In recent times, technology has emerged as an important driver in every field. In the business field, technology is now deployed to enhance carrying out various important tasks. It has helped improve the performance and efficiency of businesses. Various applications have been developed over time to reduce manual work in the business world. Such applications are run in computers that have become an important part of the business. To remain competitive, businesses must ensure that they are using the latest applications. As time passes, better applications are developed, which further increase productivity, efficiency and performance of the business. Most businesses use Windows as their main operating system as it is secure, affordable, efficient and easy to use. Most businesses do not upgrade to the latest versions of windows. The latest version of the operating system by Microsoft is Windows 10. This Windows version is more secure and efficient compared to the previous versions of Windows such as Windows 7. We have therefore decided to work on a project where we shall upgrade all offices Operating Systems from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Objectives and deliverables
The main objective of the project is to upgrade all offices Operating System from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Upgrading the windows version will require first backing up information in the computers to prevent loss. After upgrading the Operating Systems of each computer, we shall install the latest versions of the applications used to run the business and set them up so that the normal business operations can resume. The need to upgrade the office computer systems from Windows 7 is to increase the security of the company information. This is because of numerous security complaints raised against windows 7. Although Microsoft has released several updates, the issue has not been fully resolved, which puts the security of the business information at risk. Windows 10 has improved security features that promise improved security for the users. This upgrade will, therefore, improve the security of employees and clients. Windows 10 offers other improved features that will enhance business operations.
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Timelines
The project requires dedication and cooperation from everyone in the office. The project will require about five months to implement. This is because there is a lot of work that requires to be done before everything can be ready. The first step of the project involves recording the number of computer systems and other gadgets that uses an operating system. Information about the number of computer systems will help in the development of a budget based on the cost of the operating system and personnel required to carry out the work (Larson & Gray, 2014). The budget developed will then be forwarded to the finance department for approval and release of funds to purchase the operating systems. The procurement department will be responsible for procuring the operating systems after the finance department has released the required funds (Marchewka, 2016). The process of upgrading the system will begin immediately after the Operating Systems have been purchased, and data in every computer backed up. The timeline of the project will be as follows;
|
Date |
Task |
| 20/1/2020 – 31/1/2020 | Stocktaking to determine the number of computers. |
| 1/2/2020 – 29/2/2020 | Budget development and forwarding to the finance department. |
| 1/3/2020 – 30/4/2020 | Procurement of the necessary operating systems by the procurement department. |
| 1/5/2020-31/5/2020 | Backing up all information in the computers in external storage. |
| 1/6/2020 -30/6/2020 | Upgrading the operating systems and restoring all the backed-up data in the computers. |
The IT department has expert personnel who will be handy in the implementation of this project. The number of computers in the organization, the timeline and the number of personnel required has enabled us to develop a budget that will be enough to fund this project until it is complete (Meredith, Mantel Jr & Shafer, 2017). The budget of the project is as follows;
Budget
| Items | Cost ($) |
| Windows 10 Licenses | 6,000 |
| Personnel and other expenses | 14,400 |
Work Breakdown Schedule
The project will be carried out in phases over the five months. This will be as shown by the Work Breakdown Schedule below;
|
Level |
WBS Code |
Activity |
| 1.0 | Stocktaking | |
| 1.1 | Obtain the number of computers in the organization | |
| 1.2 | Obtain the number of computers running on windows 7 | |
| 1.3 | Set a timeline | |
| 2.0 | Budget Development | |
| 2.1 | Identify the number of licenses required | |
| 2.2 | Identify the personnel required | |
| 2.3 | Identify the cost of licenses | |
| 2.4 | Identify the personnel cost | |
| 2.5 | Include other expenses | |
| 2.6 | Forward budget to the finance department | |
| 3.0 | Procurement | |
| 3.1 | Receive funding from the finance department | |
| 3.2 | Customize the software | |
| 3.3 | Order software and licenses from Microsoft | |
| 3.4 | Receive license and software | |
| 4.0 | Systems upgrade | |
| 4.1 | Back-up all data in computers in an external storage | |
| 4.2 | Install Windows 10 in all computer that needed upgrade | |
| 4.3 | Restore the backed-up data from the external storage | |
| 4.4 | Update applications for compatibility with Windows 10 | |
| 4.5 | Set up everything and finish the upgrade |
The whole process can be summarized in a simple flow chart.
Challenges and technical issues
The project requires technical people since the process of upgrading the systems is complicated and may result in some complications in the computer. Windows 10 is the only technical requirement in the project. The IT department staff are competent enough to carry out the process of installation of the software and update the existing applications to ensure compatibility with the new operating system.
Various challenges will be encountered in the process of implementation of this project. One major limitation is the hardware compatibility problem. Some of the computers that are being used in the company are old desktop computers with low-end specifications that may not support upgrade. Some of these computers may require upgrading of their RAM before the process of upgrading to Windows 10 is implemented. This may end up bringing some extra costs making the project more expensive than anticipated. Another challenge is software related. Some applications are customized by their developers to run on windows seven strictly. In case of an upgrade, the applications will be rendered useless unless the developer is contacted to customize the application for windows ten which may also result in added charges. Another limitation that may occur is usability. Windows 7 is very basic and has a more friendly interface to use compared to Windows 10. Some employees may find it difficult to adapt to the new system, which may result in reduced performance.
Project limitations
The various limitations of the project may cause an exclusion in some computers. One cause of exclusion would occur due to applications specifications. Some applications that are vital for the process of running the business may be exclusively designed for use in only Windows 7. The manufacturer may not have an immediate solution to the problem. This would result in some computers remaining without the upgrade to accommodate such an application which would prevent the business from having some performance problems. Another exclusion would be hardware incompatibility with the operating system. Some computer hardware specifications are not compatible with windows 10. Such computers can only be left to continue running on windows seven and perform minor tasks in the business.
Implementation of this project would play a huge role in the promotion of business performance. The security of the business, employee and customer information would also be ensured. The company would also run on the latest business technology making it more competitive.
References
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2014). Project management: The managerial process (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Lientz, B., & Rea, K. (2016). Breakthrough technology project management. Routledge.
Marchewka, J. T. (2016). Information technology project management: Providing measurable organizational value. John Wiley & Sons.
Meredith, J. R., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Shafer, S. M. (2017). Project management: a managerial approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, A. G. (2016). The Windows 10 Platform. In Develop Microsoft HoloLens Apps Now (pp. 9-11). Apress, Berkeley, CA.
