Collaborate with students on the following exercise. In particular, consider using Google Docs, Windows Live SkyDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, or some other collaboration tool.
Suppose that you and a team of fellow students are interns working for Laura. She has asked you to gather information on Fox Lake's computing infrastructure and to write a one-page memo to Jeff outlining what he should be doing to manage IS at Fox Lake.
1. Reread the chapter introductions regarding Fox Lake in Chapters 7 through 11. List and briefly describe the information systems that are being used at Fox Lake. Although we have not considered accounting systems, add them to your list.
2. Describe the Fox Lake computing infrastructure. Assume that Fox Lake servers are located in the facilities building and that Fox Lake operates a local area network among its buildings and facilities. Portions of the network are wired and others are wireless. Assume that the network is supported by a third party.
Use your knowledge of business to list other computing equipment that Fox Lake must have. 3. With the exception of the new facilities scheduling system that will be operated in the cloud, assume that Fox Lake's data are stored on servers in the facilities building. List major categories of data that must exist to support the golf, tennis, restaurant, pro shop, and wedding activities.
4. Using the answers you provided to questions 1-3, summarize the major activities for Fox Lake for each of the four responsibility categories in Figure.
5. Describe why Mike has a conflict of interest in the management of IS at Fox Lake (see the chapter introduction). Assuming that Jeff wants to continue to have Mike manage the IS facilities and resources, how can he reduce the impact of this conflict?
6. Given your answers to questions 1-6, write a onepage memo to Jeff explaining how he should be involved in management of the IS department.
7. Generalize the memo in your answer to question 6 to describe the responsibilities for IS management for owners of small businesses of any type. Write this memo in such a way that you might use it in a job interview with the owner of a small business.