Question

Please find these answers from this book (Management information system) twelfth edition part (IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies)

CASE STUDY QUESTIONS

1. How does Salesforce.com use cloud computing?
2. What are some of the challenges facing Salesforce
as it continues its growth? How well will it be able
to meet those challenges?
3. What kinds of businesses could benefit from
switching to Salesforce and why?
4. What factors would you take into account in deciding
whether to use Saleforce.com for your business?
5. Could a company run its entire business using
Salesforce.com, Force.com, and App Exchange?
Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

1)

According to the case study, “In order to grow its revenues, Salesforce.com is changing its focusfrom selling a suite of software applications to providing a broader cloud computing “platform”on which many software companies deliver applications.” We understand that cloud computing isa platform that revolutionize all fundamental areas of IT from security and investment ininfrastructure to application development. There is no hardware for subscribers to purchase, scale, and maintain. There are no operatingsystems, database servers, or application servers to install, no consultants and staff. With cloudcomputing, we eliminate those headaches because we’re not managing hardware and software—that’s the responsibility of an experienced vendor like salesforce.com. With a cloud app, we justopen a browser, log in, customize the app, and start using it. We also learn that other advantagesof cloud computing: lower capital expenditures, lower barriers to entry, users can easily scaledown or up, and so on. Salesforce.com uses cloud computing by providing customer relationship management (CRM)and other application software solutions in the form of software as a service leased over theInternet, as opposed to software bought and installed on machines locally

2)

There are several challenges that face Salesforce.com. One problem is the increasing presence of major industry competitors such as SAP and Microsoft. Another challenge facing Salesforce.com is it’s limited product line. Salesforce.com needs to expand its business models into other areas. Salesforce.com recently went into a partnership with Google to counteract Microsoft’s entry into the cloud computing market. To counteract the challenge of widening its business operations, Salesforce.com should release applications or software to download for subscribing that deal in areas outside the cloud computing industry.

3)

Many e-business would benefit from implementing Salesforce.com. This implementation would streamline day-to-day activities and make computing and problem solving simpler for employees and customers alike. Large corporations would benefit from Salesforce.com as well. This would make working with employees across international borders easier.