Information Technology Re-structuring

Information intensive businesses rely on their IT, though sometimes they do not realise the fact until it fails.

SME's usually have limited budgets, time and knowledge to administer what can actually be core capabilities within the business. During early 2006 Richard Hartley was asked by a local company to assist in an IT update and improvement exercise after the company suffered a significant data loss, and with it a large amount of lost time in the recovery. The first part of the analysis was to consider the existing systems in place, their suitability to the business model and their inherent robustness. From that analysis the follow on requirement was to propose a series of staged changes based on a workable budget. The key aspects of the resultant plan were as follows:

• Fully integrate previously isolated systems and working practices.
• Improve firewall and virus protection.
• Ensure robust information backup and data integrity.
• Update software loads to compatible standards.
• Have forward-looking budgets and future implementation plans (to prevent surge spending and unplanned attrition failures).
• Rationalise printing and scanning facilities (makes models and consumables) across the business (to reduce costs).
• Create better usability of Internet finance and email functions (which were now becoming core functions of the business).
• Update to the company's on-ine presence, and use it to provide a better out-of-hours presence.
• Implement an IT training and development plan (linked to staff appraisals).

Having gained acceptance from senior management to proceed the plan was enacted to budget.

The company now reports less IT related issues, and has improved data integrity and disaster planning. Additionally, from 2006 on, the company began implementing planned upgrades which have resulted in controlled IT budgets and pre-planned down time if required.