Week 9

According to Shelly, Cashman and Rosenblatt (2003) System changeover is the process of putting the new information system online and retiring the old system. It can be rapid or slow depending on the method.
the following are the four potential methods for changing over from one information system to another:-

Direct cutover - this approach causes the changeover from old system to the new system to occur immediately when the new system become operational. It is least expensive but it can operate and maintain only by the IT group people. This system involves more risks and if you transfer to new system cannot revert the old system as a backup option. Most of organizations uses direct cutover because the systems is developed in-house and use this process is suitable in non-critical situations.

Parallel – In this changeover method both new system and old system operated simultaneously. The input is given in new system and the output generated is compared with old system and it is compared with older one and when it is satisfied the old system will be terminated.

Pilot – In this changeover method the new system is used in one part of the organisation as a trial and the old system run on the remaining part of the organisation. Pilot operation is combination of both parallel and direct cut over method. It is the group uses the new system. This system is less expensive when compared to parallel operation and restricting the implementation of pilot approach reduces the risk of system failure.

Phased – In this approach, the operation of implementing the new system is divided into stages or modules. One advantage of phase operation is that the risk of errors or failures is limited to implemented module only and it is less expensive. The phased operation considers one system at a particular time and main disadvantages of this system is giving a part of system to all users.

The following discussion is in relation to the introduction of a technology-based system into New Academic Misconduct Management System.

Direct cutover
If we use this type of system changeover method for AMMS there may be benefits like less time of work, reducing the employees so that it will also benefit to organization by appointing the new staff, which are having knowledge of new system or give the training to old staff. But from my point of view , this system will not fit to CQU because the AMMS involves seven processes which are
1. Raising incident
2. Recording the incident
3. Assigning the offence level
4. Deciding on the penalty
5. Apply the penalty
6. Handling appeals
7. Generating the reports

and it is compulsory to have backup option to compare the report with other term student. Also When this method is implied in Cqu for adopting new technology the failure level is high. Since Cqu is a huge organization if there is any failure in the newly implied system then Cqu may face lot of problems because of work stagnation. If direct cut-over method works properly then will be the best method which can be used because it is the cheapest when compare to other methods.

Parallel
CQU has seven processes and work should verify every level, which means the system is functioning parallel to it, this system is time consuming and should have more trained staff for parallel systems like old and new system. CQU can replace the old system by using this method. In this method the work will be done in both technologies so the risk level is considerably low. In case if there is any problem or issue arises in new technology the work will not get hold in a particular section, it can be completed by using old technology. It can be quickly returned to old system if there is any problem. The staffs involved can learn to use the new technology without any difficulty. Risk can be reduced by introducing the new technology parallel to the older one.

Pilot
This method of system will not be appropriate for CQU because in this methodology the new system will be installed in some of the departments of the organization. If it is installed then some department of Cqu will be computerized and other will be manual. So it will be difficult to complete a job efficiently.

Phased
A disadvantage of this method can be seen in that the change over of stages may not map directly or easily from one system to another. An example of this would be the assigning of a level to a case where in the original system it would be done by a plagiarism officer where in the new system it could be done automatically through searching of student records. One disadvantage of this method for CQU is it is hard to connect one new module to others old system parts and processes. It will increase staff workload because even one process can be done automatically however others are still done manually so staff need to copy data from new system then continue next process or input data into new system to make sure it can be processed using new modules. This might not be suit for CQU system because it involves seven processes and it is inter linked with each process levels. Even AMMS system is a centralised system and cannot be divided in to modules.