Alcan Case Study Alcan comes second in the production of aluminum which is a primary resource. It is a corporation that is leading in terms of technology and is the highest manufacturer of aluminum products and also the best distributor. The organization is one of the largest organizations in business, with more than 80,000 employees worldwide in more than 50 countries in different regions. The company is a multicultural, dynamic and multi-lingual in nature hence serving people of diverse origins. The headquarters of Alcan Corporation is located in Canada (Montreal) and is traded in many stock exchanges in different cities including London, New York and Paris. The company has been known with different names ever since its conceptualization in 1902, when it was known as Northern Aluminum Company.

In 1925, the name of the company changed to Aluminum Company of Canada, and later changed to Alcan Aluminum Limited in 1966. In 2001 it was known as Alcan Inc. And is currently retaining the name regardless of merging with Rio Tinto in 2007. However great the company sounds, there have been a couple of hiccups in the operations of the Company's Applications Management. The problems directly affect the IT department. The most common and noted issues include lack of personnel in the department, with a vacancy in position of director in the department of IT missing for over a year. There has also been an intention to cut on costs which has always hindered the corporate projects for decades. The company has also given provision for a vice president in the IT department who has lead to many reforms. His name is Robert Ouelette.

The current Alcan Application Management

Though the company currently adheres to the entire lifecycle of applications; indication of requirements, designing the application, building it then deploying it afterwards. The company ensures good operational strategies for its application although the processes of optimization. The procedures mentioned above are the prescribed measures for efficient management of applications (Office of Government Commerce, 2002). The Alcan Company currently practices a good culture, which focuses on the organization's commitment to produce good performance. Performance is inclusive of both services and production of consumable goods....

A culture of any company, regardless of whether it is commercial in nature, or result-oriented, need so adopt a culture and ensure it assists in reaching its core objectives through the right communication styles. Being an IT centered company, the culture of the Alcan Company is actually in line with its business objectives, which include satisfying clients and ensuring employees are motivated, both using cash and non-cash rewards.
Alcan Corporation has been working towards the realization of its strategies. One of the strategies that the company is currently undertaking is insourcing, where employees are allocated different tasks and generally utilizing internal resources. The employees are allocated different tasks, including delivering an application system, revise the applications when need arises and also assist in the control of data centre operations. The company also outsources which is basically borrowing resources from the external world. This allows for a formal arrangement where part of an application development could be actualized by people who are not employed by Alcan. Outsourcing is an example of the advantages the company. Outsourced personnel are also called in for maintenance, supporting and operating different applications.

Alcan Corporation also involves its business in co-sourcing, which is a combination of both outsourcing and insourcing. In most instances, other external firms are involved in the development of applications for Alcan. Some companies dwell and act in the very premises of Alcan Company and assist mainly in operations and maintenance of applications. The company has also indulged in several partnerships, with the latest being in 2007. Essentially, companies come into partnerships so as to co-develop and operate applications. Partnerships have the advantages of leverage on critical expertise and opens up better market opportunities. Just like partnerships, Alcan has also practiced the aspect of merging and acquisition that happens when a company acquires another either by cash or equity (stocks). The pros and cons of these application management strategies will be discussed in the proceeding paragraphs (Office of Government Commerce, 2002).

The main advantages of the current system of application management are the capabilities of the…