INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROPOSALRIBBIT WEB DESIGN COMPANY’S BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ENHANCING

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND DECISION MAKING AMONG PROJECT TEAMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Purpose is to recommend business improvements that will maximize profits.

• Recommendations are based on technology, communication, and policy current utilized.

• Current technology makes communication and collaboration between development teams difficult, especially geographically.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• The purpose of this report is to propose strategies and improvements that will increase employee efficiency, productivity, and revenue thereby increasing profitability.

• Optimal efficiency would increase staff productivity thereby maximizing profitability.

RESEARCH AND FINDINGS

• Research about what hardware upgrades would be beneficial was collected from personal interviews with staff and management.

• Complaints from staff were used to generate an idea of what was necessary for a more productive work environment.

• Research for the budget was conducted through internet searches and personal phone calls to vendors.

ANALYSIS

• Three areas:• Policies

• Upgrade hardware to Dell Latitude 15 3000 series laptop.• Technology

• Adopt a mobile phone package that consolidates landlines and internet providers from Verizon’s Business Plans.

• Communication• Adjust development policy to move all production to cloud-based

Cloud9 IDE service.

POLICY

• Problem: The current policy is out of date.• Using notepad is inefficient.• With geographically separated development teams, developers are unable to

collaborate effectively.

• Benefits of change:• Modifying the policy to utilize a cloud-based development environment will

improve collaboration and efficiency by reducing overhead.• Enables staff to access necessary documents and collaborate efficiently.• Ease of backup and recovery.• Scalability and performance.• Quick deployment.• Ease of integration.• User-friendly interface.

TECHNOLOGY

• Problem: The current technology infrastructure available to employees is outdated.• Windows XP is no longer a supporter operating system.• Current computer hardware only barely meets minimum system requirements for an

upgrade to Windows 7.• Hardware upgrades are necessary to accommodate the newer operating system and

switch to cloud-based development practices.• Cloud-based developing creates a high demand for powerful networking hardware

currently standard in modern laptops.

• Benefits of changes:• Laptop hardware allows the freedom of access from any location including their own

homes.• The investment into new hardware will allow the company to remain competitive as

current computing technology will still remain relevant for many years.

COMMUNICATION

• Problem: Many employees are required to utilize their own personal cell phones for business purposes.• With geographically separated staff, the overhead cost of a large land-based

phone service is inefficient spending.

• Benefits of change:• Reducing the necessary land-based lines to bare minimum and adopting a

business mobile phone plan will increase efficiency through increased communication.

• Uniformity of syncing company directories and contact lists.• Collaborative ease through group texting and other such applications.• Mobile access to Microsoft Outlook.• Availability of any given employee regardless of being in the office.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Computing Hardware

Communications Services Package

Development

Policies and

Procedures

COMPARISONS

• Hardware:• Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell

• Dell hardware and support packages offered the best value with regards to both hardware compatibility and on going support.

• Phone/Internet:• AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon

• Verizon offered the best coverage area along with the most versatile package which allows for tailoring to company’s specific needs.

• Cloud-Based development:• Wordpress.org, Koding.org, and Cloud9IDE

• Cloud 9 IDE has value, ease of use, collaboration capabilities, and capacity for advances.

COMPUTING HARDWARE

• Recommendation: Upgrade all computers to current model Dell Latitude 15 3000 Series Laptops.

• Benefits:• Ample resources with which to multitask, develop, and render.• Be able to meet current developer demand today and still remain relevant

and capable for years to come.• Provides the best bargain for product and ongoing support.

COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PACKAGE

• Recommendation: Upgrade current company communication practices to include mobile smart phones and reduce the current landline package.

• Our research has determined the Verizon Mobile Office plan to be the optimum solution.

• Benefits:• Most popular and powerful smart phones in use today.• Offer services tailored specifically to the needs of the company without excess.• Plans include both a landline and mobile service in one, eliminating the need for multiple vendors.

DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• Recommendation: Modify current practice to move all developing to Cloud9 IDE cloud-based development environment.

• Our research has determined that Cloud9 IDE offers the best balance of ease-of-use, functionality, expandability, and cost.

• Benefits:• Private workspaces.• Full shell and terminal access.• Connection to personal virtual machines and unlimited public workspaces.

DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

BUDGETProduct Description Price *Other Options

Dell Latitude 15 3000 Series Laptop

• Dependable and affordable business laptop

• Provides ProSupport

$846.90 (x 20) *$22/month (x 20) financing available

Verizon Services

Landline• All traditional features included• Option to bundle internetMobile• Variety of Smartphones• Unlimited minutes• 50GB shared data/month

$56.99/month

$1175/month

*With internet service bundle $84.99/month

*±$40 per phone/line

Cloud 9 IDE • 6 private workspaces• Full shell access and terminal• Connect to your own VM• Unlimited collaborators• Unlimited FTP workspaces• Unlimited public workspaces

$12/month *Additional $12/month for every 6 private workspaces needed

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

• Recommendations:• Upgrade all computers to current model Dell Latitude 15 3000 Series

Laptops.• Upgrade current company communication practices to include mobile smart

phones and reduce the current landline package.• Modify current practice to move all developing to Cloud9 IDE cloud-based

development environment.

• These are intended to increase overall employee efficiency, maintain the company’s competitive edge and ultimately increase profits.

TEAMMATE CONTRIBUTION

• Anna Sumner: Research, PowerPoint

• Matthew Akins: Research, Report Findings & Analysis, Report Introduction

• Jennifer Colman: Research, Report Budget, Editor

• Caroline Goodrich: Research, PowerPoint

• Francisco A. Perez: Research, Report Recommendations, Report Executive Summary & Conclusion

QUESTIONS?

SOURCES

• http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latitude-3540-laptop/pd

• http://business.verizonwireless.com/content/b2b/en/shop-business-products/business-plans/share-everything-for-business.html

• http://www.verizon.com/smallbusiness/voiceOverview.jsp?smbReferenceValue=SMBBPPackageRef

• https://c9.io/site/pricing