Acting as a consulting organization you are required to recommend an IT solution that is innovative and will enable Caterpillar Inc. to achieve their corporate strategies. This recommendation should answer the below questions and should be in report format.
In order to develop an effective IT portfolio for an organization the consultant firm requires an understanding of the client’s operations.
Demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of Caterpillar Inc. worldwide business operations. To do this you will need to create and explain the following:
· Business elements diagram of Caterpillar Inc. (refer to the following page for further details)
· Mapping of Caterpillar Inc. sales order process using EPC [minimum 15 functions, must use ARIS – Maximum word count: 500 business process = 15 marks, business elements diagram = 10 marks]
Develop and justify an effective IT portfolio, which meets Caterpillars expectations. [Maximum word count: 1000 – Hint: Think of new technologies that can be incorporated into the IT portfolio (e.g. HANA, analytics, mobile etc.)]
Explain and justify the implementation methodology that Caterpillar should use to implement your recommended IT portfolio. You will also need to include a project plan which will depict a realistic time frame for the implementation of your IT portfolio. [Maximum word count: 1250 – Hint: Link to theoretical concepts]
Explain which factors will you utilise to ensure a successful implementation? You will need to justify these factors, and explain how success will be measured. [Maximum word count: 750 – Hint: Link to theoretical concepts, and determine when it is important to implement these factors.]
‘Enterprise Systems enables innovation in the organization’. Discuss this statement using the given company as an example. [Maximum word count: 1000 – Hint: Link to the diverse IT portfolio you have recommended and explain how that portfolio will help Caterpillar achieve innovation]
Additional Information Regarding the Business Elements Diagram.
For the business elements diagram you are required to illustrate the following business elements:
– client, – purchasing organization – plant
– company code, – storage location – shipping point
– chart of accounts, – sales organization – distribution channel
– profit centre, – division – cost centre.
Furthermore, when more than one example is applicable for a given element depict 3 examples [i.e. company code: Australia, USA, UK]