This term paper presents an information systems strategy using the fictitious example of Inked Apparel.
Inked Apparel is a custom clothing manufacturer and retailer; it is primarily situated in two sectors of trading, which is providing a service to its customer by creating a t-shirt of their desire and eventually retailing the produced clothing online as well as at local market stalls.
Inked Apparel is a small business that will create custom T-shirts, Polo’s and Hoodies with the choice of customer’s preference of images, which can be then created by Ink’s design team. These designs can be printed on the back or front as well as both sides of the clothing. Customers request through a form which is available on Ink’s website and can be printed in paper form. Once the apparel has been created the company sells it to the customer at an agreed price set beforehand. In addition, a market stall is used to help sell generalised merchandise created by the artists for tourists and citizens such as ‘I heart London’ shirts.
Table of Contents
Organisation
Introduction to organisation
Business Model Canvas
Competitors
Mission Statement
Goals
Business Strategy
Task 2
Emerging Technology
Suitability
Cloud Computing
Suitability
Task 3
Porters five forces
Critical Success Factor
Business Process of Inked Apparel
Organisation structure
Resources
Evaluation of Proposals
Objectives and Key Themes
The primary objective of this work is to develop a strategic information system framework for "Inked Apparel," a custom clothing manufacturer and retailer. The document investigates how the company can leverage emerging technologies to optimize its business processes, enhance customer engagement, and improve its competitive positioning within the apparel market.
- Application of strategic frameworks (Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, CSF).
- Evaluation of mobile application integration to drive customer interaction and sales.
- Implementation of Cloud Computing to enhance business agility and reduce operational costs.
- Analysis and systematic redesign of business processes to improve efficiency.
- Assessment of organizational structure and IT resource requirements.
Excerpt from the book
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the use of computer resources such as hardware and software, which will be delivered as a service on a network such as the internet. In terms of a business model, it is usually the case of using software as a service (SaaS); users of the ‘cloud’ are provided access to the applications software and databases.
Cloud computing changes the structure of a business and changes some costs to from capital expenditure to operating expenditure. Furthermore Cloud computing allows a business to be more agile which is imperative for Inked as customers may want changes in design, cloud computing will help this issue.
Many organisations praise cloud computing as an excellent emerging technology “The impact of Cloud computing on IT outsourcing is no doubt significant, Cloud computing represents a fundamental shift in how organizations pay for and access IT services. It has created new opportunities for IT services providers and the outsourcing vendors will have to modify their strategy to take advantage of this new computing paradigm”
Chapter Summary
Organisation: Introduces Inked Apparel as a custom clothing business and details its core business model, mission, and strategic differentiation.
Task 2: Examines emerging technologies, specifically social messaging applications and cloud computing, evaluating their potential suitability for the company.
Task 3: Analyzes the business processes and strategic tools, including Porter’s Five Forces and Critical Success Factors, to guide organizational improvements and IT resource allocation.
Keywords
Inked Apparel, Information System Strategy, Business Model Canvas, Cloud Computing, Mobile Applications, Strategic Outsourcing, Porter's Five Forces, Critical Success Factor, Business Process Redesign, Customer Relationship Management, Custom Clothing, IT Infrastructure, SaaS, Market Competition, Virtualization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on creating a comprehensive Information System Strategy for a small-scale custom clothing business named Inked Apparel.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include business model analysis, the evaluation of emerging technologies (mobile apps and cloud computing), and the optimization of organizational business processes.
What is the main goal of the proposed strategy?
The goal is to provide Inked Apparel with a roadmap to enhance operational efficiency, increase brand awareness, and secure a competitive advantage through technological integration.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses strategic management frameworks, specifically Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT analysis, and Critical Success Factors (CSF) to evaluate the business environment.
What content is discussed in the main body of the document?
The main body details the current organizational structure, proposes specific IT-driven enhancements like mobile apps and CRM systems, and provides a framework for resource allocation.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Business Strategy, Cloud Computing, CRM, Competitive Advantage, and Strategic Outsourcing.
Why is Cloud Computing recommended for Inked Apparel?
It is recommended to reduce capital expenditures, increase operational agility, and allow for a decentralized working environment that supports global scalability.
How does the author propose to improve customer interaction?
By implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and developing a dedicated mobile application, the author aims to streamline custom orders and improve communication with the "social customer."
What role does the "Business Model Canvas" play here?
It serves as the foundation for identifying the company's key partners, activities, value propositions, and revenue streams, providing a clear overview of the current business operations.
What is the significance of the "systematic redesign" mentioned?
The redesign seeks to eliminate redundant process steps and automate workflows to reduce waiting times and improve overall efficiency in design and manufacturing.
- Citation du texte
- Dr Richardson Steve (Auteur), 2013, Information Systems Strategy. The Case of Inked Apparel, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215695
