Running head: BUSINESS PROFILE
1
Business Profile
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
BUSINESS PROFILE
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Business Profile
Company Overview
Mountain View College Bookstore is the organization that features in the report. The
institution provides its customers who are mostly students with books services. Therefore, this
implies that Mountain View College Bookstore is a research centre that requires an
improvisation on information system.
Missions and Objectives
The organization’s objectives are the ones that have prompted the management to come
up with the idea of developing a new information system. Therefore, the first objective that the
company holds is managing to achieve customer satisfaction. Arguably, it is only possible for a
company to achieve customer satisfaction by offering quality services. Therefore, that is the
reason why Mountain View College intends to improvise its information system. The
improvisation of the information system will put the organization in a better place to achieve
customer satisfaction since they will have a better experience. Additionally, Mountain View
College Bookstore’s objective concerning customer satisfaction implies that they are interested
in achieving customer loyalty.
The improvisation of efficiency at work is yet another objective that the company holds.
The details from the conversation between Tina and David indicates that efficiency is only
achievable through the introduction of a new information system. Therefore, the company’s
move to develop a new system suggests that they also have the objective of realizing
effectiveness. It is realistic to argue that efficiency at work is also a source of motivation for the
employees. The other notable objectives are embracing technology. The discussion between Tina
and David also suggest that the institution is already using another system, but they intend to
BUSINESS PROFILE
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upgrade. Therefore is ever advancing, hence the reason why one would easily note that Mountain
View College Bookstore also intends to remain updated on technology.
Business Problems
The evident business problem from the analysis is that the Mountain View College
Bookstore is finding it hard to find the best information system. Arguably, choosing the right
information system is a major business problem since it determines either success or failure. The
discussion details between Tina and David prove that they are torn between the information
systems, thus implying that it is a business problem. It would be possible for the organization to
choose an information system if it was a business problem. The selection of the right information
system will ensure that the business manages to satisfy the customers, while a wrong selection
will result in disappointments. The other evident business problem the organization is facing is
financial constraints. The details from the discussion indicate that Tina and David are concerned
about the prices of the new information system. They would have moved ahead and acquired the
new information system by considering the cost when finance is not an issue.
Organization Chart
Manager
Systems Analyst
Student Intern
Student Intern
Student Intern
BUSINESS PROFILE
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The above diagram represents the Mountain View College Bookstores’ organization chart.
The details indicate that the organization chart is subdivided into three major groups of people.
First, there is the manager or management, and this is the head of the organization. Therefore, the
manager who is at the top is the one who makes the most important and final decisions. A system
analyst occupies the second level. The system analyst is the one who is informed about
information technology, thus controls and reports to the manager. The third level features the
student interns. The student interns work under the system analyst. The initiation of a simple
organization chart will ensure that information is passed across the organization with ease.
Therefore, the initiation of the above chart will also contribute towards efficiency and customer
satisfaction.
BUSINESS PROFILE
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PREVIEW CASE: Mountain View College Bookstore
Background: Wendy Lee, manager of college services at Mountain View College,
wants a new information system that will improve efficiency and customer service
at the three college bookstores.
In this part of the case, Tina Allen (systems analyst) and David Conroe (stu-
dent intern) are talking about development strategies for the new system.
Participants: Tina and David
Location:
Tina's office, Wednesday morning, November 13, 2013
Project status: Tina and David developed a logical model that includes data flow diagrams, a data
dictionary, and process descriptions. They also created an object model. Now they are
ready to discuss development strategies for the new bookstore system.
Discussion topics: Web-based versus traditional development, cost-benefit analysis, the steps in
purchasing a software package, and the transition to systems design.
Tina:
David:
Tina:
David:
Tina:
Good morning, David. Are you ready for the next step?
Sure. Now that we have a logical model of the bookstore system, what comes next?
We're at a transition point between the logical design, which describes what the new system will do,
and the physical design phase, which describes how it will be done, including the user interface and
physical components. Before we start the physical design, we have to study various systems develop-
ment options and make a recommendation to Wendy.
What are the options?
Well, some large organizations use Web-based systems hosted by outside vendors who supply and
maintain the software. In a sense, the customer rents the application. I checked with our IT director,
and she feels we're not ready for that approach. She wants us to implement a system on the college
network and migrate to a Web-based system later. That brings us to the next set of questions.
Such as?
We need to consider our role in the development process. We can build the system ourselves, which
is called in-house development. Or we can purchase a software package, which might need some
degree of modification to meet our needs. Or we could consider outsourcing options, including hiring
an IT consultant to help with development tasks. Either way, we need to do a cost-benefit study.
What about the transition from logical to physical design that you mentioned?
The idea is to take our logical design, which is similar to an architect's proposal, and translate it into a
physical design, which is more like a working blueprint. If we decide to develop the system in-house,
we'll start work on the design. If we decide to purchase a package, we'll follow a series of steps that will
help us select the best product. Here's a task list to get us started:
David:
Tina:
David:
Tina:
?
File
P ---
Gantt Chart Tools MOUNTAIN VIEW COLLEGE.
Task Resource Project View Format
Task Name
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
Investigate all software acquisition options, costs, and benefits
Learn how to use financial analysis tools to evaluate alternatives
Describe a request for proposal (RFP) and a request for quotation (RFQ)
Prepare a system requirements document and presentation
Explain the transition from systems analysis to systems design tasks
FIGURE 7-1 Typical development strategies task list.
Cengage Learning 2014
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