Prioritization and optimization of software deployment: rationale for large scale software upgrade to enhance performance and deployment methodologies to minimize time to completion, and the effects of managerial and political interference in information technology strategic decisions

Abstract

As technology continues to advance, companies are forced to keep up with these changes or lose their competitive advantage. However, there are significant costs also associated with the implementation or acquisition and installation of that technology. In order to make the most efficient use of the resources to gain the most benefit from that technology, it is important that these implementations are done in a cost effective manner. Many factors contribute to the cost of implementing or upgrading to new technology. Some of these are fixed costs, or have very little flexibility. Many are necessary in order to complete the project, no matter what other choices are made. Some choices, however, have a significant impact on the cost of implementation without providing any additional efficiency for that cost. Decisions regarding the methods and mode of software deployment are one group with such an impact. Poor decisions, frequently made by managers with no Information Technology (IT) experience, can significantly raise the cost of a deployment project. This study looks at the impact of allowing political prioritization to take precedence over IT based decisions. When these decision strategies were compared within a division of the University of Wisconsin – Stout, significant variations were discovered. This scenario led to a 38% cost overrun between the models, and 2 weeks of additional time to complete the project with no benefit to the division as a result.