Strategic Planning, Decision Support, and Data Migration
Strategic Plan
The strategic plan is a formal document that outlines a company’s strategy for a specific period, typically 3 to 5 years. It is created by managers, directors, and entrepreneurs. The plan is quantitative, providing figures to be achieved and describing how to obtain them, and time-bound, indicating the timeline for achieving these figures.
The strategic plan includes three main points:
Objectives
A goal is a fact not directly dependent on the company, formed by the equation: sum + term to achieve it. The verb associated with a goal is always to achieve:
- Achieve a turnover of S/. 1,000,000 before 2010.
- Progress in increasing profitability by 10% over 2008.
- Get a market share of 40% by November 2007.
Objectives like “Optimizing the resources deployed” or “Maximize profit this year” are not valid because they do not provide a specific amount and timetable. An objective like “Spending S/. 10,000 in computer equipment renewal during February” is also incorrect because it depends directly on the company.
Policies
A policy is a behavior that defines the company’s attitude over time when dealing with various situations. The verb associated with a policy is always to establish:
- Establish a collection policy to 30 days and payment to 90 days.
- Establish a procurement policy for graduates with at least 2 years of experience.
- Establish a compensation policy based on 80% fixed pay and 20% variable remuneration.
There are many parameters to set the company’s attitude, such as treasury policy, customer care policy, human resources policy, corporate image policy, and dividend policy.
Actions
An action is a fact that reports directly to the company, generally carried out to facilitate the achievement of objectives, encourage respect for policies, or organize the overall corporate strategy. The verb associated with an action is always undertaken:
- Attending major conferences in the industry to improve internal training.
- Launching an advertising campaign on TV and newspapers to promote the new product.
- Developing a manual of internal procedures to expedite the incorporation of new members.
Actions are usually grouped to identify their origin and purpose. They can be classified as dependent on a strategic objective, a company policy, or simply isolated actions.
Systems and Decision Support (DSS)
A Decision Support System (DSS) is a business intelligence tool focused on analyzing data within an organization. While it might seem straightforward, standard applications often have predefined reports that present information statically. DSS overcomes these limitations with features like:
- Dynamic, flexible, and interactive reports, allowing users to explore data without predefined lists.
- No technical knowledge required, enabling non-technical users to create charts and reports using drag & drop or drill-through.
- Rapid response time due to optimized databases like data warehouses or datamarts.
- Integration between all systems/departments through ETL processes, ensuring data quality and integrity.
- User-specific information access, providing only the necessary data for each role.
- Availability of historical information for trend analysis and business development.
Executive Information Systems (EIS)
An Executive Information System (EIS) is a software tool based on a DSS, providing managers with easy access to relevant internal and external information. Its main purpose is to give executives a complete picture of business indicators, allowing them to analyze deviations and determine appropriate actions. An EIS displays reports and printouts for different business areas, facilitating company monitoring. It often includes alerts, exception reports, and historical analysis.
Data Migration
Data migration is a regular activity in IT, involving moving data between storage arrays, systems, and sites. Challenges include incompatibilities between systems and the need for 24/7 application availability. Companies need better ways to manage migration to minimize costs and disruptions.
Challenges
Companies migrate data for various reasons: reducing storage costs, achieving standardization, complying with regulations, upgrading technology, or consolidating data centers. However, data migration can be overwhelming due to incompatibilities and the need for continuous data and application availability.
Software Implementation Plan
The deployment of an application in an object-oriented environment differs from traditional methods. The prototype is developed iteratively and incrementally, with design, programming, testing, deployment, and documentation carried out simultaneously. This approach allows control over a product version at each iteration.
The implementation phase includes:
- Guidelines for installation and implementation
- Building a Technical Manual
- Creating a User Manual
Guidelines for installation and implementation
Installation considers:
- Distribution: the physical arrangement of nodes and components.
- Equipment Requirements.
Building Technical Manual
The Technical Manual includes all specifications from the system’s analysis and design, especially class specifications with attributes and relationships. It is available on the installation disk for technicians to explore the software’s internal structure.
Creation of User Manual
The User Manual provides instructions for using the software, showing all graphical user interfaces. It is located on the software installation disk, allowing users to access the documentation at any time or print it.