IMT Custom Machine

IMT is a Custom Machine Company that leads in the manufacture of custom machines. The company has gone through several changes in the past two decades which has made the company to lose most of its consistency and unity. In 1999, the company’s culture was remodeled leading to a stuttered work flow and several other efforts that were aimed at keeping the company up to date with the market in the competitive stage (Brown, 2002). In 1999 June Page, a manager experienced in custom machines industry. She was charge with two plants to acquire efficient CMCI. The solutions to be used have to be in line with the vision of the company.

Problems

There are several issues that face the industry and ought to be handled effectively. This enable the company’s information systems to start working properly. First of all, to acquire an operative IT department, a senior manager is needed. The manager will be in charge of issues dealing with information systems.

The company has to create a strong company culture for it to operate effectively. This operation has to be in line with the business objectives. The employees at CMCI are made to apply the use of varied systems that are not up to date or optimized (Brown, 2002). This leads to irrelevant operations which keep engineers fixed in procedural matters. Another issue the staff faces are the complicated machines and systems that are used. Additionally, the MIS and ES are not in coherence in operation. This leads to several solutions that were brought forth as options.

Option 1: Centralized Computer Environment

This option relates to the current system and comprises a removal of the SUN and IBM workstations. The advantage acquired from this is that it will free space in the mainframe CPU. However CMCI will have to buy new mainframes with better software so as to meet rise in users and workload (Irene, 2005). The staff dealing with the information system will be ready and able to use the system considering its ease in use, and speed. However, the CMCI will be force to spend more money in investments.

With the centralized system, the problems of the mainframe will be highlighted. However, a highly advanced system of data redundancy will solve the problem.

Option 2: Workstation Computing

This system looks to do away with mainframe as time passes by, at the same time, CMCI will invest heavily in growing its workstation model. This will lead to growth of the multiple systems increasing the layers of data security. Every work station are connected using LAN with plant data.

However, the system needs huge adjusting by the employees working in the information system. This is since the keep little knowledge of distributed computing (Nielsen & Trinkoff, 2003). This may at times call for getting more employees to offer support. Additional applications are created for adaptation to the new system.

Option 3: Linux Environment

Linux environment will enable the company to move to an off-site data hosting company. This choice is scalable as it will not need the buying of more hardware. In the coming periods, when the system’s capacity is needed, the company would just pay as opposed to updating the local system (Walker & Carayon, 2009). This is best option as it offers data to external hosting industries. Linux is easy to use and cheap and can be used on any system. The staff are able to work with it efficiently.

There are however certain costs that have to be met in converting the applications to a new system as well as the pains by the staff. The whole system will be removed and may call for training for the staff for ease in moving.

Option 4: Wait and Watch

This option looks to wait until IMT is in a good position for any change. Linux could be used and tested on certain systems to see how the IS employees are able to adapt. However, CMCI has been waiting for long and any additional delay could escalate the problems.

My Recommendation

My recommendation would be an integration of certain options. First of all, the company should stop relying on mainframe as they are expensive to maintain. Relatively, move towards a workstation setting, but globally applied Linux – this will be a cost effective, dynamic and the same as the systems that have been used by the information system staff. The Linux software used is an open source making it available to every company that needs it. Licensing is hence not necessary. The workstations are connected locally with the help of LAN and regionally connected using a wide area network (WAN). The WAN will be useful in the sharing of data. Data will hence not be based on a single point and the level of the security will be tight. This system will call for a senior level executive that will operate as the CIO. This will be necessary so as to direct the change to a new system as well as for the vital maintenance that follow.

References

Brown, J (2002). IMT Custom Machine Company, Inc. Retrieved on 22nd September 2013 from:    http://www.obscure.org/~perky/uofr/fall2002/ISYS203U/IMT_Custom_Machine.pdf

Irene Joos (2005). Introduction to Computers for Healthcare Professionals, Fourth Edition. Kansas: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.

Nielsen, K & Trinkoff, A (2003). Applying Ergonomics to Nurse Computer Workstations.        Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 21(3):150-157.

Walker, J & Carayon, P. (2009). From Tasks To Processes: The Case For Changing Health Information Technology To Improve Health Care. Health Affairs, 28(2): 467-477.