Bead Bar Network Paper

In the world as it is today, not a day goes by that a computer or personal digital assistant, doesn’t get turned on and is used to simplify life in an otherwise mundane paper based system, both in business and personal life. Most individuals and organizations will require specific IT needs. This systems development project will focus on the internal make-up of the Bead Bar a business that has contracted BRJ Consulting to aid in determining their information technology requirements.

The Bead Bar is a company that enables its customers to create their own jewelry by using tools such as wire, beads, and string. Currently, the company is composed of three divisions: studios, of which there are six, franchises, of which there are five, and Bead Bars on Board, consisting of three. The role of the Bead Bar studio is to oversea the six Bead Bar studios that are situated in the headquarters in New Canaan, Connecticut, New York City, which has two, Washington, D.C., and Long Island, Boston. The franchise division has the duty of selling beading materials to stores that wish to open their own studio location. The franchise locations are situated in Miami, Kansas City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Bead Bar on Board is a transportable Bead Bar designed particularly for cruise ships. The company is composed of 15 full-time employees and 20 part-time employees The Bead Bar has outgrown its paper-based system and is in need of an upgrade in today's technology; the poor efficiency of the Bead Bar's present system limits potential growth opportunities in today's global business market. (Malaga, 2005)

The systems that make up information technology are all for globalization and solve most of the tribulations common with paper-based systems including lost orders, invoicing errors, and order completion delays. The Bead Bar's information technology needs include the sharing of information between locations, data confidentiality and security, and the initialization of business website. To ensure that internal and external communications are effective, it is vital that the Bead Bar obtains a strong networking system.

As per the recommendations of BRJ Consulting, the Bead Bar has made the following purchases: fifteen (15) desktop computers, two (2) notebook computers, and one (1) handheld computer. (Malaga, 2005) With the constant processing of orders and the various benefits offered to the accounting professionals, computers are indispensable to the day by day operations of a growing corporation such as the Bead Bar.

All of the company's personal computers run on the Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system, and due to the Bead Bar's multiple locations, the Oracle 9i Database, an enterprise database specifically intended to manage the distributed data necessary for the Bead Bar's organizational needs, was determined to be the best choice to meet the Bead Bar's current and future needs. However, a network and telecommunication system is required to route all the Bead Bar’s computers within the distributed database. In order to enable the database to operate at its full capacity, the database must be configured properly through a network.(Malaga, 2005)

The executives of the Bead Bar described the features each was most concerned or interested in. The President and Owner, Meredith, expressed her concerns about the unpleasant appearance of a wired network. The Studios VP, Suzanne, wishes the studios to be interconnected with each other and headquarters. The Franchises VP, Leda, would like an uncomplicated way to send and receive designs. The Bead Bar on Board VP, Mitch, requires the ability to have access to the corporate office from virtually anywhere. The Chief Financial Officer, Julia, would like a more rapid manner of receiving financial data but is concerned about the cost involved in connecting all the sites via a network. The Marketing and Sales VP, Miriam, would be grateful for the ability to electronically receive sales data and send marketing material. The Operations and Purchasing VP, Rachel, expressed interest in the capability of a network to diminish paperwork and accelerate the process of filling orders. And lastly the, Human Resources Director, Jim, would like to be able to send and receive employee forms electronically. (Malaga, 2005)

At first glance, it may seem to be impossible to meet all of these needs and still maintain the financially viable means necessary of a fledgling business; however, an exploration of the Bead Bar's telecommunication system requirements and desires that are outlined in detail below with show that while much of the information technology needed is not the lowest cost alternative available, the selections chosen are the lowest cost while still meeting the Bead Bar's needs now with very little upgrading required as the Bead Bar continues to grow.

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