Carlson Companies
Darryl E. Gennie
Dr. Matthew Anyanwu
Augusta
CIS 505
21 February 2016
Strayer University
Carlson Shared Services (CSS) uses a centralized data processing model to meet business operational requirements. The central computing environment includes an IBM mainframe, over 50 networked servers from Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems. In this centralized data processing unit all the servers and the mainframe had their separate disc storage. This dispersed data storage scheme had the advantage of responsiveness; that is, the access time from the server to its data was minimal. However, the data management cost was very high. There had to be backup procedures for the storage on each server, as well as management controls to reconcile data distributed throughout the system. RapidInsight framework enable organizations to integrate real-time, streaming data, to gain real-time actionable insights, integrate and harmonize data from social media sites, public datasets, and industry reports with data from enterprise systems (Fulton, 2015). The RapidInsight framework gives analyst the ability to analyze data in real-time to respond quickly situations in which businesses tend to encounter. A thorough look at the entire business operation, which includes, combining data from external and internal data sets, reduces time to market for implementing real time data to insight. A factory set up is in place to reduce the time and cost involved with
Up until this point, Third Star Financial Services has operated via a succession of mergers and acquisitions where systems were inherited but never integrated into the network. Its data management has been virtually non-existent and entirely ineffective. Evidence of this can be found in the absence of an enterprise-wide data management solution and the presence of several disparate systems operating independently with no measurable benefit to the company. Due to a lack of actionable data, management makes decisions based on instinct rather than through analysis. A direct consequence of this is a steadily declining market share and loss of high-level employees to competing companies. Fortunately, this discrepancy has been identified and Third Star executives have established the new goal of modernizing and streamlining operations. Using concepts outlined by the Data Management Association (DAMA), this proposed enterprise architecture will allow Third Star to transform their data from a liability to an asset.
In the case of real-time analysis dashboards have become very popular over the past five years they provide a view of key metrics to allow management by exception. Where post transaction data is being analyzed, data warehousing provides the ideal methodology for enhanced forecasting from the data. This also allows the ability to look for improvements in the supply chain, operations, and marketing to adjust processes and refine a message for marketing as part of a continuous improvement program.
Target Corporation allocated large budget to upgrade information system as part of a roadmap to transform business (Target Roadmap, 2015). Once the upgrade is completed, it will provide a large amount of intelligent data for internal resources to support customers faster. It further tracks performance and controls accurately the timely information about daily operations in real time. The automated online and on-demand ad-hoc reports generate reports for each store any time as well retains records of products and services.
Midsouth Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit, member driven, business advocacy group is in the processes of upgrading their current information system. Midsouth has decided they need to upgrade their information system to a more currently system, in order to increase revenue producing opportunities. Their original IS system was built by an outside consultant (who is no longer in business) on a departmental need base, rather than a company wide need. The original system was put into place in 1987, with modifications done in 1993, and 1995. During this time all IS decision were made by outside
Kudler’s Fine Foods is a small to medium size business that specializes in gourmet foods throughout the San Diego Metropolitan Area. To operate the business efficiently, Kudler uses Retail Enterprise Management System (REMS) to implement the necessary operating for all of the business the Kudler conducts. Like many small to medium size organizations entering in the complicated world of business, they needed to hire a consulting firm to guide them for the appropriate Retail management system for their respective business use. This consulting firm, Smith Consulting, also was contracted annually to
Loblaw used to save store and vendor information in different types of Legacy systems, for example, the vendors’ sales data is stored in the system called Bi-query, and the vendor stores payment records can be found in Customer Information Control System (CICS). However, given the size and complexity of Loblaw, it is hard to remain competitive without a system that can integrate information from all business areas and provide real-time information updates of critical information so that an entire enterprise may function as one. Therefore, Loblaw starts to transfer store and vendor data from Legacy systems, into a more efficient and powerful system called SAP.
In today’s highly competitive global marketplace, organizations must learn to improve efficiency and take advantage of all available resources. Huffman Trucking understands this concept and has requested that their information technology infrastructure be evaluated to identify any deficiencies and maximize operational efficiencies accordingly.
2. Flexibility- There would be a great benefit of flexibility. If the time arose that we needed more sever capacity such as a storm we would have the ability to call our host company and have the sever capacity increased only for the amount of time we needed it instead of purchasing that equipment that we may not need after a storm.
* Aimed to align CRs strategic goals to the IT-strategy by employing a feasible IT-infrastructure to advance the flow of data (centralize data produced) and to fabricate information that can assist the various business intelligence and decision-making activities.
Carlson Companies, a private company known for its existence in marketing, business, leisure travel, and the hospitality industries, has over 180,000 employees across the United States. Carlson Shared Services, the Information Technology (IT) division, provides services to its internal clients and thus must support a wide range of applications and services. In 2002, the IT division decided to implement a storage area network (SAN) that in turn would meet the six (6) goals established in order to meet the needs of a growing company.
This is one of the greatest challenge that is acting as a key barrier in widespread adoption and pervasive use of the tools fostering for development and progress in this field of study. The real time of the big data analytics would require some of the unique features and special computing powers and potentials (Gantz, 2012). Tools have to made specially advanced so as to incorporate process terms in real time (Chen, 2012). Every business oriented organization should be transformed into information centric (Kaisler, 2013) to focus upon the real time data analysis in terms of both input and output.
Faster, better decision making: With the speed of Hadoop and in-memory analytics, combined with the capability to analyze new sources of data, businesses are able to analyze data immediately and make decisions based on what they’ve learned.
Enterprises of all sizes, from small businesses to global enterprises, are realizing that knowledge is the most powerful and potent differentiator they have. Translating the massive amount of legacy database, information systems and personal productivity applications' data into a formidable competitive advantage is why companies of all sizes can benefit from making their databases and information systems more efficient. The higher the level of collaboration and information sharing the greater the aggregate levels of productivity and performance (McAfee, 2006). The ability to quickly parse through transactions, analyze and interpret them, turning them into knowledge, is critical for any business to grow and prosper in the 21rst century. The intent of this proposal is to provide Party Plates with the necessary information systems guidance to attain higher levels of efficiency and performance through collaboration and communication. Making full use of all data, from personal productivity-based data files to the more comprehensive database files, and unifying them into a comprehensive data structure, is critical for attaining a high level of collaboration and performance throughout an organization (Davidson, 2006). .
Enormous Data is a term connected to information sets whose size is past the capacity of ordinarily utilized devices to catch, oversee and prepare the information inside of a middle of the road slipped by time. Yet, Data-distribution center is a gathering of information stores speaking to recorded information from various operations in the organization.
Capital Markets applies many IT practices to benefit the day to day activity and attempt to combat the issues that arise regarding their immense volume of work and data, along with their source constraint. For starters, they implement The OutSystems Platform, a custom PaaS, to develop their enterprise web and mobile applications. This helps them streamline the process of developing applications and mobile content while easily editing and altering these applications as well. On top of this, Capital Markets utilizes data marts to orient their data to specific business lines and teams given their overwhelming amount of data for numerous different clients. This makes the data more accessible and consolidated, thus allowing for more time to be