IT IMPLEMENTATION-ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES,

CHALLENGES, PROBLEMS

sibin.p.b.

school of management studies

1ST SEM MIB
E-mail sibinpbif@gmail.com
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Information Technology - IT - is the science and skills of all aspects of computing, data storage,
and communications. It is a new, rapidly growing area that is radically changing the world by
making possible new ways of doing business, making entertainment, and creating art.

Implementation - replacing existing system with new system. New system may or may not
modification of existing system. Eg: Automated system replaces the manual system.
Implementation is a change management.

Usually project management team with technical & administrative experience is constituted to
over see the implementation

2.0 IT IMPLEMENTATION IN AN ORGANISATION

2.1 steps in implementation

• company appoints a project management team

• study of company by project management team
• site prepration
• hiring & training personnel
• acquisition & installation of hardware
• software acquisition
• file conversion
• documentation
• system conversion
• acceptence of system
• post audit
• system maintainence

2.2 project management team

project management team is a group of experts who determine the implementation.The team
includes experts of managerial,technical and human skills.the aim of setting up of project
management team is to reduce heavy cost over runs & technical short falls.

2.3 study of company by project management team

The project management team checks whether the it implementation is feasibile to

company ?.In what all areas the implementation needed ?.They use project management
tools-Eg PERT(program evaluation & review technique) & CMP(critical path method) to
analyse feasibility.
2.4 Site prepration

It is the activity related to infrastructure facilities like electricity wiring,humidity controls ,space
allocation. Site must prepared before the equipment arrives at the site .Larger computer
system need controlled environment such as air condition & dirt control & humidity control.

2.5 Hiring & training personnel

For successful implementation we give training to staff those who are already in the firm & to
those who are freshly hired. Eg: for an operator we give training, about his roles &
responsibilities. also train him about the maintainence & handling of equipments.

2.6 Acquisition & installation of hardware

Computers vary in size & capacity Each manufacture has many models to choose from while
determining system capacity, processor speed, size of ram, number of input & output etc.
Determination of auxiliary storage units that can be attached, system support & utility of
software provided etc…..

2.7 Software acquisition

If the firm not developing the software in house or it decides to partly out source software
requirements, the required software that is specified in systems analysis phase is to be
acquired from software vendors.

2.8 File conversion

In case of totally new system, the new system must need restructuring of old data files. Then
data in existing files has to be converted in to new format. The conversion can be done alone
manually by re-entering data in to new files or through software that can convert exist file in to
new formats. But it is time consuming.

2.9 Documentation

Detailed documentation of the system is essential for maintaining the system & training
personnel in using the system. It would be also be useful in trouble shooting system problems.

2.10 System conversion

Process of changing from old system to new system. There are 4 methods for changing old
system with new one.

2.10.1 Direct cut-over

New system replaces existing system entirely.

2.10.2 Parallel running & conversion

Both old & new system run in parallel & operated simultaneously. Once the new system clicked
old one discontinued.

2.10.3 Phased cut over

When it is not possible to implement new system through out the firm.

2.10.4 Pilot approach

System developed & implemented in small part of the firm.

2.11 Acceptance of the system

After installation check for errors & malfunctioning. if it work reliably the system is accepted
formally.

2.12 Post audit

When new system is implemented & has been working properly for a reasonable period of
time. Post audit is carried out to ensure new system meets & requirements in improving the
system.

2.13 System maintainence

System would need minor modifications to ensure that they continue to meet the required
targets.

3.0 FACTORS AFFECTING SUCCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION

 It is not possible to anticipate every implementation problem.

 Proper planning increase the chance of success.
 Project leaders may contribute from their experience.
 Setting up of project management team.

4.0 FACTORS AFFECTING FAILURE OF IMPLEMENTATION

 Low user involvement .

 Lack of commitment from top management for the project – if they not support each other.
 Complexity of project complex project have poor structure & are difficult to manage.
 Large projects have high risk of failure because time, budget etc are not calculable.
 Poor management of implementation process.-heavy cost over runs, technical short falls.
5.0 ISSUES

• Decision of management.
• Acquirement of the right development team.
• Budget constraints.
• Unavailability of infrastructure and hardware.
• Co-operation of staff with the development team.
• Double entries.
• Cross checking.
• Fresh hand feeding of data.
• Training of staff.
• Reduction in number of employees.
• Small mistakes-big errors.
• Viruses.
• Hackers.
• Corruption of server.
• Network breaks.
• Power failure.
• No system is fool proof.
• poor return on investment in it infra structure
• skills required changes drastically
• threat of unemployment
• power structure changes
• security risks
• system failure
• Intruding in to privacy of individuals
• Business spying
• Difficult to protect intellectual property rights

6.0. PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES

• poor return on investment in it infra structure

• skills required changes drastically
• threat of unemployment
• power structure changes
• security risks
• system failure

7.0 BENEFITS/OPPORTUNITIES

• decision making
 • planning & forecasting
• financial & inventory control
• process automation
• improved market research
• improved communication
• e-commerce
• Reduction of work load.
• Reduction in errors.
• Faster work completion.
• Faster decision making.
• Data available at your finger tip.
• Authentication
• Global connectivity.
• Back office work reduced.
• Tele-conferencing.
• Remote access

8.0 FIELDS OF IT IMPLEMENTATION

8.1 Doctor

Online treatment of patient

Key hole suegeory

8.2 Education

Single teacher can help 1000 students.

Learning become easier through multimedia & interactive education software

8.3 Engineer

develop design

8.4 Consumer

Better & quicker service

Railway booking
Banking

8.5 Students

Digital library
Online class room
Multi media presentation

8.6 Benefit to society

Better & cheap communication

Computer is central to any communication technology in these days. Eg:Tele communication
Internet based communication revolutionized in these days.

8.7 Advances in medicine

In hospitals computer is useful in patient registration,appointment,diagnosis,online medicare

Patient billing & hospital administration.

8.8 Weather forecasting

It require continuous measurements & monitoring of large number of parameters such as

temperature,humidity,type of cloud.so in this area need to handle huge data .so IT is neededin
this field.

8.9 Military & police

Computer can use in testing of nuclear devices,fighter pilot training,interception of missiles &
military communication.

Police can use it to store information about criminals & in crime detection.

8.10 Electronic commerce

Companies can go global very easily in a networked world.They can sell goods &services on
internet.

8.11 Electronic governance

It help in communication between the public & bureaucracy. Rules & regulations avail at state
sites ,facility for online filling of applications for various state services etc….

9.0 CONCLUSION

Whether IT’s application succeeds or fails depends entirely on the decisions that are made on
how it shall be used .Effective implementation of IT depends on the organization’s vision .

10.0REFERENCES

1. http://www.keralaitmission.org/web/newsletter/nov-ii-2005.html

2. http://www.ciol.com/News/Interviews/IT@Kerala-Log-on-to-a-
successful-techspace/9608106865/0/

3. http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?
autono=335359
 4. http://cochinoverseasfundsociety.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_arc
hive.html

5. http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?
autono=335359

6. http://www.ibsplc.com/Kerala-IT-.-com.html
7. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/cgi-bin/bl.pl?
subclass=445