Introduction
Elite Limited is an organization in the Denver state IT industry, specializing in Education Technology. Elite has a free mobile application which allows its customers use to subscribe to its services. The application provides the same features to users of the same category. Administrators are given the prerogative to configure the school’s account and set some common preferences. In the future, Elite wants to enable more end-user customization to its application.
Key Business Goals of the Organization
Elite's primary business goal is providing an online analysis solution for all schools at relative and affordable prices. Schools vary in sizes and financial capabilities. However, every learner is entitled to using Elite analysis solution as long as it fits their learning system. Thus the solution is priced per head, ensuring affordability for all schools ( Burgeois, & Burgeois, n.d) . The answer is online for increased user access. This ensures that the school members can access the solution even when away from school, and in most available gadgets.
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The second goal in Elite's business plan is continuously researching and innovating tools that improve insight into performance analysis. Schools use varying parameters to gauge their learners’ performance ( Ghadawala, 2018) . Elite developed its solution based on user needs gathered from schools. An analysis of this information provided the primary components schools use for analyses. These components have been turned over time to suit the schools’ setting. Elite continuously uses the solutions its users provide for technological infrastructure development ( Wootliff, 2010) . Ensuring the security of customer information is Elite's third business goal. Implementing top-notch data security infrastructure and ethics to safeguard customer information and data.
Security of customer data is paramount ( Wootliff, 2010) . When information is put online, it is at risks of hackers and other malicious players. Security ensures customer trust and business continuity. When providing a solution to a large number of users, the need for steady technology increases. The final goal is adding value to learning through insightful analysis, reporting, and communication between school and parents. Schools tend to stick to systems that they are used to using, including manual processes. Unless a new system offers value to the schools' core activities beyond the normal, it will lose against the competition.
IT Strategy to Support Goals of the Organization
To achieve the goals mentioned above, Elite has put into place the following technological strategies. Elite uses an online platform to provide an analytical solution to its end users ( Lamach, 2017) . The users, in this case, are the school members, made up of teachers, administrators, and learners. The parents can use the learners’ information to login into the students' profile and check/analyze performances. Each school’s account is billed yearly, and the price is determined by the number of learners in the school. Other than using a mobile application, the users can access the solution through a web application that runs on most browsers ( Ghadawala, 2018) . Online systems have proved to be greatly shareable than offline solutions offered by other entities. Elite can also provide technical support to users remotely. Schools enjoy data security and quick accessibility for all stakeholders by having their records hosted online.
Through analysis of user experience data, Elite has been updating its platform to best suit its users. The school account administrators help in debugging and collecting recommendations to ensure satisfaction from all users. Thus the system undergoes various updates that take into account the suggestions that users made ( Ghadawala, 2018) . The company has also been subscribing to state performance analysis guidelines and implementing to their features. All in all the company thrives by having a simple and user-friendly application.
Data security measures were taken by Elite to ensure the loss of data is prevented hosting on reliable servers. Another technological approach Elite uses is running parallel databases to ensure that one is covered up for loses by the other in case of an incident ( Burgeois, & Burgeois, n.d) . Elite uses a firewall to ensure that unwarranted users don’t get access to the company’s database. Each user has a unique user name and password that require them to provide a code sent to their personal phones before changing. On the administrators' end, all logins and device information are captured in a log.
The analysis provided by Elite utilizes design tools that plot graphs, create tables and other collaborative characters for improved comparative studies. The user interface is also made to be easily understandable and usable by people of different age and genders. The system generates reports online, which can be printed by users without the need to visit the school. Finally, a bulk messaging feature ensures that the school can inform parents and other users directly through their phones using SMS.
IT Directions and Initiatives
Elite employs various IT directions and initiatives in Enhancing and expanding existing technology and services. It starts with installment workforce of IT personnel who ensure that the system is up and running at all times ( Ghadawala, 2018) . The staff roles include coding and managing the database, coding the mobile and web applications and forecasting future needs in the company’s online infrastructure.
Another initiative saw Elite invest in machine learning to support its innovation process. From the user experience data analysis, the company can understand the impact of each feature provided in the app. Apart from machine learning, in house brainstorming activities contribute to the technological development of the solution ( Ghadawala, 2018) . Once in a while, the solution is hacked by Elite developers to seek out loopholes that may prove threatening to data security. The company also provide post-sales training on safety using its business development associates.
Elite IT foundation is built on its solution and IT team. The application offers more than two integrated services on the same platform, i.e. analysis, bulk SMS sending and report printing. The group also works around the clock to ensure that all the features are working and customer concerns attended to immediately.
Management Technology Innovation (MTI) Capabilities
When analyzing Elite's Management Technology Information, it’s evident that competition comes from other education technology companies in Denver. The threatening ones coming from entities that offer almost similar solutions with equal features ( Ghadawala, 2018) . Information gathering ensures that Elite's solution stays as a leading information technology development. Elite gathers information from its customers through their user experience data, crash reports, and suggestions offered through business development. Other sources of information include social science data analysis tools and interaction within technological forums.
Product and innovative ideas offered by employees are presented to the product development lead, who introduces it to the innovation board. This idea is scrutinized to ensure it will impact the performance of the company or qualify as a business case. When an idea is thought to be of benefit, then a prototype is built and tested at various levels before development. One testing level includes running it through sample test users. The company’s culture encourages innovation by providing an online form that enables employees to share their ideas with the team at large. Also, all weekly meetings see the staff discuss ideas to solutions and the procedure of ongoing developments ( Ghadawala, 2018) . Elite required all the innovations to prove their capability to impact economically to the company. Either way, the company is enthusiastic in developing innovations that use up the existing structures to save on development cost.
Assessing Sustainability, Stakeholder Responsibility and Technology Innovation
An assessment of sustainability, stakeholder responsibility, and Technology innovation considers the environmental impact of Elite's operation. The activities have minimal impact on the environment as most of its services are offered online. The business development operates remotely and only once in the office. The office administration takes care of the sanitation and waste disposal on the premises by contracting service providers. All activities carried out by Elite Company, need to be economically sustainable. The company has shareholders who provided the initial capital and operations funds. Business development is responsible for generating income for the company by pitching the solution to potential customers. Over the year 2018, Elite was able to generate a revenue of $40000 from sales of its solution.
Operations at Elite Company are guided by a code of conduct that ensures respectful and meaningful relations between its staff and with customers. Breaking the code of conduct amounts to dismissal due to gross misconduct, or warning for minor offenses. All other Denver state laws apply in Elite's premises and transactions. Elite carries out its CSR by sponsoring school events and offering facilitation during contests.
References
Burgeois, D. & Burgeois, D. T. (n.d). Chapter 8: Business processes. Press Books . Retrieved on 7 March 2019, from https://bus206.pressbooks.com/chapter/chapter-9-info-systems-strategic-advantage/
Ghadawala, M. (2018). How to make your user happy with the user-friendly mobile app development? WEB3CANVAS. Retrieved on 7 March 2019, from https://web3canvas.com/how-to-make-your-user-happy-with-the-user-friendly-mobile-app-development/
Lamach, M. W. (2017). How our company connected our strategy to sustainability goals. Harvard Business School Publishing . Retrieved on 7 March 2019, from https://hbr.org/2017/10/how-our-company-connected-our-strategy-to-sustainability-goals
Wootliff. J. (2010). Setting sustainability goals: 10 golden rules. Environmental Leader . Retrieved on 7 March 2019, from https://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/12/setting-sustainability-goals-10-golden-rules/
