Proposal for the Improvement of the Computer Information System at Widener University

Proposal for the Improvement of the Computer Information System at Widener University
Abstract
The aim of the project is to improve the computer information system of Widener University. Today, the end users of the information system face numerous challenges, including the failure of the system whose correction takes a long time, lack of up-to-date information in the system, lack of user-connectivity, rigidity of the system, and redundancy. The study used questionnaires, surveys, and interviews as the methods of gathering data to establish the challenges in the information system. The project’s implementation shall take a period of one month, and the team shall perform the correctional tasks at night when most users do not use the information system. The project shall cost the university an approximated cost of $117,000. The key activities in the project implementation phase shall include implementing and internet network that shall connect the users, implementing data acquisition, discovery, and data distribution software. The activities shall also involve synchronizing and monitoring of the system. The university has computer laboratories and hardware. It shall need to purchase the required software and database for the project. The project has high feasibility, considering its affordable cost of implementation and the availability of the required resources. The end result of the project shall be an up-to-date computer information system that meets the information needs of the users.
I. INTRODUCTION
a) Subject and Purpose
The subject of this paper is to propose the ways of improving the computer information system at Widener University. By improving the problems that the computer information system faces, the university shall be able to meet the information needs of its clients, especially the students. The project aims to change the current situation whereby the university has a computer information system with numerous problems. The project also has the purpose of updating the computer information system of the University for its Compliance with the safety and efficiency requirements that such systems should possess.
b) Background and Need
Widener University is a private post-secondary institution in Chester, Pennsylvania. The university started in 1821 as Bullock Boys’ High School. Today, the university enjoys a student population of over 6,000 students. The university has a computer information system. However, the population of the students continues increasing. The implication of the continuously increasing student population is that the university’s need for information for its students and other beneficiaries continues increasing too. Furthermore, the technological changes that occur in the field of computer information system mean that the students need an up-to-date information system that matches the current needs that are aligned to technological development. New threats also emerge as technology develops. There is, therefore, the need for the university to check its computer information system to safeguard the end-users against such threats as cyber crimes.
c) Statement of the Problem
The problem with the computer information system at Widener University is that it fails to achieve the satisfaction of its users due to the numerous challenges within the system. The computer information has challenges of rigidity and redundancy, which means that it does not maintain frequent checks on its hardware and software parts. Data redundancy and rigidity of the computer information system means that the system is not aligned to meet the current needs of the student. It also means that the system has internal problems that the organization’s IT department must address. Another problem of the information is its lack of alignment with the current academic calendar. Such a problem reduces the reliability of the system because it gives the end-users information that is not up-to-date. The information also experiences system failures and it takes long for university to launch its recovery. Such a problem means that the students and other users of the system cannot access important information in a timely manner. There is the need for Widener University to address the challenges with its computer information system in an urgent way so that it can regain the trust of its users and meet their information needs. The students who take Computer system information courses face difficulty using the institution’s information system. The problem, however, is that the system lacks an online support system that the learners can use for cross-reference and consultations.
d) Qualification of Personnel
In order to address the challenges in the information system of the university, the personnel must understand the processes of upgrading and maintaining a computer information system. They must understand how to solve problems like system failures, protection of the information system from external and internal threats, and aligning the information in the system with the needs of the users. Apart from qualification of having studied Computer and Information Technology, the personnel who work on the computer information system must know how to conduct user-surveys and tailor the information system according to the needs of the users. They must also ensure that the information system has current information about the academic calendar, university courses, and events taking place at the university. Understanding how the students rely on the information system to make decisions is important when correcting the design challenges in the system.
e) Data Sources
The end users of the computer information system are important sources of data for the proposal. The students gave data concerning the challenges they face when they use their information system. With the permission from the administration, the researcher also surveyed the university’s information system, for example, its website to investigate the challenges that the system faces with them aim of improving it. The researcher also interviewed the administrators on the challenges of the information system.
f) Scope and limitation
The proposal covers the challenges of the computer information system at Widener University. It does not study any other institution except Widener University. The findings and proposed solutions are limited to the institution only.

II. BODY: PROPOSED PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT OF WIDENER UNIVERSITY’S COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM
a) Methods
The study used questionnaires, interviews, and survey as the methods for gathering data to establish the problems with the computer information system of Widener University. The students who take computer information systems courses at the university filled the questionnaires to give data on the challenges that they face while using the university’s computer information system. The study used interviews on the administrators. They gave responses that indicated their awareness of the challenges with the information system and their views on how the problems affected the university’s information needs. The study used survey on the information system to verify if the complaints that the students raised were true about the information system. The researcher arranged the quantitative data in tables to establish the problems with the information system.
b) Time Table
The project to correct the challenges in the computer information system shall run for a period of one month. The operations shall begin at 9 pm to 6 am everyday. The study established that night-time is the off-peak time (when the students do not use the computer information system). The milestones for the implementation of the project shall include developing an internet portal for connecting the users of the system, conducting system check and correction of errors of redundancy and failure of the system, implementing a data acquisition service on the information system, implementing a data discovery system, implementing a data distribution service, implementing a system monitoring software, and synchronizing the system.
Table 1: The time-frames for the activities in the project
Activity Number Description Purpose Time frame
1 Checking and correcting the systemic failures The activity shall update the system and eradicate all the technical problems in the computer information system Day 1-Day 7
2 Developing and implementing an internet portal on the system The activity shall create and enhance connectivity between the end-users of the system. Currently, the students cannot consult each other when they face problems with the system Day 8- Day 12
3 Implementing a data acquisition service on the information system The administrators shall use the data acquisition service to get the information that the students need. The system shall have pop-ups that shall request users to give feedback about the data and if it satisfied their needs. They will also specify the needs that the system did not satisfy Day 13- Day 18
4 Implementing a data discovery service The role of the data discovery service is to provide real-time data. The students shall search the required data and the system shall retrieve the data from the data base Day 19- Day 22
5 Implementation of a data distribution service The information shall use the push dissemination to distribute the data that the users need and the feedback data from the users. The information system (current) uses the GTS. The push dissemination shall require a modification of the current system through software addition. The administration shall make additional data-types and protocols to suit the push dissemination strategy. Day 23- Day 26
6 Implementing a system monitoring software The software shall monitor the system for any errors that can cause redundancy and system failure. The monitoring software shall send alerts to the administrator about the detected errors. Day 27 – Day 28
7 Synchronization of the system The activity shall involve identifying the databases to be synchronized for back-up purposes. Synchronizing the databases shall ensure that the university has its backup that shall enable it to retrieve the system quickly when it fails. DCPC is the database that the project shall synchronize because it less time-critical. Day 29- Day 30

c) Materials and Equipment
The university shall need a Wide Area Network (WAN) for its internet portal. WAN shall enhance connectivity of the computer information system between all the campuses. The university shall also require computer laboratories in all its campuses, and the laboratories shall have all the hardware and software requirements. Within the campuses, the university may Local Area Network (WAN) for connectivity. The university shall also purchase the software and databases the system’s upgrade requires to meet the information needs of the users and solve the current problems. They include software for data acquisition, data discovery, data distribution, system monitoring, and a database for synchronization.
d) Personnel
The university shall need an IT manager who shall oversee the implementation of the changes in the computer information system. The IT manager shall work with the IT specialists in updating and correcting the current challenges that the system faces. The team shall work on all the procedures according to the time-table. However, they may rearrange the activities on the time-table in their own order preference for proper correction of the system.
e) Available facilities
Currently, the organization has the computer hardware in all its campuses. It also has the computer laboratories that are sufficient to serve all students in its campuses.
f) Needed facilities
The organization needs a network that shall enhance connectivity between the users of the system. The university also needs the respective software for meeting the data requirements of the system. The organization needs software for data acquisition, distribution, discovery, synchronization, and monitoring.
g) Cost

Table 2: the distribution of the costs of the project
Cost Amount ($) (approximated cost)
Labor 150,000
Internet Network 20,000
Data acquisition software 2,500
Data distribution software 2,700
Data Discovery software 2,500
System Monitoring Software 3,500
Synchronization database (DCPC) 4,000
Cost of maintaining the system (for first year) 25,000
Total cost 117,700

e) Expected Results
At the end of the project, the computer information system shall have up-to-date user information that shall meet the information needs of the users. The system shall enhance connectivity between the users so that they can consult each other and the administrator about the challenges they face. The changes are expected to solve all the challenges in the university’s computer information system.
g) Feasibility
The project is easy to implement because all the materials, facilities, and personnel that it requires are readily available at affordable costs. Based on the current need for the changes, the university sees the necessity of the project, something that gives the project strong support of the university administration.
III. CONCLUSION
In summary, the project intends to solve the current challenges in the computer information system at Widener University. Currently, the students face many problems when using the information system. They lack connectivity because the information system lacks internet services, there are frequent failures of the system, the system lacks up-to-date information and it, therefore, does not meet the information needs of the students. The project shall correct the problems by checking the system and correcting it accordingly. The project shall also involve updating the system by implementing different software and databases that shall meet the current needs of the end-users. At the end of the project, the end users shall be capable of getting the right information and interacting with each other as they use the information system.
The project team wishes to request the university administration to act on the need for the project by implementing it and providing the resources and materials that the project needs. The project shall benefit the university administration and end-users in different ways.