IT Solutions Report for Coach Inc.: Telecom and Network Issues
This report examines the information technology and telecommunications challenges facing Coach, Inc. as the company expands into international markets. It identifies core problems including system incompatibility, outdated wireless networks, and fragmented IT infrastructure caused by ad hoc modifications over several years. The report proposes solutions such as Business Analytics Software, cloud computing, and high-speed broadband integration. It also presents a structured questionnaire framework for assessing IT policy, development, training, and communication. Additional sections evaluate criteria for justifying IT investment using cost-benefit and ROI analysis, recommend specific vendors for operations, sales, payroll, and HR functions, and discuss the risks and trade-offs of outsourcing Coach Inc.'s IT department.
- Introduction: Overview of Coach Inc. IT challenges and report scope
- IT Issues and Solutions: Telecom, wireless, and network problems with proposed solutions
- Information Gathering Methodology: Questionnaire framework for IT policy assessment
- Evaluating IT Investment, Vendors, and Outsourcing: ROI criteria, vendor recommendations, and outsourcing risks
- Conclusion: Summary of findings and recommendations
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What makes this paper effective
- The report moves logically from problem identification to solution recommendation to implementation framework, giving it a coherent consulting-report structure that mirrors real-world IT advisory documents.
- It balances technical specificity — naming vendors such as ADP, SAS, Harris Kern, and Zenoss — with broader strategic analysis, demonstrating awareness of both operational and competitive dimensions of IT investment.
- The use of a structured questionnaire methodology in Part II grounds the report in a systematic, policy-driven approach rather than relying solely on product recommendations.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The report demonstrates applied cost-benefit analysis as a decision-making framework for IT investment. By distinguishing between tangible operational benefits (cost reduction, efficiency) and intangible strategic benefits (customer flexibility, competitive positioning), the paper shows how qualitative and quantitative factors must both be weighed — a core technique in technology management and business case writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper is organized into three substantive parts preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion. Part I diagnoses IT problems and proposes solutions. Part II presents a methodology (questionnaire-based) for gathering information to guide policy reform. Part III addresses investment justification, vendor selection, and outsourcing concerns. This three-part division mirrors a standard consulting engagement structure: assess, plan, and execute.
Introduction
Coach, Inc. prides itself on establishing one of the world's most recognizable brands. Through its high-end products, Coach, Inc. has captured an elite section of the market and has grown in both size and reputation since its founding in Manhattan. With this growth comes expansion into international market spaces, and the need to coordinate across borders without flaws has become a paramount priority (Olbeter, 2004). In order to ensure this process is as effective and efficient as possible, it is imperative that the appropriate telecommunication systems are in place.
All businesses experience some level of "growing pains," and Coach, Inc. is no different. In its quest to become the largest high-end retailer in the world, Coach, Inc. has been forced to contend with parts of a telecommunication system that are outdated, outmoded, and at times unreliable. Numerous individuals have experienced losses of vital data, a lack of communication within virtual groups, and difficulty sharing information across departmental boundaries. Over the past several years, the systems have been modified in an ad hoc manner; however, this has only served to increase the level of incompatibility within the overall organization. Many of the sub-systems are unable to effectively communicate with one another because the underlying platforms differ in their core architectures.
The purpose of this report is to identify the main telecommunication issues currently plaguing Coach, Inc. These problems span the categories of telecommunications, wireless network integration, and IT network performance. Furthermore, this report will identify several critical solutions that can be implemented to resolve the majority of these problems. It will also include a proposed information-gathering framework responsible for ascertaining all relevant information pertinent to all telecommunication systems, as well as identifying the potential shortcomings of this methodology and how they can be overcome. Finally, this report will identify and evaluate criteria for justifying IT investment within Coach, Inc., identify potential outside vendors, and address concerns the company would have with outsourcing its IT operations.
References
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N.A. (2009). Inside the debate over outsourcing information technology service jobs overseas. Retrieved from http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/03/1017/art1.html
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