Project Preliminary Description

In this project proposal, primary activity is identified to create an overall IT infrastructure for AusEd. Existing IT infrastructure as well as the internal network is not segmented into three different departments. Furthermore, the network is not well organized for users to accept MYOB accounting software and SugarCRM (Customer relationship management system). Moreover, AusEd requires incorporating reliability in student assessment and providing educational services to poor or unstable internet connection-prone areas.

Purpose and Scope of the Problem Space as well as Business Context 

Business context for AusEd includes major activities such as providing online education service for worldwide students generally in Australia, PNG and South Pacific islands. AusEd moreover, provides programs for information technology. The organization comprises of executive and operational management, sales and marketing, teaching staffs, and special study centers. The purpose and scope of the business context for AusEd states following:

Purpose: To provide online education, distance learning and special study for worldwide students

Scope: To provide reliability in IT infrastructure for student assessments and to increase income along with support staffs

The system scope is identified as in following aspects such as:

1. To provide in-depth IT infrastructure for overall activities in AusEd
2. To develop reliability in services and expand them for reaching worldwide students

System assumptions are considered to be listed as following:

1. The system should be developed showing network architecture only
2. Staffs should be well-trained for handling the newly developed system
3. The system should be tested from AusEd organization

System design is prepared in this case study for AusEd organization, with individual department wise network diagram preparation. Individual departments as Sales, Course Delivery, and Operations division are designed so that individual network diagram can be discussed. Moreover, combining each departments, entire network diagram is prepared as well.

 

Figure 1: Department Network Diagram

(Source: Created by author)

 Individual department such as Sales, Course Delivery, and Operations division uses common devices such as personal computers, printers, wireless access points, laptop, and switches. Combining each department wise designs; entire network diagram is prepared for AusEd organization. The complete network diagram is shown as underneath:

 

Figure 2: Complete Network Diagram

(Source: Created by author)  

Necessary devices in this organization are included for AusEd and their three individual departments. The devices are shown in below table.

Architectures	Departments	Devices
In-house	Sales division	Server, switches (modem), router, Wi-Fi device, personal computers, printers
	Course Delivery division	Switches, router, Wi-Fi device, personal computers, printers
	Operations division	Switches, router, Wi-Fi device, personal computers, printers
Email server	All departments	Outlook web access, exchange server, mobile access browsers, IMAP clients, outlook MAPI

Table 3: List of Hardware and Software in Architectures

(Source: Created by author)   

Cost analysis is prepared considering estimation of tangible one-time and recurring costs. Moreover, the benefits are considered for the break-even and payback analysis. In first table, the costs and benefits are listed with tangible one-time and recurring costs. Furthermore, the break-even analysis is conducted taking the costs and benefits. Moreover, the payback period is estimated.

Purpose and Scope of the Problem Space as well as Business Context

Tangible Benefits
Category	In $US
Reduction of System Expenses	$            150,000.00
Reduction of Stakeholder Wages	$            120,000.00
Effective service benefits	$              10,000.00
Other benefits	$              30,000.00
Total Tangible Benefits	$            310,000.00
Tangible One-Time Costs
Category	In $US
Development Cost	$              65,000.00
Device Cost	$              25,000.00
Transportation Cost	$                3,000.00
Stakeholder wages	$                7,500.00
Equipment Cost	$                2,500.00
Other Cost	$                8,200.00
Total Tangible One-Time Costs	$            111,200.00
Tangible Recurring Costs
Category	In $US
Maintenance Cost	$              35,000.00
Software Upgrade Cost	$                7,500.00
New Equipment Installation Cost	$                1,890.00
Total Tangible Recurring Costs	$              44,390.00

Table 4: Costs and Benefits Identified

(Source: Created by author)

Break Even Analysis (AusEd)
One-time and Recurring Costs	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Development Cost	$         65,000	$           –	$           –	$           –	$           –
Device Cost	$         25,000	$           –	$           –	$           –	$           –
Transportation Cost	$           3,000	$           –	$           –	$           –	$           –
Stakeholder wages	$           7,500	$           –	$           –	$           –	$           –
Equipment Cost	$           2,500	$           –	$           –	$           –	$           –
Other Cost	$           8,200	$     15,000	$     20,000	$     30,000	$     40,000
Maintenance Cost	$         35,000	$     35,000	$     35,000	$     35,000	$     35,000
Software Upgrade Cost	$           7,500	$      7,500	$      7,500	$      7,500	$      7,500
New Equipment Installation Cost	$           1,890	$      1,890	$      1,890	$      1,890	$      1,890
Total Costs	$        155,590	$     59,390	$     64,390	$     74,390	$     84,390
Benefits and Advantages	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Reduction of System Expenses	$        150,000	$   150,750	$   151,504	$   152,261	$   153,023
Reduction of Stakeholder Wages	$        120,000	$   120,600	$   121,203	$   121,809	$   122,418
Effective service benefits	$         10,000	$     10,050	$     10,100	$     10,151	$     10,202
Other benefits	$         30,000	$     30,150	$     30,301	$     30,452	$     30,605
Total Recurring Costs	$         44,390	$   311,550	$   313,108	$   314,673	$   316,247

Table 5: Break-even Analysis

(Source: Created by author)

 

Figure 3: Break-even chart

(Source: Created by author)

Payback Analysis (AusEd)
Benefits of option	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Reduction of System Expenses	$   150,000	$   150,000	$   150,000	$     150,000	$     150,000
Reduction of Stakeholder Wages	$   120,000	$   120,000	$   120,000	$     120,000	$     120,000
Effective service benefits	$     10,000	$    10,000	$     10,000	$      10,000	$      10,000
Other benefits	$     30,000	$    30,000	$     30,000	$      30,000	$      30,000
Total Benefits	$   310,000	$   310,000	$   310,000	$     310,000	$     310,000
Costs of option	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Maintenance Cost	$     35,000	$    35,000	$     35,000	$      35,000	$      35,000
Software Upgrade Cost	$       7,500	$      7,500	$      7,500	$        7,500	$        7,500
New Equipment Installation Cost	$       1,890	$      1,890	$      1,890	$        1,890	$        1,890
Total Costs	$     44,390	$    44,390	$     44,390	$      44,390	$      44,390
Net benefits/costs	$   265,610	$   265,610	$   265,610	$     265,610	$     265,610
Cumulative benefits/costs	$   265,610	$   531,220	$   796,830	$  1,062,440	$  1,328,050
Break Even Period	2.31 Years

Table 7: Estimation of Payback Period

(Source: Created by author)

 

Figure 84 Payback chart

(Source: Created by author)  

In this project, sustainable goal identification is relevant for extending education services to poor and unstable internet connection-prone areas. Currently, AusEd provides only online and distant learning programs. To achieve sustainable objectives in this project, sustainable objectives are included as following:

1. To build study centers for areas where unstable internet connections and poor online access is evitable
2. To distribute study materials from those study centers to poor students
3. To provide in-house guidance from teaching staff reaching location of students

To achieve the sustainable goals, the organization should develop zone wise study programs directed by in-house teaching staffs. These objectives can be achieved with developing state wise development programs. State wise development programs will consider the zones where in-house teaching service is to be provided. Moreover, more teaching staffs need to be hired for in-house teaching programs.      

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