Castigador, Cyril Vince

A. Answer the following questions:

1) How did EasyJet’s hardware and software technology affect the company’s ability to
operate?

The shift of EasyJet to cloud computing with the use of Microsoft Azure cloud
computing platform improved its organizational performance. Their act of enhancing their
systems to offer allocated seating led to increased customer satisfaction by 5 percent and
added 7 percent to its revenue growth.

EasyJet was saddled with an outdated IT infrastructure that was far too costly and
unwieldy for adding new services, such as online passenger seat selection, that competitors
were offering. This caused EasyJet to lose customers and prevented the company from
operating as efficiently and effectively as it could have which was solved by Microsoft Azure.

2) What were the business benefits of using cloud computing?

Using cloud computing for part of its IT infrastructure enables EasyJet to expand and
offer new services at very affordable prices. The company pays for only the computing
capacity it uses on an as-needed basis and does not have to make extensive and costly new
infrastructure investments.

By enhancing its systems to offer allocated seating, EasyJet increased customer

satisfaction by 5 percent and added 7 percent to its revenue growth, according to the
company’s 2013 annual earnings report. Selecting seats and boarding flights have become
much more pleasant. The business benefits of offering online seat selection using cloud
computing services have made it possible for EasyJet to continue offering aggressive pricing
to customers because it can keep operating costs low. Airlines on average spend 2 percent
of their revenue on IT infrastructure; EasyJet spends only one-half of a percent of its
revenue on IT.
B. Provide the existing components for the IT infrastructure and Information System using
the format below:

Case: EasyJet Flies High with Cloud Computing (page 151)

IT Infrastructure Specific Item Problems Solutions
Components
1) Data Management Computing  Computing centers are The Microsoft Azure is
Technology / centers remotely located accessed through the
Storage Technology utilization of the
Internet
2) Hardware Microsoft  Major airport charges EasyJet used the
Azure cloud both for the company Microsoft Azure cloud
computing and for the people service to build services
 platform that communicate
wirelessly at airports
without running up
major airport charges
for new services desks
Web servers  Web servers only handle EasyJet’s information
the process of customers systems will integrate
entering their desired three technologies. The
travel dates and web server will work
destinations for flight with the company’s
bookings reservation system
which will present data
on alternative times
and prices of flights for
customers to choose
from, and aircraft
diagram where users
can select their seats
which is fully hosted on
the Microsoft Azure
cloud service.
3) Software Reservation  EasyJet’s existingIt retained the core
system reservation system did reservation system as is
not have the capability to and hosted the seat
add the new feature of allocation service in the
being able to select their cloud, using the
seats on a given flight Microsoft Azure cloud
when they made their service and provided an
reservations online which Aircraft diagram.
the EasyJet’s customers,
like those of other
airlines, liked. It required
them to invest in an
additional computer
center and modify its IT
infrastructure.
Software  Lack of own software EasyJet’s information
programs program system developers to
write their own
software program code
for seat allocation and
use as much or as little
processing power as
needed to test the
 service.
4) Networking and Internet  Internet was used for Use the internet as a
Telecommunications internal purposes by the mode of service
Technology company towards the customers
through online
reservations and the
like.
5) Technology Services Information  EasyJet’s information EasyJet used the
System system developers were Microsoft Azure cloud
Developers not able to write their service. It then turned
own software program out to be much faster
code for seat allocation and cost-effective to
and use as much or as have the public cloud
little processing power as actually host the new
needed to test the seat allocation service
service. rather than to use
 EasyJet’s internal IT EasyJet’s internal IT
infrastructure is costly infrastructure.
and slower in providing
the seat allocation
service

IT  EasyJet was saddled with Management had to

Department an outdated IT find a low-cost solution
infrastructure that was that enabled the
far too costly and company to remain
unwieldy for adding new competitive. EasyJet
services, such as online used a hybrid cloud
passenger seat selection, strategy. It decided to
that competitors were develop and run the
offering. This caused new seat selection
EasyJet to lose customers service on the
and prevented the Microsoft Azure cloud
company from operating computing platform,
as efficiently and where the hardware is
effectively as it could located in remote
have. computing centers
accessed on the
Internet. The seat
selection capability is
integrated with
EasyJet’s internal
reservation system,
which is maintained on
 premises.

Case: EasyJet Flies High with Cloud Computing (page 151)

Information System Components Specific Items
1) People / Organization EasyJet
2) Data Data on desired travel dates and destinations
for flight bookings
Data on alternative times and prices of flights
for customers to choose from
Data on customer’s selected seats
3) Technology: Computing centers
 Hardware Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform
 Computer Reservation system
 Data management technology / storage Internet
technology EasyJet’s information system developers
 Networking and telecommunications EasyJet’s IT Department
technology Web servers
 Technology services Software programs

4) Procedures / processes Process and execute the data provided by the

customers
5) Information Provide easier experiences and information
towards the public regarding their services as
an airline company.