3. Business Plan Project
• The objective of this project is to put together a
business plan that sets out the strategic
direction for a company utilizing information
technology.
• The two primary objectives are:
– To make realistic projections of opportunities and
risks
– To present these in a compelling way that would
attract funding and support from the organization
3
5. Option 1: Your own startup idea
• Be creative, use this opportunity to explore an
idea you have
• Focus on document you would present to
venture capitalist
5
6. Option 2: One-number voice
communication
• You have developed software to integrate all of the voice
connections in someone’s life
–
–
–
–
–
home phone
work phone
mobile phone
online voice account
Other?
• Each user can set the system to recognize where you are, and
one integrated voicemail system consolidates messages in one
location.
• Business plan should include
–
–
–
–
–
Product release strategy
Target market segments
Potential revenue and costs
Risks
Alternative potential fee structures, and which you anticipate would be
the most attractive
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7. Option 3: Campus Transportation
Management System
• You have been assigned by the director of operations for TAPS
on campus to run a more cost-effective, efficient bus service.
• You have developed a system where the current combination of
city buses and campus transport would be enhanced by
– Detailed forecasting of demand as well as
– Online response to fluctuations.
– (For example,
• this could involve a less structured timetable, and more back-up capacity.
• by installing cameras at each bus stop to monitor how many people are
waiting, the manager could send extra buses in response to high demand.
• Create a business plan of
– how a program like this could be released,
– including the technology requirements and costs.
– Pay attention to risks to the existing infrastructure including what
partnerships would need to be entered into.
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8. Business Plan should include
• Executive Summary
– Less than a page overview of the idea
• Customer Need and Business Opportunity
– An argument for the potential of the product or idea
• Business Strategy and Key Milestones
– Plan a timeline over about five years
• Marketing Plan
– Who is the intended customer?
– How will you convince them to adopt the product?
• Operations Plan
– What is needed to pull this off?
• Management and Key Personnel
– How many people
– How will the organization be structured, and what changes are needed?
– Give brief profiles of key individuals
• Financial Projections
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9. Estimates
• You are not expected to know exact numbers
for costs etc. but the estimates should be
realistic.
• Use charts and tables wherever appropriate.
Venture capitalists and CEO’s do not like to do
more work than they have to in evaluating.
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10. Due date(s)
• Project Due date: May 24
• Optional Early Draft: May 15 (for instructor
feedback)
10
13. Challenges
• Poor IT decisions lead to
– Products with insufficient support
– Relying on outdated protocols/systems
• Technology / management divide
– Who makes decisions?
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15. 1980’s
• PC released
• People moved jobs to computers
• No longer needed staff for computing/data
processing
• LANs allowed people to share files, printers etc.
• IT services provided over distributed servers
15
16. 1990’s
• Internet boom
• TCP/IP provided robust standard for messages
between all computers on web
• Network resources available to individuals
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20. Components of Internetworking
Infrastructure
• Network
– Hardware/software that permit exchange of information
between processing units and organizations
• Processing Systems
– Hardware/software providing ability to handle business
transactions
• Facilities
– Physical systems that house and protect devices
• Trend: Increasing freedom to manage resources
• See table 5.1
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25. Processing Systems
•
•
•
•
•
•
Client Devices and Systems
Server Devices and Systems
Mainframe Devices and Systems
Middleware
Infrastructure Management Systems
Business Applications
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30. Discussion
• How much does a typical manager understand
of computing networks?
• What educational opportunities are there?
30
31. Operational Characteristics if
Internetworking
• Internetworking Technologies are Based on
Open Standards
• Internetworking Technologies operate
asynchronously
• Internetworking communications have inherent
latency
• Internetworking technologies are naturally
decentralized
• Internetworking technologies are scalable
• See tables 5.2, 5.3
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34. Business Implications
•
•
•
•
•
Quicker communications leads to efficiency
More data leads to better-informed decisions
Progress of processes become transparent
Processes more efficient
Make and sell becomes sense and respond
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35. Threats
• Automation can lead to chain reaction,
cascading failures
• Outside attacks
• See table 5.4
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37. New service models
• Physical location of computers less important
• Economies of scale for particular services
• New capabilities must be integrated into
existing systems
– Deal with legacy technology
• Reliability must improve
– See next case!
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