1.

ANSWER:
The information technology (IT) infrastructure consists of hardware, software networks and
services that are needed for an organization to function. An IT infrastructure is built up according
to the business needs of an organization, and the type and kind of technology available. Many
technologies today are driven by hype about their capabilities that managers have to be aware of.

The hardware consists of computers of different kinds and the devices that are attached to them
that are known as the peripherals. The software consists of systems software that is used to run
the hardware, and application software that is used to run the applications needed by the
organization. The networks consist of devices that connect the different computers of the
organization, and also connect the organization to the Internet.

When Farokh Motorwala thinks about their IT infrastructure, he knew it is an important part of
their success. When it’s not operating optimally, business suffers, users get frustrated and
customers have a bad experience. Alignment between these two critical entities ensures that your
business is ready for what’s next. In the same way that aligning your tires on your car ensures a
proper road contact, smooth ride, and maximum tire life, aligning your business strategy and
your IT infrastructure prevents unexpected events and provides your business with a smooth ride
well into the future. Your information technology (IT) systems should effortlessly support your
overall business goals and objectives. This alignment, however, is not always easy to achieve.
Many businesses find that their IT systems are either too expensive to maintain, too cumbersome
to use efficiently, or simply do not provide added business value. When the IT folks know your
business goals, the timing, and how you will define success, they can ensure that you have the IT
infrastructure you need to get you there.

When it comes to aligning IT and business strategy, you don’t want to pay for more than you
need, but you also want to be prepared for what’s coming down the road. Synchronization with
the folks who understand your IT infrastructure will ensure that your business has what it needs
in place before you need it. Alignment ensures smooth transitions to new technologies, up-to-
date cyber security solutions, and optimal customer/user interface.
Following are business needs to be considered by Farokh while implementing infrastructure
alignments

1. Identifying the complete set of needs for which support is needed Technology choices
have to be based on what specific business needs are being met and will be met in future.
What are the specific business needs that the new IT infrastructure should address.
2. How can the new IT infrastructure be aligned with the corporate strategy.
3. How does the technology help the organization compete? For commercial firms, the
infrastructure choices have to reflect their competitive needs. Therefore, they have to
answer this question at the initiation of the technology acquisition process and, later, at
the us stage of the acquired technology. Answers to this question often lead to insights on
whether an application or service is needed or not. For non- commercial firms too, this
question has relevance as it points to how the other organisations working in the same
domain are coping with and addressing their infrastructure needs.
4. Is the technology appropriate for the task? This question highlights the issue of
considering alternative technologies for addressing the needs of the organisation. A
technology is considered appropriate for a task when it exactly meets the needs of the
task. Inappropriate technologies are either excessive in scope or they have inheren
shortcomings that do not meet the needs of the task in question.

Following are IT infrastructure questions to be considered with regard to technology issues:

 Is the technology interoperable? In an IT infrastructure, the components have to be able

to work with each other. They should have built-in capabilities to allow them to work
with different data standards, different file formats, different communication standards
and so on. Interoperable technologies are the most suitable for complex infrastructures,
however, such capabilities also introduce inefficiencies, so the choice has to balance
these countervailing tendencies.

 What is the technology road map? Many technologies are marketed by firms that have
rights over their development. Before acquiring any technology it is worthwhile
enquiring how the firm intends to develop and grow it, which is known as the road map.
 If a technology is to be evolved in the future, then this enables the adopting organisation
to plan for upgrades and modifications. If the technology is to be terminated or its
development is uncertain, as it has lived out its useful life, then the adopting organisation
may choose not to invest in it.

 What is the renewal cycle? This question is related to the issue of the
technology road map, and refers to the innovation cycle of the technology. As the
technology is developed, it will have to be upgraded by the users, and this typically
follows a cycle. This cycle informs the users of the need for investments required for
updating the technology as well as the need to plan for the related changes that will be
required in the organisation.

 Is there vendor support? For many organisations that have to rely on vendors for
supporting their IT infrastructure, this is an important question. Sometimes a technology
can be purchased from dealers, but they are not able to provide support, for which a
separate vendor is required. Availability of support is often an important variable for
purchasing the technology.

 What will be the nature of the technology lock-in? Any technology acquisition is bound
to create a lock-in to the technology in terms of the data created, the formats used, the
familiarity with and the training invested into it. Organisations have to be consciously
aware of the lock-in being created and how much it will cost to switch to another
competing or superior technology

Laws of IT Infra which Farokh must keep in mind

 To support an organization's IT community during its design, development, release,

management, administration, and maintenance phases, IT infrastructure is made up of
several IT components, networking, programming, and typically human resources.
 IT infrastructure can be installed on-site at a company or on the cloud. A range of
components including hardware, programming, connecting elements, software, and
 information management, are often dispersed throughout the body to deliver IT products
and solutions in general.
 Businesses may yet encounter connectivity and performance problems, as well as
cybersecurity problems like system failures and covert infiltration, even with well-built
IT infrastructure

Achieving business-IT alignment can help improve business performance. It can also:

 boost efficiencies and profitability

 improve collaboration

 enhance customer experience

 improve supply chains

 achieve greater return on technology investments

 reduce the risks associated with business and technical change

2. ANSWER

The Chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking executive in a company. Broadly
speaking, a chief executive officer’s primary responsibilities include making major corporate
decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of a company, acting as the main point
of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. In many cases, the
chief executive officer serves as the public face of the company.
The role of BPCL’s CEO is majorly managerial in nature. Few of the responsibilities of CEO
were mentioned below:
 Monitor company performance. A CEO is ultimately responsible for the financial
performance of a company. A CEO may rely on financial or non-financial metrics to
track how things are going. They usually make reporting requests from their direct
 employees to get a quick sense of how each area in the company is performing and what
strategic maneuvers should be taken.
 Setting precedence for the working culture and environment. A CEO is responsible
for setting the tone at the top and creating the work environment they believe is best to
drive success. Employees working under a CEO often look to the executive to create and
maintain the culture of the organization
 Oversee the strategic direction of an organization. The CEO's first priority is to
ensure the profitability of the business. Lower-level managers are often more engaged in
the day-to-day operating activities of a company. A CEO usually synthesizes these
results and decides on the long-term plans of a company.
 Implement changes and proposed plans. After crafting the long-term vision, a CEO
usually looks to themselves and other executive leadership to begin implementing those
plans. Changes are often directly implemented by operational managers, but it is
ultimately up to the CEO to ensure the long-term plans are being followed through.
 The CEO must also ensure the satisfaction of the company's stockholders. To
accomplish this, the CEO must be able to communicate effectively with the board of
directors and shareholders. Additionally, the CEO must be able to make decisions that
boost the company's bottom line.
 Additionally, the CEO must be able to effectively communicate with the organization's
workforce. The chief executive officer must be able to motivate employees and ensure
that they are contributing to the organization's goals. Additionally, the CEO must be able
to make decisions that boost the company's bottom line.
 Setting and Executing Organizational Strategy
Decisions about new product lines, generating (and/or maintaining) competitive
advantages, potential new markets, and mitigating risks or seizing on opportunities
(among others) all fall under the purview of the CEO.As with anything in an
organization, they will rely on considerable data and input from senior leaders as well as
direction and insight from the Board of Directors, but the CEO is the individual that has
operational control over strategy and execution.
  If the price of oil begins to rise, the CEO will have to decide how to enhance production
in order to profit from the higher prices. If the price of oil begins to decrease, the CEO
will have to determine how to minimize spending to maintain the business successful.
 A CEO of an oil and gas company has various responsibilities. They must be
knowledgeable about the oil and gas industry, present market conditions, and the
geology of the locations where oil and gas are being explored. Additionally, they must
be able to manage day-to-day business operations and make quick choices.etc.

Data is a raw collection of facts. The word raw indicates that the facts have not been processed
in any way. When processed, data is called information. These are the key resources that have
to be managed in organizations. Data is collected and used in all major functions of an
organization, and the information resources thus created are used across the organization. Any
organization uses three types of information systems:

1. Those that are for individual users.

2. Those meant for people working in groups.

3. Those meant for the entire organization.

Information systems are collections of computers, networks, software and people who create,
store, modify, and distribute data and information in any organization. Computers and
information technology (IT) are key ingredients of modern information systems (IS).
Information systems are also viewed as transaction processing systems that enable the basic
processes of the organization, or as management information systems (MIS) that enable
managers to have a high-level comprehensive view of the processes and functions in the
organization. These systems help employees and managers make decisions. Decisions are either
for the short term, meant for immediate action, or for the medium term where the impacts of
decisions are felt over days or weeks, or for the long term where impacts are experienced over
weeks and months. Systems are designed specifically for all types of decision-making
situations.
Data gathered at the source is referred to as primary data. Primary data is the term used to
describe information that has not undergone any processing or manipulation and has been
gathered directly from first-hand sources like surveys, observations, and experimentation.
Information made up of accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. It is
comprised of interpretations and evaluations of primary information and it provides complete
data similar to that required for the product originally specified, There are two Kinds of data
qualitative and quantitative Qualitative Data represent some characteristics or attributes also
depict descriptions that may be observed but cannot be computed or calculated and more
exploratory than conclusive in nature. While Quantitative Data can be measured and not simply
observed, numerically represented and calculations can be performed on them.Types of data
processing are Manual Data Processing, Mechanical Data Processing and Electronic Data
Processing etc.

Further let’s understand about the primary IS & Supporting IS used in BPCL
To fully grasp how BPCL's primary IS works, you must first be familiar with what an ERP
system is. ERP stands for "enterprise resource planning" and is a set of practices used to manage
a company's resources. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is a computer programme
used by businesses for managing daily operations. The ERP system collects all of the company's
data and stores it in a central repository that is accessible by all authorised personnel. The ERP
system provides a unified data source accessible to all divisions in an effort to standardise and
streamline company processes.

The ERP system of BPCL is linked to several others, which helps the business run smoothly. The
ERP system is interconnected with other business applications such as a data warehouse, SCM,
and CRM. The ERP system feeds data to several auxiliary systems, streamlining operations for
BPCL.

The CRM system handles order management and maintains customer records. The enterprise
resource planning system (ERP) shares information with the customer relationship management
(CRM) system, which BPCL employs to keep track of its interactions with customers.
The SCM system is used to track supplier information and monitor the company's supply chain.
The SCM system receives information from the ERP system, which is connected to it. BPCL's
ability to manage its supply chain is enhanced by the SCM software. The data warehouse is the
central repository for all company information. The data warehouse receives information from
the ERP system through an established connection. BPCL is able to better manage and store its
data thanks to the data warehouse.
The Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) is the backbone of BPCL's information system
(IS). The ERP system is responsible for monitoring and controlling the company's inventory,
finances, and human resources. The ERP system of BPCL is linked to many other systems,
which greatly simplifies business processes.

The ERP system keeps tabs on inventory, finances, and HR information. The system monitors
the supply chain and maintains records on all suppliers in addition to handling customer orders.
BPCL's operations have been simplified thanks to the ERP system's integration with other
programs. The CRM system handles order management and maintains customer records. The
enterprise resource planning system (ERP) shares information with the customer relationship
management (CRM) system, which BPCL employs to keep track of its interactions with
customers.

3. ANSWER
‘Bring Your Own Device,’ more commonly known by its abbreviation, BYOD, is a trend about
companies allowing employees to bring their own devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and
tablets, to work to be used for work-related purposes. The BYOD trend is quite popular among
employees as it gives them a sense of freedom and flexibility that they may not have with
company-provided devices.

BYOD is the complete opposite of the traditional style where companies issue their employees
with work devices- referred to as ‘Here’s Your Own Device (HYOD).’ Now, with bring your
own device policies, employees can bring their own devices and use them for work purposes.
This trend has many benefits and some potential risks that should be considered before
implementing a BYOD policy in your workplace. .
Bring your own Device has three levels:
The permissive BYOD policy is the most lax of the three available alternatives. Employees
may use their own devices for work, but there are no established standards or policies. This can
be advantageous for employees, who can choose the gadget with which they are most
comfortable. However, given there are no precise guidelines regarding what devices can be
utilized and how they can be used, there are certain security hazards.

The enforced BYOD policy is the stricter alternative. There are certain norms and policies in
place mandating that employees utilize their own equipment for work. This can be advantageous
from a security standpoint, since the organization can enforce regulations governing which
devices can be utilized and how they can be used. However, it might be burdensome for
employees, as they may be obliged to purchase certain equipment or comply to particular
regulations.

The prohibitive BYOD policy is the most stringent option available. Employees are
prohibited from bringing their personal gadgets to work. This can be advantageous from a
security standpoint, as it prevents the prospect of employees utilizing their own devices to access
business information. However, it might be stressful for employees because they may be
expected to use unfamiliar company-provided equipment.

The Pros of BYOD

1) Decreased Costs

The alternative of BYOD in your workplace is providing devices for all your employees. That’s
not an insignificant cost, especially if you are a large company. You also have to take into
account that many of your employees may not be well versed in the type of devices you select.

Therefore, many will require training which adds another expense. Even after buying devices for
everyone and training those who need it, your employees still won’t be as effective on their work
phone as they would be on their personal device. There’s also an added expense for lost or
broken devices!
Ultimately, BYOD saves you money in a few crucial areas: telecommunications, hardware,
support, and training.

2)Speed and Power

As we just discussed, allowing BYOD into your workplace is a substantial cost-cutting measure.
It also allows workers to be more productive since they are attached to the hip with their phones
anyway. What’s more is that BYOD policies decrease costs and increase productivity in another
way you probably haven’t thought of yet: upgrades.

By allowing BYOD into your workplace, employees will use their personal devices for work
rather than corporate-issued phones. Naturally, people upgrade their phones far more regularly
than a business would. Therefore, you’ll have employees using faster and newer technology to
get things done. So the math works out to faster, more modern phones versus cheaper, slower
and older phones that you as an employer must purchase.

The Cons of BYOD

1. Lack Of Uniformity

Of course, weighing the pros and cons of BYOD isn’t all rose petals and sunshine. There are
downsides to allowing personal phones for work. One that can cause some headaches is the lack
of consistency. Obviously, not everyone will be utilizing the same type of devices. Some
workers may favor iPhones or Mac, while others may be PC or Android users.

If you’ve got a team of ten people and six are on Dells and four are on Macs, some operating
issues will likely crop up. It also may require people to learn two different operating procedures
and other complications that may breed animosity. Naturally, if everyone is on the same devices,
everything is cleaner. Directions, SOPs and information packets all work seamlessly without
disruption or hassle. Your IT department will certainly thank you if you require everyone on the
same devices. You may just have to pay for it.

2. Legal Issues

Of course, everyone’s favorite subject, potential litigation, was due to make an appearance on
this list. Naturally, sensitive or proprietary information stored on an employee’s personal phone
could cause serious potential harm. If that information falls into the wrong hands, who is to
blame? Understanding how quickly the BYOD legal waters can become very murky is
absolutely vital. The last thing you want is to end up in court in a three-way legal standoff
between a former employee, a client and yourself.

All data is not created equal. Some data comes with legal stipulations such as transfer or erasure
rules. Employees who do not understand the complications can quickly find themselves in
trouble, which in turn, can create problems for the company. There’s also the smaller but valid
problem of hourly workers and BYOD policies. Hourly workers in some states legally may be
able to claim compensation if they access data outside of their normal hours.

As we mentioned, understanding all the legal ramifications of BYOD is critical. A courtroom is

never a fun place to be unless you are Judge Judy. So, find the right people to help you
understand how the laws in your state may relate to BYOD.

Conclusion:

As you can see, there are both pros and cons to the BYOD policy. Therefore, it’s important to
weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the BYOD policy before implementing it in your
workplace. If you decide to implement a BYOD policy, be sure to have a solution to all of its
flaws. The number one consideration should be the security of the organization. If the company’s
work is varied and spread in many different sectors, BYOD would likely create too many
security issues that outweigh the potential boost in productivity. The ultimate goal is to boost
productivity without compromising security.

Examining your endpoint security and bifurcating sensitive information into secure data stores
with limited access, is conducive to BYOD policies. If employees can access the information
they need without jeopardizing the company, the downside to BYOD is limited. It all just
depends on the type of work involved and how your information system is set up.