Feasibility study on purchasing new smartphones for company, comparing three different brands, apple, samsung, and lg.

Feasibility StudyStudent Name
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Feasibility StudyAbstract
Conducting a feasibility study is essential towards the successful usage of monies within any organization. To this end, this report extenuates the mobile phone options incident on the company, Atlass Inc, resultant from the need to acquire new technology. As such, it comprises a comprehensive analysis of current market options in mobile phone technology with respect to the features, functionality, and the costs associated. Consequently, the feasibility study highlights the best course of action for the company in the wake of the need for change. Three main tech companies were evaluated in this feasibility study, Samsung, LG, and Apple with Each group portrayed divergent strong suites ad well as weaknesses. The costs of the mobile units were substantially different across the three platforms, which contributed to the evaluation of the best option. It was also important to consider the comparison of the two most suitable brands and subsequently ascertain the best recommendation for management.

Contents
TOC o “1-3” h z u Feasibility Study PAGEREF _Toc469113802 h 2Abstract PAGEREF _Toc469113803 h 2Executive Summary PAGEREF _Toc469113804 h 4Introduction PAGEREF _Toc469113805 h 4Schedule/Timeline for Implementation PAGEREF _Toc469113806 h 5Your Qualifications and Experience PAGEREF _Toc469113807 h 6Budget estimating the division of this fund PAGEREF _Toc469113808 h 6Research Methods PAGEREF _Toc469113809 h 7Results PAGEREF _Toc469113810 h 7Conclusions PAGEREF _Toc469113811 h 10Recommendation PAGEREF _Toc469113812 h 10References PAGEREF _Toc469113813 h 12Appendix A PAGEREF _Toc469113814 h 13Setup Costs PAGEREF _Toc469113815 h 13Labor Hours for Employees to Set Up Their New Phones PAGEREF _Toc469113816 h 13Appendix B PAGEREF _Toc469113817 h 14Left-Over Funds PAGEREF _Toc469113818 h 14Over-Budget Costs PAGEREF _Toc469113819 h 14
Executive Summary
For Atlass Inc, the advancements in technology could no longer be ignored.

The mobile phone units they had been using had long become obsolete and as such required replacement. Prior to this, however, it was necessary to conduct a feasibility study so as to ascertain the best alternative for the same. To this end, I, an IT employee for a little over five years, was selected by management, to undertake the study. The study would be an evaluation of the various mobile phone brands in the market, with three, in particular, gaining the most attention. Apple, LG, and Samsung comprised the brands that would take center stage. Though all the brands boasted mobile phone units which were particularly exceptional, other factors came into play such as specifications with regard to the work needs of the staff at the company, as well as the cost implications of the acquisition. This coupled with the efforts needed to train the employees on the workings of the phone, would constitute a holistic technological upgrade at Atlass Inc. This would consequently mean the optimization of the undertakings of the corporation. In this respect, the credibility, as well as pragmatism of the feasibility study, would be key towards the overall improvement of the company.
IntroductionCurrently, the global economic environment is characterized by a multitude of ever changing factors. These comprise of political, social, ethical, demographic and technological factors. Following this, it is paramount that a company be able to navigate and tackle said issues without compromising on its profit making capability (Gurak & Lay, 2002, 78). This is particularly owing to the fact that any change incident on a company will more often than not have monetary implications. One method of navigating such hurdles is through the use of a feasibility study. It comprises of an evaluation of the different possibilities which a company could employ when faced with a decision. A feasibility study is invaluable in the exploration of the potential of any alteration a company wishes to enact.
Technology has, in this day and age, become a significant factor within the business world. This can predominately be accrued to the ease with which it enables workers to complete their objectives. It is significant to understand that new technology, though more expensive, also constitutes faster-working speeds and overall better functionality. In this regard, it is imperative that any organization seeking to optimize its operational efficiency ought to consider upgrading its technological prowess. This is the case for Atlass regional which has sought to explore the implications of enhancement of their mobile phone technology sector. It became necessary essentially following the company’s current technology being outdated which consequently was becoming a negative factor towards the realization of profits within the fiscal entity. The subsequent feasibility study would have to address a multitude of aspects such as phone specifications and functionality, coupled with the costs that would be associated with the transition.
Schedule/Timeline for ImplementationOnce a decision arrived at regarding the brand of mobile phones to be procured, then it is efficient to consider a pragmatic timeline for the institutionalization of the same. This presents an optimal framework for the transition which will not only save on time but will also streamline the familiarization of the staff to the same. An efficient schedule for the implementation of the technology shift towards a more recent means will be scheduled as follows.
Week One: preliminary familiarization of the staff with the phones through such processes as presentations. This is valuable in the visual identification of the various features of the mobile phones which will enable the smooth transition into practical learning.
Week Two: this will constitute the practical portion of the training of the staff on the methods by which the new technology can be utilized in the achievement of workplace objectives. Week two will include the physical illustration of the mobile phones’ use and subsequently, the handing out of the units to the staff.
Your Qualifications and ExperienceHaving worked at Atlass Inc for more than five years now, I consider myself familiar enough with the company’s internal dynamics to accurately and adequately determine its technological needs. I am also well versed in technological know-how, having attained a diploma in Information Technology. I am updated with the latest innovations in the technology industry as I find technology to be fascinating. This being said I recognize the importance of technology, particularly that which is up to date, in the successful undertaking of business activities. It is also worth noting that having worked in various IT companies and departments, as well as Atlass’, I consider myself as possessing the requisite skills and knowledge to achieve a complete feasibility study effectively. As such, I am uniquely placed within the company to conduct a pragmatic and all inclusive feasibility study for the procurement of new mobile phones.
Budget estimating the division of this fundThe units to be procured by Atlass Inc, upon much deliberation between the three brands, Apple, Samsung and LG, was the LG G5. This is owing to the favorable specifications vs. cost ratio. The average price of the LG G5 at various retail stores was $650, which translates to $32500, which is $2500 below the allocated price. Procuring additional services for the functionality of the phone units, such as network coverage accounted for about $4500 in total for the 50 staff members. This accounted for such network services as the call time to be used by the employees as well as their data plans for the following month. Consequently, this resulted in an excess amount accounting to about $500. In total, the entire undertaking inclusive of the acquisition of the mobile handsets together with the attainment of coverage among other services requisite resulted in the saving of a cost accruing to $3000.
Research Methods
The main research methods utilized in the evaluation of the available mobile phones in the market include the undertaking of online surveys. To this end, the research comprised of the visiting of the selected brands’ websites, the consideration of the models on sale at the time, and their concurrent phone specifications. One key aspect of conducting research regarding the acquisition of mobile phones is the consideration of the user reviews of the products (Gurak & Lay, 2002, 21). This is essential as it provides one with first-hand information regarding the phone units which may not be disclosed by the company. The research also included visiting various websites which had conducted comparisons between the companies, Samsung, LG and Apple. In doing so, valuable information regarding the divergences or the similarities between the companies were easily identifiable. Following this, I also conducted a survey of the employees of Atlass Inc,
ResultsComparison of three smartphone manufacturers
A comparison was conducted of three specific smartphone users; namely, LG, Samsung, and Apple. Following this, it was concluded that though the three manufacturers were each adept at the production of quality phones, there were distinct differences in their mode of operation and indeed, in their final products. Apple was by far, the leading smartphone manufacturer. Their products reflected an emphasis on sleekness and beautiful design. Their iPhones also are run with the ios which is extremely user-friendly with a wide range of applications available for use by the consumers. Samsung was ranked second in the smartphone industry by a considerable number of technology review institutions. Samsung phones are characterized by large capacitative screens, long battery life, and high dependability. Their reputation has however taken a substantial hit upon their unveiling of their flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. This model has widespread reports of spontaneously combusting, which is detrimental towards the assurance of safety for their clientele. LG came up third in the ranking, having ventured into the smartphone industry following their success in the global appliance sector. Their mobile phones are durable, user-friendly, owing to the Android OS, and are also pocket-friendly.
Comparison of the smartphone features
Apple iPhone 6s $749
The phone boasts a 12-megapixel camera which takes high-resolution pictures. It also has an internal storage capacity of 128 GB, which is by far the highest available for most smartphones in the market today (Markel, 2014). The phone also comprises Random Access Memory amounting to 2 GB. This is sufficient enough that the phone will long experience lag especially when one is conducting multiple activities on it. The software that runs the iPhone 6s is the Ios 9 which is extremely fast and very user-friendly. The phone’s screen is 4.7’’ comprising of a resolution of 750 by 1334 pixels. All Apple phones have Apple processors which are increased progressively, the iPhone 6s comprising the A9 model. The iPhone 6s also includes a 4g connectivity aspect.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 $700
The phone boasts a 5.7 inch Super Amoled Screen, which is dual edged. This provides the user with enhanced usability owing to the maximized display size. The galaxy note 7 includes a quad-core processor, which encompasses eight processors functioning at 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz. The Random Access Memory of the phone stands at a staggering 4 GB, with the internal memory of the mobile handset being 64 GB. As such, any instance of system lag is extremely rare. The camera included in the phone unit enhances video and image capturing through its 12mp resolution. All of Samsung, mobile phone products, are run by the Android system, with the galaxy 6s being run by the 6.0.1 marshmallow interface. Android platform has also become synonymous with user friendliness. The phone also has 4g connectivity.
LG G5 $650
The phone comprises a 5.3-inch display, with HD resolution. It comprises a QUALCOMM Snapdragon processor model 850. The phone’s RAM stands at 4 GB, which is more than sufficient to run the various aspects of the phone without lag issues. The mobile unit was powered by the Android 6.0 operating system, marshmallow, which is considerably user-friendly. The phone also has an internal memory of about 32 GB which affords the user with enough space to store a substantial amount of data without the requirement of an SD card. It does, however, consist of an expansion slot for the latter if the user requires more space.
Recommended smartphones, Internet Access, Purchase and Budget
Accruing to the limited budget, it was necessary to consider the purchase of smartphones which are not costly, as this would result in the extended use of resources beyond what had been planned for. As such, having considered the three options for the purchase, it was evident that the LG G5 would be the best option for purchase, having an average retail price of $650. This, in turn, translated to an overall cost of about $32,500 which is well within the allocated budget. All the smartphones have access to the internet, either through the network provided access or through Wi-Fi. As such, 50 smartphones were ordered by the firm, from the online shopping platform, Amazon, which in turn, ensured the firm of one-day shipping. In this regard, the smartphones would be available at the earliest convenience of the company, so as to replace the current ones. Ordering the smartphones online will ensure that they are purchased without the need for a contract to be created or enforced.
ConclusionsIn conclusion, the feasibility study revealed that the LG G5 was the best alternative for the staff equipment upgrade. This owes to various factors such as its value vs. price ratio, the features such as having a high-resolution 8mega pixel camera, 32 GB of internal memory, 4 GB RAM, a QUALCOMM processor among other useful features (Markel, 2014, 43). The phone allows for 50 units to be purchased for the staff without having to exceed the budget. This presents an ideal scenario as the excess funds could be used for other functions such as the procurement of other services within the company. The conclusion regarding the acquisition of the LG units in place of the Samsung and Apple ones was based on considerations such as the unstable battery of the Samsung Galaxy Note seven series, and the high cost of the Apple iPhone 6s series. All the phones have a friendly user interface, and as such, the trainability of users towards the LG units should be substantially less timely and costly.
RecommendationThe main recommendation to be made following this is the acquisition of 50 units of the LG G5 mobile phones. Following the evaluation conducted in this feasibility study, the alternative brands exhibited significant inadequacies. For instance, the Samsung and Apple phones were extremely exorbitant in their pricing. The utilization of these units would have resulted in the over budgeting, which in turn leads to the reduction in the efficiencies of accounting within the company. The replacement of the units in future would also lead to the hemorrhaging of funds by the firm, which is extremely undesirable. LG products are extremely durable, portable as well as dependable. To this end, the decision to acquire the G5 units was conscious of all such factors, which would result in the enhancement of the workplace environment as well as the productivity of the workers.

ReferencesGurak, L. & Lay, M. (2002). Research in technical communication (1st ed.). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Markel, M. (2014). Technical Communication (11th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Appendix ASetup CostsThe setup costs for the mobile handsets accounted for about $500. The amount was acquired from the money left over from the purchase of the units from the initially allocated amount. This is particularly because there were already employees who were familiar with the user interface of the LG G5 mobile phones. As such, substantially reduced the amount of labor required to familiarize the employees with the mobile units.
Labor Hours for Employees to Set Up Their New PhonesThe labor hours required for the training of the employees on the use of the LG G5 units accrued to about five days. This is two days shorter than was initially projected, which meant that the workers were free to use their new handsets in the enhanced productivity of the corporation’s undertakings. Once the labor workers were used to the basic controls of the phone’s Android 6.0, they were fascinated by it, and they consistently sought to improve their prowess at the use of the units for work.
Appendix BLeft-Over FundsFunds were from the purchase of the new units, the labor costs which were substantially reduced from the initial projection, and the cost of coverage and other such mobile services. Following the alleviation of the essential costs, the project had an amount left-over accruing to about $2500, which would be used by the company accountant in other measures aimed at the improvement and enhancement of its operations.
Over-Budget CostsThere were no over-budget costs incurred in the cell phone acquisition process. This can be accounted to the efficient research and critical analysis of the products in the market evident in this feasibility study and by extension, goes to expound on the importance of the use of the same by companies the world over.