Accenture's IT Challenge

1. This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation • In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button • Select “Meeting Minder” • Select the “Action Items” tab • Type in action items as they come up • Click OK to dismiss this box • This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered. Accenture's IT Challenge Presented by TechVibe

2. The World of Accenture Accenture Competitors Clients

3. Introduction to Accenture • A management consulting and technology services company • Net revenues of $11.57 billion for 2002 fiscal year • More than 80,000 employees • More than 110 offices in 47 countries

4. Competitors • Tridion, a management support and content delivery specialist serving Europe and based in the Netherlands • A.T. Kearney, another multinational firm with management expertise • Teleca USA Incorporated, a multinational firm based in San Diego, California specializing in technical services

5. Clients • Dell, with a need to upgrade their manufacturing infrastructure and reduce inventory • AT&T, with a desire to learn the science of supply chain management • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines which wanted a new IT system and online booking • Fiat Auto which wanted to be the first European car manufacturer to embrace the web as a way to purchase cars

6. The IT Project • Why undertake the project? • Upgrade or Rebuild entirely? • Outsource relocation requirements • 4 days of documentation, 2 days of relocation, 2 weeks to setup overall

7. Hierarchy of the IS Department • Manager – Designs the infrastructure. Known as “The Boss.” • Supervisor – Allocates tasks compliant with design specifications to liaisons • Liaisons – Actual implementers • Associates – Responsible for the infrastructure and troubleshooting

8. Manager Supervisor Liaison Liaison Liaison Liaison . . . . . . . . . Associate Associate Associate Associate IT Hierarchy Figure

9. Technology • Switches and Routers • Domain Controller • Lotus Notes • SQL – Structured Query Language • Examples – MS SQL Server, Oracle • Active Directory • FDDI • Windows NT Server • SAP – Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing • Example – mySAP Business Suite

10. The Reborn IT Structure • 1 PDC server, 1 SQL server, 1 mail server, 1 Lotus server, 1 print server, and 1 test server • Remember the IS Hierarchy – it applies here as well • IS Department Manager – “The Dictator” • Has access to all domains • Grants or restricts access

11. User Domain 1 Domain 2 DC Resource 2 Resource 1 Domain 3 WORK DATABASE Resource 3 Access Figure

12. SERVERS PDC BDC DOMAIN 1 DOMAIN 2 DOMAIN 3 SQL USER POOL USER POOL USER POOL MAIL RESOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES TEST LOTUS USERS PRIOR TO VALIDATION DOMAIN SETTINGS EXTERNAL SERVER Connections Between Servers and Domains

13. Benefits • Adheres to accepted IS concepts of Automation, Security, and Compliance • Automated • Test server for testing new updates without affecting the “real” structure • Strict Security – Access is based on employee job description • More Security - Only those that implemented the system are allowed to change it • System monitors

14. Drawbacks • Dated • Some upgrades must still be done manually • Only prominent problems will trigger the system monitors • Uses a RAID 1 system, versus the currently more popular RAID 5 • Based on the Windows 9x architecture and thus inherits every flaw and instability problem and so has a weak foundation

15. Overall Impression • Despite problems, the IS department is never overworked • Most problems encountered are minor • Even though the foundation may be weak, it was the best at the moment of implementation • Still manages to meet the IS goals of Compliance, Security, and Automation • Overall Grade: A

16. All graphics were used without the expressed permission of the author(s).