on the approved Change Control Procedures

M.A: When Mother Nature sends in the snowstorms, floods, hurricanes, tornados and other natural calamities, there isn't much one can do. Thus, then Mother Nature sends in the snowstorms, floods, hurricanes, tornados and other natural calamities, there isn't much one can do. Thus, the challenge is in catching up with the work after fortuitous events.

N.A: Ensuring proper alignment of business processes and developing applications have always been the greatest challenge I face with every software project.

S.U: All types of people or major and minor stakeholder bring about the greatest challenges especially when unforeseen changes are introduced by major stakeholders during development stage.






Q4: From your point of view, what is a risk in software development projects ?

A.A: Actually the risk might be come with everything in our life, but for software projects, if the software didnt work very well, or if it didnt achieve all or some functions, then the software at the moment has a degree of risk.

A.J: I have got your question, it is depended on the system and the team of work as well as, because everyone in the team work has different personality and different skills, also it depends on the empowerment for software projects.

F.A: You know, every software must be passed through using life cycle for development, and if the software didnt pass any stage, so that lead us the software has risk

I.A: Not having the total buy-in and support of management is my view of risk in software projects.

H.A: In my opinion as operational the challenge in proper accumulation all the data from the database, but the software will only show the results based on our inputs.

H.Z: When we want to develop any system we should consider on the system, but if we wanted to develop risk management for any system we should consider on the environment.

K.A: Not being able to come up with the correct and complete system for the client is the biggest risk I consider in software development projects.

M.A: Too many to mention and the categories abound too. But they generally fall under the category of human, technological and natural risks.

N.A: Software development project risk is something that a project team of its members could mitigate to a certain degree while some will still have residual risks.

S.U: Risk in software development is not being able to foresee or forecast what could be the possible and probable problems the project may encounter.


Q5: Are there any specific factors or threats that are known to put software projects at risk, and if there are, what are those factors ?

A.A: I think the most important factor, if the staff didnt understand the new system or if they were unhappy with receiving the new system.

A.J: Well, I think I will come back to you or return back to you and I will remind you about the time, it is main factor , and sometimes if you have a big project the money as well and the budget.

F.A: Yes, there are some factors such as good knowledge and experience for team work, strong management, try to put complex systems in high propriety to a achieve them.

I.A: I have always found that when people especially the programmers do not show up; then the project went into a Domino Effect and work that was supposed to be done affected other parts of the project.

H.A: Actually, risk can be come with everything, it doesnt have alarm to tell us, so that means we should ready to receive the risk and solve it as soon as.

H.Z: The main factor is known to put software projects at risk, if the stakeholder came to you during developing the system and asked you to add something extra, because in this case might the system will take long time or need new planning.

K.A: Poor development work or sub-standard coding is the biggest factor that I have seen put software projects at risk.

M.A: I had several projects that went into a standstill for up to a week because of severe snowstorms. We could not do anything about it but simply wait out the event.

N.A: Misunderstanding between the business process owners and the coders especially during actual coding became a showstopper in a few of my projects.

S.H: Human factors have always posed the greatest threats to software projects especially when those directly involved in the project do malicious acts.


Q6: What are risks in software projects have proved to be so difficult to improve it at development stage ?

A.A: Well, when we want to develop a new software there are some elements that might be affected this developing such as budget and enough number of teamwork and business strategy and time.

A.J: Well, it also needs to discover the risk before it happens, you can reduce risk, sometime you can discover and some time you cannot discover the risk and reduce it as well, because sometime the risk may be happened in uncertainty opportunities.

F.A: In my opinion, I think reengineering process very difficult stage, because it takes long time, we need to understand the existing system very well.

I.A: Programmers are not perfect since they are only human; thus, they can make mistakes and if left uncheck, one mistake may lead to several problems.

H.A: Noting but if there is any modification it should be done by the operator to show all the risks and options clearly to the customer.

H.Z: Interaction and communication, the large systems harder becomes why because risk management module is not composition so for example, if I have developed multinational software project for example you must be carful with this project or you will loss it, because the people involved and the culture involved and the religion as well as involved.

K.A: "Garbage in and garbage out" has always been a truism during the development stage. When the developers do not pay attention to detail and inputs wrong codes, then one thing will lead to another. Eventually, we had to go back and check each and every entry.

M.A: Sub-standard programming is a risk that is difficult to improve during the project development stage. that is why it is always important to get top-notch developers especially for high-level projects.

N.A: Developers not able to understand how to interpret business processes into development work proved to be the risk that was hard to improve during the development stage.

S.H: I would say when there is a lot of wrong coding and this is caught only during the testing and debugging stage. When the mistakes are numerous, redoing the whole application sometimes is the best course of action.

Q7: Are there categories of risks in software projects, and if there are, what are those categories ?

A.A: I think there are three levels of risks in software projects, low level which can be solved such as miss small requirements, and medium level which needs time to solve all the risks in this level such as no enough number of staff to achieve all functions at specific time, last level which is high and high and critical level, and it might be led the software project to the failure. Moreover, it will be so difficult to solve the problems in this level such as poor planning and poor structure or poor management as well as.

A.J: It also depends on the tye of risk may be some risks are related to the software and some risks are related to hardware and some risks are related to business some of them are related to management and administration, it is depended on the type of risk. Then you will do categories when the risk comes down from top to down.

F.A: Yes, all categories of risk management in software project deal with different types of implementation new software and upgrades and management.

I.A: Schedule and budget risks mean not meeting project deadlines or overextending timelines for the former while latter is not only being over the budget but also expending budgets ahead of schedule or when it is not due. Operations risks cover the day-to-day events of projects. These may be lack of equipment, unscheduled absence of personnel, delayed arrival of materials delivery and even stoppage of work for various reasons. Technical risks have something to do with how the actual software is being developed, the outputs including the supporting resources required for testing and integration such as the network, hardware and data. Environmental risk covers the social, political, economic and business climate affecting the project.

H.A: The categories are the risk for doing the job, percentage of happening, existing of on hand available sources and resources.

H.Z: There are many categories, one is anticipated and another one is unanticipated so you need to put the system in safe stage.

K.A: We follow the seven-staged SDLC and as such we categorized risks based on each staged of the SDLC. The risk categories are (1) planning risks, (2) requirements definition risks, (3) systems design risks, (4) implementation risks, (5) integration and testing risks, (6) acceptance, installation and deployments risks, and (7) maintenance risks.

M.A: For not only software projects but also all our projects have three categories of risks: human-caused natural-caused and technology-based risks; these are all quite self-explanatory.

N.A: The company I work for has three categories of risks for software projects. Business risks are those would cause termination, financial loss and legal problems with the projects. Operational risks are daily but manageable project risks. Technical risks are those involving technology, systems and processes embedded in software projects.

S.H: Our company categorizes not just software project but all project risks under strategic, operational, and tactical risks. Strategic are the high-levels risks that will completely shut down a project. Tactical risks are mid-level ones that are still salvageable when they hit projects. Operational risks are the day-to-day problems and challenges faced with projects.



Q8: How are risks analysed in software projects?

A.A: Firstly, we should establish or let me say collect the right data, and then we should identify all risks, after that we are ready to analysis these risks and evaluate them, lastly we should treat all risk.

A.J: Before you are going to analyse the risk, you have to identify the risk, so the analysis is process of identification and evaluation, so that means you have to identify the risk itself, then you can evaluate this risk in which level for this risk, may be high level or low level.

F.A: Yes it is good question, analysis any software to identify the risks depends on difficult type of the system, so you have to select all risks in the system then you have to understand them very well after that you need to find out appropriate way or method to reduce those risks.

I.A: Whenever we start planning any project, we complete the Risk Register by placing regular project risks in various parts of the project phases. Once the regular risks are allocated, the project team along with the project manager convenes a three-day risk scenario building wherein we brainstorm what other possible or different risk that we might face in the project.

H.A: By numbers, percentages and colours to measure the degree of existing risk.

H.Z: Yah, there are some techniques for analysing risk management such as forces analysing might be good one and the evaluation of the forces.

K.A: My company goes by the SEI-SMU CMMI way of analyzing software projects risks. We first prepare ourselves for risk management; thereafter we identify and analyzed possible and probable project risks. From there, we develop the risk treatment plan and apply mitigation solutions to the identified risks.

M.A: Fortunately, our company has developed a comprehensive database of project risks. Once we take on a particular project, we simply allocate the likely risks for every stage of the software projects and after doing this, mitigation measures are incorporated. For whatever residual risks there are, these are closely monitored throughout the project so they will not become major risks.

N.A: The way we analyzed risks is first by determining what risks would affect various stages of the software project. For each risk, there is a corresponding mitigation measure and these measures are approved by top management prior to implementation.

S.H: By following the risk management methodology in the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) is how we analyze not only software project risks but all our other IT projects as well.

Q9: Are there standard software projects risk management approaches that are may be acceptable may be at global level? And if so, what are those approaches?

A.A: Risk management should reduce all risks which might be faced during project life cycle within creating good solutions.

A.J: The structure for standard software projects risk management approaches is started from identification the risk until risk control or monitor.

F.A: Well, we cannot prevent any risk in the world, but our responsibility how can we reduce the risk and how can we know the risk before it happens.

I.A: There is no one risk approach that we use but instead for every given project we determine the best fit. For instance there are American risk management approaches and these are suitable for American clients. But since we also have European clients, we try to use risk management approaches from that continent since more often it is a client requirement.

H.A: It is internally approved for our company and the approach as mentioned above to make the decision clear for the operator with customer among with high management acceptance.

H.Z: Risk management should lead and mange software project to be successful, you can also read textbooks to get more information.

K.A: The Software Engineering Institute - Carnegie Mellon University has several risk management approaches and we have adapted these and found them quite suitable to almost all of our software projects.

M.A: There are several software project risk management approaches available out there but since the company I work for is an information technology and project management firm, we did not adopt a specific risk management approach to our software development projects. Instead, we utilize the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27000 series and specifically ISO/IEC 27005 Information Security Risk Management. Since it is an ISO document, it is a global standard and contains best practices not only in information technology and project management risk but in other endeavors as well such as in business and strategic planning. Complementing ISO/IEC 27005 are ISO/IEC 27001 Information security Management System Requirements and ISO/IEC 27002 Code of Practice for Information Security Management. Most people when they first hear the term information security, the first thing that would come to mind are computers and related information technology. This is not true because information security covers both digital and physical security and the corresponding risk identification procedures thereof. Thus, using the ISO 27000 series provides any of our projects with detailed insights on how to properly manage any project risks including software development projects.

N.A: Several methodologies or approaches of international fame and standard are available and we always try to use one that best meets the needs and requirements of each project.

S.H: The Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) Risk Management Process Group basically covers the approaches we use for risk management. It is a global standard and has been adapted by major industries worldwide.


Q10: What are real roles for risk management to reduce the failure in software development projects ?

A.A: The important role for risk management is to highlight on all barriers that might delay the project to achieve it at specific time. It should provide good communication between all channels in the project.

A.J: Well, it depends on the team, and the skills for the team as well as, how their capacity to manage those project to be successful without high risk.

F.A: Through using good plans, and in addition it needs someone who has experience with dealing especially large system, because it has more risks.

I.A: To make the software development projects proceed without delay or failure.

H.A: The roles should be clear and give enough evaluation for developing projects.

H.Z: It is far better to develop the right system than developing system right, that what I would say.

K.A: To keep the project going without the threats and vulnerabilities affecting any part thereof and causing uncontrollable problems.

M.A: Risk management is not just a part of the software developments projects but covers all aspects of projects from beginning to end, there are risks in various aspects of the projects and without applying risk management methodologies in each of these, then the project is doomed to fail. An example would be in the Change Management aspects of software projects, risk management is applied by ensuring that any changes are approve and duly validated otherwise it will have a Domino Effect on the succeeding stages of the project. In Configuration Management, the role of risk management is to validate that how things are to be done is done and it has the desired results forecasted.

N.A: Risk management is an integral part of every project in order to meet the demands of the clients and gain their satisfaction upon completion.

S.H: The real role for risk management in software development projects is to ensure all possible and probable risks are managed in order for these not to unduly affect the overall outcome of the project.

Q11: From your point of view, what are real reasons for the failure in software development projects?

A.A: Yes, yes there are some reasons which might lead any software project to be unsuccessful, such as miss deadline or poor design in user interface or no fit between the new system and training course , all these reasons will lead any project to the failure.

A.J: Well we can say, usually the projects fail when there is no enough time to cover all important issues in the project to identify the risk or to develop system at same time or run time and as well the money some time it will be not enough to provide all requirements.

F.A: There are some reasons for the failure, for example poor communication skills in leadership, and some companies receive many projects at same time so those projects may will delay the companies to deliver the projects at specific time.

I.A: : Lack of enough human resources to have project continuity and complete the project on time.

H.A: In my opinion, the real reason for the failure in software development is poor communication between project team and system owners.

H.Z: The main reason for the failure in software development project misses understand the requirements fro developing as I said last time we should develop the right system and get the right requirements.

K.A: When developers make a lot of mistakes in the coding and these mistakes have to be corrected thereby causing delays and in some projects total failure.

M.A: Poor planning and poor change management have been some of the real reasons I have seen failed projects.

N.A: Software developments projects do not mean simply developing business applications to automate business processes or streamline business operations. One of the end stages of software projects is the utilization of the applications by end-users and business process owners. Unfortunately though, one of the real reasons for failure in software projects is people's resistance to change. This particular evident during the requirements and needs analysis stage where we do a gap analysis of what-is and what-the-end-stage will be. We often encounter end-users who are uncomfortable providing data on the business processes they handle because the very thing on their minds is that when these business processes are automated, they can be retrenched. Others will simply be absent or call in sick during the data gathering stage and this entails delay on the project timeline. During the testing stage, some of the end-users and business process owners would negatively critique the application even though the input, process and output of which are exactly what the business process called for. It sometimes gets frustrating because I feel that just because the client company is being enabled by technology, these people look at technology as the villain out to get them out of their jobs.

S.H: Failure of key stakeholders to abide what was agreed upon in the Project Management Plan.


Q12: Lastly, how dose the future of software projects and software project risk management look like ?

A.A: These days marketplace has a good software projects, and many companies around the world usually provide high quality of modern software. On the other hand, risk management is always tried to reduce the risk in new software projects, that means there is related relationship between risk management and software projects. In general, risk management will be popular topic in next years, because the industry of new software is increasing day by day.

A.J: I think it is very important because every thing in the life or in the world is related to the risk and the risk management is still growing up and it will be global subject in the future.

F.A: Of course, available software projects are completely different if we compared them in previous software, because the software has become to help organisations to achieve their goals, and if those organisations have changed their strategies for sure the software will change to be adapted with new strategies. Also risk management has come to aid the teamwork of software projects for solving all problems which might software has.

I.A: I see risk management taking more active parts not only in stages of the software project but also in subsets thereof because there will be more detailed risk management approaches in the future.

H.A: The reliable and professional software will make life much easier and more even if it is connected to the data base to extract the data (minimize the time and take same actions quicker)

H.Z: I think people are beginning now to learn risk management for software projects, and it is going to be important part in our education how do you mange risk. I would like to say tow things , first one we should develop right system rather than just develop the system right, and another one test early and teat off in, we should keep testing after delivering the system.

K.A: There will be more developed automated risk management systems based on artificial intelligence and these will make future software projects better managed in terms of the risk aspect.

M.A: Risk management will be part of the overall information security governance of every projects.

N.A: A software project without software project risk management is asking for major trouble to happen. The latter supports the optimum operation of the project and without it, threats and vulnerabilities will have a field day. in the future, there will be better automated risk management applications that can simply integrate with software project management systems thus making the risk management methodology more effective and efficient.

S.H: Risk management will further be improved and will eventually help improve future software development projects.

Request for Infoceo!!

I have a new paper requirement. It's a total of 8 pages, plus a one page
bibliography. Total 9 pages. There are several questions that I need detailed answers to the
questions Research Paper Requirement: the following questions in Part 1 and Part 2 need to be answered. The number of pages for each answer is supplied below. Request that at least 6 references be used per answer and be included as part of a Bibliography on the last page. Total pages for both questions not to include Bibliography = 8 pages, Plus a one page for the bibliography. I have included one reference for answering one of the questions.



Part I

Instruction for Part I:

1. Part 1 answers should be based on how the requirements for security is related to system security threats and vulnerabilities. Answers to the associated questions should list the kinds of security threats and vulnerabilities involved and the types of controls that may be useful to reduce those threats. Specifically, you must explain how the different types of controls you recommend can help reduce the vulnerabilities you name. You must also link threats and controls to the important goal of computer security.
2. Citations and references are required to add strength to your written opinions. Use the necessary reference sources to support your answers.
3. Follow the APA (5th edition) guidelines for in-text citations and references. Place all references in a bibliography on the last page. No Abstract required
.
4. Answer all three questions for Part I, 6 pages total (see individual questions for max number of pages per answer; total = 6 pages for all three questions); total excluding the bibliography.
The following Security incident scenario is to be used in answering all three questions:
On January 1,2008, the "Lamers", a club made up of computer hobbyists who say they experiment with computer programs for reasons of curiosity and challenge, created a new program that took advantage of a design weakness in the popular SoftMicro operating system. Their new program could arrive and install itself on (or "infect") a machine through email or through contact with other infected programs on a Web Site. The program was independent and robotic in that it contained its own email system, and each infected machine had the ability to find and communicate directly through the Internet with other infected machines. It could examine and copy or alter the contents of data base files, and quietly transmit information and selected files back to a changeable address. It could even delete all traces of itself from an infected system upon receiving a

special command through the Internet. The program pushed technical boundaries, and could possibly be used as a tool for either good or evil.
On February 2, CERT, a large security watchdog organization, monitored messages in hacker chat rooms where the Lamers were bragging about the technology in their new program. Several hacker Web sites published technical details of the source code. CERT immediately contacted the SoftMicro vendor, along with Anti- Virus product vendors to warn them about the newly discovered vulnerabilities of their widely-distributed operating system product, and the possibility of a serious new security threat.
(It is an actual accepted industry practice for CERT to not issue public security warnings until after the affected vendors first have a chance to create new software patches or new anti-virus protection signatures, and offer them to the public. The reason for this is that wide publication of the vulnerability, without first having available solutions, would increase chances for attack. Please do not comment on this CERT industry practice as part of your answer for this exam.)
On March 3, the "Lamers" club, in a press conference, announced they were forming a new security company, named "SecureThink", and planned one day to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (under the ticker symbol"STNK"). Their program, now polished and improved, was protected by copyright and sold as a tool to help systems administrators detect security flaws in their systems. That same day, the MoneyBags Record company announced that they would hire Secure Think to protect their intellectual property against copyright infringement.
On April 4, a few businesses began noticing a new kind of computer attack that seemed to deliberately alter their data base files.
On May 5, more attacks were noticed and reported to CERT SoftMicro announced new software security patches, and Anti- Virus vendors had developed new protection against the malicious code signature. Businesses and organizations were advised to acquire and install these new security protections. CERT issued a public warning on their Web site, and officially named the new malicious code "Lamers.Legacy", because hacker Web sites called it by that name.
On May 10, the FBI sent out security warning messages on to all federal and local government agencies, urging them to download new Anti- Virus protection signatures ana also download and install the new SoftMicro security software patch to avoid being affected by the new "Lamers.Legacy" malicious code. The malicious code spread through the Internet.
On June 6, more attacks were noticed, and news stories appeared, most describing the "Lamers.Legacy" malicious code as an annoyance. However, the computer security fixes worked well, and after one week, reports diminished about computer attacks and the news stories faded. Then, about 4 months later, two computer security incidents occurred that were traced back to the different ways the malicious code operated.

On October 9 2008, elevators at the Washington, DC city hall building were stuck open on the first floor, and would not carry passengers to any other floors in the 5-story building. Staff and citizens had to walk up and down the stairway that entire day.
On October 10 2008, air traffic control computers at the central and very important Chicago International airport suddenly became very sluggish, and automatic routing systems alarmingly directed airplanes to fly on collision course toward each other, and toward tall buildings. It was as if the computers were communicating with each other, beyond the control of the airport managers. Airport computer backup systems kicked in. There were several moments of danger and uncertainty, as air traffic controllers rushed to verify the accuracy of critical databases in the backup control computers.
Investigation later showed that both city hall and airport computer systems had been victims of the "Lamers. Legacy " malicious code. City hall was victimized through direct manipulation of their facilities management database, which had been altered so the elevators would serve only the first floor. The database had been affected because the security fixes had never been installed or updated. Authorities guessed hackers looking for mischief caused the elevator problem.
The Chicago airport was victimized by the same malicious code, but more indirectly. The SoftMicro security fix and the Anti- Virus security fix had both been installed on airport computer systems. Access to the air traffic control computer systems programs and databases is protected by encryption. However, the files containing passwords needed to operate the public-key cryptosystem used by airport systems administrators had apparently been stolen. This had occurred because the "Lamers. Legacy " code had exploited vulnerabilities, and transmitted stolen information to an unknown address, and then deleted itself before the security fzxes were installed. Investigation showed that unauthorized persons had later returned to airport computers through the Internet, and gained access to program source code by pretending to be authorized administrators with valid passwords. Those old, but still valid passwords allowed them operate the public and private keys needed to replace encrypted computer programs and modify database information.
The unauthorized users had been accessing the encrypted files, possibly for months, quietly changing them through the Internet. The events made it seem as if the unauthorized hackers were likely international terrorists. The altered programs were activated remotely that day by a signal sent through the Internet. No one yet knows if programs at other airports, or programs important to other parts of the critical infrastructure of the US, have been altered the same way. No one is yet sure if the backuJ systems used to restore the corrupted Chicago airport files are clean, or also corrupted.
End of scenario ???>

Question A:
Answer this 5-part question using no more than 3 pages total. Label the answers AI, A2, A3, A4, A5.
1. Briefly support your own opinion about the ethical principles of the Lamers group before formation of the SecureThink company. Briefly support your opinion about the ethics of the hiring of SecureThink by the MoneyBags record company.
2. Name the groups that have responsibility in the occurrence of each of these 2 computer security incidents, and give examples (you may speculate) of their responsibilities?
3. Explain the types of system security threats and vulnerabilities involved in each security incident.
4. List a combined total of 5 security controls that would be most useful to prevent or lessen the likelihood of the computer security incidents described above, and describe how each of these 5 controls could have been used to improve security.
5. What, according to McNurlin, Sprague & Bui are the prime reasons for information insecurity since security is often applied in instances such as the above incidents?
Ref: (BooK): Information Systems Management In Practise, 8th Ed. Barbara C. McNurlin, Ralph H. Sprague, Jr., Tung Bui
Question B:
Answer this question using no more than 1 ? pages total. Label the answers B 1, B2
Many people actively share copyright-protected music files, or other types of digital files (photos, computer software, video) through the Internet by using any of several free file-sharing programs (such as Gnutella, or BearShare, or Napster). Some organizations consider this activity an attack on computer systems and digital intellectual property. Describe 2 possible types of computer system security threats when doing this activity at the work site, and link them to types of computer assets that are at risk. Explain 2 possible security controls that may help reduce these threats.
Question C:
Answer this 2-part question using no more than 1 ? pages total. Label the answers C 1, C2, C3
1. Public-key cryptography uses 2-keys. This is different from single-key (secret-key) cryptography.
What characteristic is a major vulnerability that discourages use of single-key cryptography in a network?
2. How does public-key cryptography overcome this vulnerability to allow for more securety for communications through a network?
3. What will help you trust a public-key that belongs to an unfamiliar person or Web site, and why does it improve trust?




Part II

Instruction for Part II:

Requires a 2 page answer, APA format with 6 references

Answer the following question using no more than
(2 pages total). Label the answer D 1

1. Rapid growth of the Internet is triggering dramatic changes in traditional business methods and practices. But some industries and businesses seem better able to deal with the online world than others. For this question, identify a business or a service function you are familiar with. Describe and defend your strategy for implementing a web-based application to support that business or service. Be sure to conduct an environmental scan, determine best practices, identify information technology elements (infrastructure or capabilities) necessary to conduct the business, and a strategy for capitalizing on the success of your venture in the next iteration.

The primary purpose of this paper is to allow individual students to delve deeply into a specific topic that interests/intrigues her/him. It is anticipated that the final paper will go far beyond the level of coverage that the course will provide for that topic. Although there is a maximum limit on the length of the paper, the typical paper will vary from 10-15 pages (exclusive of bibliography figures, and endnotes; footnotes are not allowed). Paper is to be double spaced and 12 point Times New Roman font style

Following is a sample list of Journals where you can find the reference material for your term paper:
California Management Review
Communication of the ACM
Electronic Commerce Research
Electronic Commerce Research and Applications
Electronic Commerce Research Journal
Electronic Markets
E-service Journal
Harvard Business Review
Information Week
Information and Management
International Journal of Electronic Business
International Journal of Electronic Business Management
International of Journal of Electronic Commerce
International Journal of Technology Management
Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations
Journal of Electronic Commerce Research
Journal of CIS
Journal of Information Systems Management
Journal of MIS
Journal of Organizational Computing and Electronic Commerce
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research
MIS Quarterly
Sloan Management Review

I really need help with this Web Assignment

Topic: Information Systems Management

Subject: Examining Supply Chain Profitability

Research a company that uses supply chain management (SCM) and look at how their organizational profitability is affected by it. Research a company that uses supply chain management.

I was looking at a company called Oracle which has a Supply Chain Management program but you can select any company that supports the research.

Web assignment needs to be 300 words long. Include the following in your paper:

? A description of the company you researched
? An explanation of how they use supply chain management
? A brief explanation of how supply chain management affected the organization's profitability

Reference:
Kroenke, D. M. (2013). Using MIS (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Chapter 7 pages 227-245
Chapter 8 pages 264-277

Presentation slides chapter 7 and 8

Research for this paper must come from this list of Academic Journals:

MIS Quarterly
Information Systems Research
Management Science
Communications of ACM (Any ACM publications)
Journal of MIS
Organization Science
Havard Business Review
Academy of Management Journal
Computer and Operations Research
Information and Management
Journal of Database Management
Journal of Computer Information Systems
Journal of Information Systems Management
Information Resources Management Journal
Journal of Systems Management

I really need help with this Research Paper

Course Subject: Information Systems Management

Topic: Cloud Computing

Here are the details:

Write a paper explaining the business uses of cloud computing and Web 2.0. Explain the business uses of each. Using the internet, research the business uses of cloud computing and Web 2.0.
When you do the research, pay particular attention to how cloud computing and Web 2.0 are used in organizations and the technology required for them.
Write a paper explaining the business uses of cloud computing and Web 2.0. Be sure to address the following in your assignment:
? Explain cloud computing and Web 2.0.
? Explain how organizations use these tools.
? Describe the technology required to use these tools.
? Discuss the benefits of each.
? Discuss the limitations of each.

Research paper must be 3-5 pages using the APA style with Title Page.

Reference:
Kroenke, D. M. (2013). Using MIS (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Chapter 6 pages 198-202 and pages 277-279

Hello

Am an international student (plz remember when writing ) Accounting major and currently taking Management Information System(MGMT 336)

And I have this paper due.

The paper am doing is about ebay (the website)

just talk about ebay in general.

bibliography; 3 references (url is fine)

Thank you

Customer is requesting that (bolavens) completes this order.

Welcome to The Broadway Caf

The Broadway Caf was established by your grandfather in 1952 in your hometown. It offers many different kinds of specialized coffees, teas, a full service bakery, homemade soups, sandwiches, and salads. The Caf has been a local hotspot for many years and has served as a community gathering place. Your grandfather recently retired from the business and has asked you to take it over. You are very excited about this opportunity!

Unfortunately, business has been steadily declining over the last five years. Although your grandfather was an expert at running the coffee shop, it is outdated. There are no computers in the store and all ordering takes place manually. Your grandfather had a terrific memory and knew all of his customers by name, but unfortunately, none of this information is located anywhere in the store. The family recipes for the baked goods and soups are also stored in your grandfathers memory. Inventory is tracked in a note pad, along with employee payroll, and marketing coupons. The Caf does not have a Web site, uses very little marketing except word-of-mouth, and essentially still operates the same as it did in 1952.

Throughout this course you will own and operate The Broadway Caf, taking advantage of business practices discussed in the class, the Course Modules and the textbook to increase profits, keep the business running, and bring the caf into the 21st century.

Upon completion of these exercises you will have performed an array of activities to demonstrate your ability to:

Use technology to gain a competitive advantage (Application Exercise 1)
Build an e-business strategy (Application Exercise 2)
Use Excel to calculate breakeven point (Application Exercise 3)
Use technology and Customer Relationship Management to develop the information you will need to implement marketing campaigns and sales strategies (One aspect of Application Exercise 4)
Use Excel to perform business intelligence projects (Main focus of Application Exercise 4)
Create an online community for collaboration (One choice for Application Exercise 5)
Deploy a wireless network for customers (Other choice for Application Exercise 5)
Understand how technology is used throughout a business (concepts incorporated throughout)


The exercises address the Course Goals and Objectives to enable you to:

discuss the relationship between technology and the structure of an organization
analyze and discuss the business and organizational issues involving information systems, including the historical and evolving nature of information systems in society and the convergence of technologies and information/data management
explain the roles of various managers and information officers in planning, organizing, and controlling an organization's activities
discuss the purpose, components, problems, and solutions of using management information systems globally and nationally
apply basic techniques for using computers to improve control of, and access to, information in organizations
apply information systems management techniques, procedures, and methods to practical national and international information technology and business issues
evaluate information systems based on their role in an organization
analyze issues facing managers using information systems in organizations, including managing the human aspect and security, ethical, and privacy concerns.
(
THIS IS THE BASIS OF THE APPLICATION EXERCISE BUT I WILL SEND THE DIRECTIONS)
There are faxes for this order.

The hypothesis for this annotated bibliography is: Members of Apples supply chain violate environmental, labor and safety practices.

The objective is to agree or disagree with the stated hypothesis by locating at least seven sources (references), from periodicals, books, or journals to document a position. The sources, not your personal opinion, will determine that position. Internet sources are not acceptable; however, the Internet may be used to locate material. Sources will be less than seven (7) years old, identified in a reference list arranged in alphabetical order and attached to the project paper. Using the course text as an example, a reference list entry will mirror the first two lines of the required text paragraph above starting with Laudon: Laudon, K.C. & Laudon, J.P. (2012). Management Information Systems Managing the Digital Firm (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

The research project will consist of a paragraph for each source, summarizing its content and the last sentence of each paragraph stating if that particular source agrees or disagrees with the hypothesis. There will be a 7 paragraphs (1 for each source--each paragraph under each of the sources) and a concluding paragraphing (eighth paragraph) summarizing all of the sources together stating which ones agreed with the hypothesis and which ones disagreed with the hypothesis and theconcluding paragraph will also incorporate the important points from each source and a restatement of the original hypothesis. The total number of paragraphs in this paper will be 8. Grading will be based on source applicability and content. The text of each summary and concluding paragraph will contain appropriate citations. Citations in the text of the research project and in the summary paragraph will appear directly after the cited information. Using the textbook as an example, the in-text citation would be (Laudon and Laudon (2012)).