Zara

Part 3: Immediate Issues

The Zara IT department is unsure whether or not they should update to a more up to date POS system. They do not want to lose the stability that they have in current POS system as well as the ease of set up but they may not have a choice. Lately store employees have been asking for added functionality in the system like the ability to look up inventory at other stores. Also if the hardware vendor for the terminals upgrades their machines or a peripheral they may no longer be DOS compatible and may not have another supplier for terminals.

Part 4: Systemic Issues

POS terminals:

Nature: Strategic Timing: Short and Long Term

All of the POS terminals are currently made to run a DOS based POS system if the supplier were to change the terminals in anyway they might no longer be DOS compatible. If this were to happen Zara would not be able to find terminals anywhere else. If this were to happen Zara might not be able to get the terminals necessary to open new stores as well as replace defective terminals.

POS system:

Nature: Strategic Timing:Long Term

The store employees have been asking for a system that has more functionality.

Management reaction:

Nature: Strategic Timing: Short and Long Term

The way the system is viewed by Zara’s IT management – they don’t see their IT system as a tool that will make the business more efficient, they see it as a tool to sustain what they have.

Business Strategy is not aligned with IT strategy:

Nature: Strategic Timing: Short and Long Term

Zara’s business vision of rapid and long term growth is not aligned with their IT business strategy. Inditek is growing and constantly, expanding and getting more complex as an organization. The IT system is slow, out dated and unable to provide any added value besides being able to execute simple tactical...