Caitlyn McFadden
MIS 220
Case Study Questions
Q1:
According to “Salesforce.com: Software-as-a-service Goes Mainstream,” there are many advantages and disadvantages of the software-as-a-service model. First, are the advantages.
The software-as-a-service model is leased over the internet instead of being bought and installed on machines locally and the subscriptions start as low as nine dollars per month. There is no maintenance needed, no operating systems, database servers to install, no consultants and staff, and no expensive fees. This system is often updated by salesforce.com, it can be customized to fit your needs, and most importantly it is very easy to operate (Laudon, 2006).
Although there are many advantages of this system, the disadvantages cannot be overlooked. To use this software, you must pay a monthly fee, instead of just an upfront cost.
Most people do not like making payments each and every month, it is a lot more convenient if you only have to pay one upfront cost for a service. What I found as the biggest disadvantage that would make users reconsider using this service is that this is a cloud computing system; therefore, the service is not guaranteed to be fully protected and secure. Although this system updates and fixes its own problem, many users do not want this. If something goes wrong , the user does not have direct access to fixing this, they must wait for the software to fix itself while risking many problems if they cannot be fixed right away (Gunster Media, 2011).
Q2:
As Salesforce is continuing its growth, there are many challenges that they are facing.
First of all, its competitors are starting to replicate their success and build their own new and approved models. Other companies are already well-known by customers, so this means that they will more than likely stick with a company that they have previously worked with. Also, other companies will offer lower prices than salesforce, so
Cited: Gunster Media. "Cloud Computing: Advantages and Disadvantages." Board Room Brief. 2011. Web. 17 Oct 2011. . Laudon, Kenneth, and Jane Laudon. Management Information Systems. 11. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2006. 192-3. Print. Salesforce Inc. "Salesforce." 2011. Web. 17 Oct 2011. .