Corporate Strategic Information Business System - Essay.

Summary of the case study

Discuss about the Corporate Strategic Information Business System.

The current study critically analyses the strategic information system that are essentially designed in response to different corporate initiative. The current study focuses on the strategic information system and the advanced technologies that aims at providing competitive advantage to the corporation. The first section of the report emphasizes on the case of Disk4U that sells different products as well as services intends to revamp the business operations by implementation of advanced technologies. In addition to this, the second section sheds light on the business case of Sungate Foods that markets rice as well as wild rice. The corporation Sungate Foods aims to improve the operations by exploring and implementing different enhanced information system within a specified budget. The present report analyses different ways of enhancing systems of business operations of both the clients Disk4U and the Sungate Foods by recommending ways of implementation of advanced technologies and progressive information system related to enterprise resource planning.

As mentioned in the case study, Disk4U is necessarily a Sydney based corporation that markets products such as CDs as well as Vinyl Records. Presently, the company is marketing its products to the customers by means of physical stores, through mails as well as telephone orders. In addition to this, a new online platform for distribution of the products has been presented by utilizing the means of Ebay. However, this process of business expansion has made it obligatory to enhance the overall manual procedure of accounting as well as business reporting. As an accounting as well as business systems consultant, Disk4U can implement advanced technologies to enhance the functions of the business. The present report.

According to the case study, the corporation Disk4U intends to carry on business and market its products by means of both physical along with online channels. Accordingly, it can be said that the management of the corporation intends to enhance the overall process of operations as well as functionalities of the business by means of improvement of existent technology (Galliers and Leidner 2014). As mentioned in the case study, the analysis and periodic evaluation of the pecuniary aspects together with the business reports preparation of the business concern Disk4U can assist in detection of the diverse challenges encountered by the corporation.

In this case, the business process management (BPM) can be taken into consideration for the purpose of different enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications (Shapiro and Varian 2013). The ERP applications is a business processes management software that helps in the process of resolving diverse inherent challenges by transformation of different static and simultaneously user-driven ERP applications (Said et al. 2014). Again, the business process management system have the potential to mechanize virtually different types of business processes. However, business processes for the business concern Disk4U can integrate credit control procedures, provisions of diverse significant performance indicators (Leon 2014).

Business process management (BPM)

In addition to this, the business processes also need to monitor and report on diverse levels of stock, financial declarations, supplier quotation pronouncements in addition to sales declarations (Bansal 2013). Thus, the management of the business concern Disk4U can contemplate refurbishing otherwise harmonizing the entire procedures of business prior to the process of establishment of the ERP operation in a bid to avert contagion of the overall ERP system having poor procedures in addition to data (Tarhini et al. 2015). Besides this, the management of the corporation can consider revisiting the entire system for streamlining and boosting different functionalities. Again, the procedures needs to be relocated and fundamentally constructed the enterprise resource planning system (SRP system) (Hoch and Dulebohn 2013). Therefore, the execution of the business process management can lead to the enhancement of the overall performance of the corporation by stressing on optimization, building the design, modelling, execution as well as tracking (Bernroider and Mitlohner 2015).

In order to implement technologically advanced business processes for improvement of overall operations of the firm, management of the corporation can consider enterprise applications (Ha and Ahn 2014). The process of implementation of ERP software is a type of enterprise application (Zeng and Skibniewski 2013). This software can be utilized by the firm and this in turn have the need for customizing, evaluating data and handling upgrades and placement (Antero 2015).

Particularly, the management of the corporation Disk4U can consider following the current trends and implementation of ERP software such as the mobile ERP, Cloud ERP, Social ERP as well as two-tier ERP (Falkenberg et al. 2016). The establishment of the Mobile ERP can help the members of the staff of a corporation in accessing real-time information, irrespective of where the staff members are. Again, the management can also introduce the cloud ERP for placing data cloud (Arvidsson et al. 2014). Again, the management of the organization Disk4U can consider introduction of social ERP packages that can be added to the ERP processes. Enterprises can also attempt to construct an all incorporating ERP system to take care of different aspects of organizational processes (Samara 2015). In addition to this, huge and costly failures have brought about a change in the strategy and in the process of adoption of two different tiers of enterprise resource planning (ERP) (Rosemann and vom Brocke 2015). 

The management of the corporation Disk4U can assimilate different business procedures for data framework, algorithms, mobile computation, networks, and process optimization in addition to scheduling. Apart from the ERP application of the business process management system as well as the supple network design, the management of the organization can consider establishment of the integration of the Application Programming Interface (API) (Chang 2016).

Supple Network Design

Dumas et al. (2013) advocates the fact that the integration of the API points out towards allowances in addition to different business processes for delivering programs and corresponding with diverse programs. In addition to this, the establishment of the software-to-software interface can allow different parties to interact with one another without having any prior knowledge otherwise intervention (Becker et al. 2013). For example, different online channels of functions can help in the process of utilization of the API integration. This can help in permitting the procedure of entering the information as regards credit cards and use the API for transferring important information to a different isolated application for verifying given information. The Business Process Management Suite can be used for viewing at diverse facets for future evaluation procedures (Reijers et al. 2015).

Again, the support process design assists in delivering support for main activities utilized by different resources in addition to infrastructure in desired format. This can be considered as an important differentiator that undertake different primary as well as support procedures for generation of direct value for the target consumers in case of crucial processes (Sudhaman and Thangavel 2015). Instances of support service comprises of information technology management in addition to human resource management together with infrastructure management. However, the support service processes mainly comprises of cross-functional limits in addition for analysis in the upcoming period (Usmanij et al. 2013). Therefore, this is within the process of managerial capability in addition to direction of value to consumer for supporting the overall ability of the organization. This can help in effectively delivering the products as well as services of the firm (Bernroider and Mitlohner 2015). The business process management can consider adoption of software tools that can be utilized for settling different business concerns. However, this plays a significant role in the business process management that has a variance between the workflow as well as the BPM software (Olson et al. 2015). This can help in automation of work with uninterrupted process enhancement in an effectual manner (Bradford 2015).

In addition to this, the management of the corporation Disk4U can also take into account the process of implementation of advanced technologies for manufacturing business operations. This concentrates on implementation of improved systems for handling product data, mechanized process of manufacturing, planning, scheduling as well as execution (Galliers and Leidner 2014). In addition to this, the company manufacturing and marketing products can implement mechanized process of acquirement of data, compliance administration, lean processing, total quality administration, planning, and scheduling in addition to product life cycle management (Shapiro and Varian 2013).

Thus, it can be hereby ascertained that the business process functions have entered into a new stage of fast-tracked transformation to mature as well as advanced technologies (Leon 2014). The cloud based as well as mobile applications along with progressive analytics together with collaboration techniques that can multiply effects of well understood functioning model levers namely, shared services, outsourcing, worldwide delivery system along with process reengineering (Bansal 2013). Nevertheless, the applicability as well as influence of advanced technologies cannot be evenly at high level. However, it is important to understand technology interventions together with process engineering as well as organizational redesign namely, shared services as well as business outsourcing often assimilated in the Global Business Service (Tarhini et al. 2015). This in turn can the business concerns in concentrating on the scarce resources that can influence the important business results. This process also helps in the process of reduction of intricacies of different projects that consistently involve different cross disciplinary squads. This team often finds it difficult to struggle for observing conjoint language as well as ground. However, the capability to recognize different levers for pulling is not extensive and depends on experience gathered by designing, transformation and functioning operations (Hoch and Dulebohn 2013). The best tactic might be to recognize partners that possess the ability to avert expensive as well as time consuming research. Finally, this can lead to the risk of losing the momentum as well as time in an unforgiving competitive environment.

In this particular case, Sungate Foods is one of the rice and wild rice producers that mils up to 80 tons per hour at time of seasonal peaks. In the year 2013, Sungate Foods employs 100 staff members in three processing or warehouse located in Western Victoria as well as marketing officer in Melbourne, Victoria. This company buys from more than 350 farms and then distributes and sells it domestically as well as internationally. This company keeps the inventory at higher form for meeting the needs of the customers.

Management of Sungate Foods should adopt advanced technology that will be aligned with budget for developing the overall facility (Hoch and Dulebohn 2013). Analysis needs to be done as it is shown in the financial and business reports for Corporation of Sungate Foods. This will help the management of Sungate Foods for detecting the challenges faced by the business organization.

In order to gain maximum benefits, Sungate should utilize their company information system that will exploit all its capacities. This reveals the fact that information systems gains significance from data processing activities from Sungate inputs for generating information that will be useful for managing the operational aspects (Hoch and Dulebohn 2013). In order to increase the effectiveness of information systems, it requires adding more data in making the information accurate as well as usage of information in innovative ways (Falkenberg et al. 2016).

Managing Sungate operations depends majorly on the information pertained with them. In other words, Information systems aim at offering more complete as well as gaining recent information (Becker et al. 2013). This reveals the fact that information system gains a cost advantage from other competitors by offering enhanced customer service. Sales data provided by Sungate will be providing proper insights regarding the customers by letting the stock produce items that are selling during right time. It will provide guidance from the information system that will streamline the operations in the most appropriate way (Dumas et al. 2013).

Sungate will be keeping the records of the financial activities that will initiate financial as well as regulatory activities for finding the real cause of problems by taking preventive corrective action (Chang 2016). Using of information system by Sungate will help in storing documents as well as keeping communication records and operational data. Using Information system by Sungate will help at the time of making strategic decisions by delivering all the information in way for modeling the results of decisions (Rosemann and vom Brocke 2015). Decision involves selecting course of action from several alternatives as well as carrying out the corresponding tasks. The company requires accurate information, updated information for selecting the choice with confidence. For each of the possibility undertaken, it is necessary in calculating using key indicators like sales, benefits as well as costs for determining the alternative for gaining beneficial result (Samara 2015).

Enterprise Resource Planning means integrated management of core business process that will be offered in real-time and mediated by software and technology. This business activity involves product planning, purchase, manufacturing or service delivery, shipping and payment, marketing and sales, and finance (Arvidsson et al. 2014). This system considers as an integrated as well as updates view of core business process by using the databases after maintaining database management system. This system will be tracking business resources such as cash, raw materials as well as production capacity.  Enterprise Resource Planning help in integrating varied organizational systems as well as facilitates error-free transactions as well as production for enhancing the efficiency of Sungate Foods. Developing the ERP system will be different from traditional system development. This system will run on a wide-range of computer hardware as well as network configurations by using database in information repository (Falkenberg et al. 2016).

Sungate Foods should implement Enterprise Resource Planning that requires essential changes in existing business process. In other words, poor understanding of needed process changes leads to starting implementation acting as a project failure (Antero 2015). There are difficulties that are related to the system and consider business process, training as well as lack of motivation and infrastructure. It is essential for Sungate Foods in analyzing the business process at the time of implementing ERP software (Zeng and Skibniewski 2013). It requires analyzing for identifying the opportunities especially for process modernization. Sungate Foods should be incorporating credit control procedures, indication of different of KPI (Key Performance Indicators), reporting as well as monitoring of inventory level and supplier quotation requires for preparing sales report (Ha and Ahn 2014).

Information Systems used in Sungate Foods refers as Management Information Systems. It requires preparing pyramid model whereby Management Information System considering as management level systems that will be used by middle-level managers in ensuring smooth running of business enterprise in the short-run. Using this information system will help in allowing managers for evaluating the performance of an organization by comparing current with previous outputs (Bernroider and Mitlohner 2015).

Management Information Systems are built on the given data as provided by Sungate Foods. Here, input data refers as the internal transactions of Sungate Foods, Internal files as well as structured data used by the business organization. In case of processing the data, it means sorting, merging as well as summarizing the reports of Sungate Foods. Management Information Systems help in proper sales management systems of Sungate Foods, inventory control as well as budgeting systems as well as Management Reporting Systems and Personnel Systems (Hoch and Dulebohn 2013). In the output criteria, it includes summary reports, action reports as well as detailed reports for Sungate Foods. Using Management Information Systems will help in forming proper internal information flows as well as supporting structured decisions at the same time. Role of Management Information Systems is inflexible as well as has limited analytical capacity. It will be used by lower as well as middle-level managerial levels for Sungate Foods. It dealt with aspects from past and present so that Sungate Foods will be efficiency oriented in nature. Sungate Foods should use Executive Information Systems as it will tend in customizing and targeting client group (Tarhini et al. 2015). Role of Executive Information Systems are easy to use as well as concerned with predicting the future. This system is effectively oriented and highly flexible in nature. This system uses internal as well as external data sources by the Senior Management Levels of Sungate Foods (Bansal 2013).

Implementing ERP will help in tracking the changes in the previous process. It requires assessing the information after aligning current process connecting with the ERP system (Leon 2014). This research on Sungate Foods whereby risk of business process for mismatching as decreased after linking current process from organization strategy. This will analyze the effectiveness on each process as well as understanding of existing automated solutions in the most appropriate way. Enterprise Resource Planning implementation is almost difficult for decentralization in and within Sungate Foods as it will give different process, data semantics, decision centers as well as business rules and authorization hierarchies (Said et al. 2014). It will actually require migrating some of the business units after delaying implementation of work by making the necessary changes by reducing integration like linking from Master Data Management (Shapiro and Varian 2013).

Sungate Foods should implement ERP software that can bring smooth operations at corporate level. This company should use ERP system for managing in and across the organization. Using ERP system will be based on industry best practices as well as makers that Sungate Foods deploy operational aspects and managing of inventory level at the same time (Galliers and Leidner 2014).

Conclusion

At the end of the study, it is concluded that conducting research on AIS or ERP systems for both the clients will help in understanding their issues and give solutions. Both the clients mentioned in the case study are for the company named as Disk4U and Sungate Foods. These two companies are suffering from issues that need to reduce by using proper information systems so that there is smooth functioning of business enterprise. Use of ERP systems will take into consideration various business process, developing of business requirements as well as determining the software selection and vendor selection. Both the case studies have dealt with the issues individually for highlighted the issues faced by Disk4U and Sungate Foods. In this, Disk4U Company is planning for revamping the operations by implementing Enterprise Resource Planning that comes under Business Process Management. On the other hand, Sungate Foods is the other company who deals in rice producing activities whereby the company should use Enterprise Resource Planning and Advanced Information Systems for smooth functioning in an effective way. Therefore, the current report to the directors of the two different companies can help in analyzing the present state of affairs of the business operations and identification of the areas that need improvement. In addition to this, the present segment helps in gaining deep understanding regarding the ways that can be implemented for enhancement of the overall operations of the business.

References

Antero, M., 2015. A Multi-case Analysis of the Development of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) Business Practices. Copenhagen Business SchoolCopenhagen Business School, Institut for IT-LedelseDepartment of IT Management.

Arvidsson, V., Holmström, J. and Lyytinen, K., 2014. Information systems use as strategy practice: A multi-dimensional view of strategic information system implementation and use. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 23(1), pp.45-61.

Bansal, V., 2013. Enterprise Resource Planning. Pearson Education India.

Becker, J., Kugeler, M. and Rosemann, M. eds., 2013. Process management: a guide for the design of business processes. Springer Science & Business Media.

Bernroider, E.W. and Mitlohner, J., 2015. Characteristics of the multiple attribute decision making methodology in enterprise resource planning software decisions. Communications of the IIMA, 5(1), p.6.

Bradford, M., 2015. Modern ERP: select, implement, and use today's advanced business systems. Lulu. com.

Chang, J.F., 2016. Business process management systems: strategy and implementation. CRC Press.

Dumas, M., La Rosa, M., Mendling, J. and Reijers, H.A., 2013. Fundamentals of business process management (Vol. 1, p. 2). Heidelberg: Springer.

Falkenberg, E.D., Hesse, W. and Olivé, A. eds., 2016. Information System Concepts: Towards a consolidation of views. Springer.

Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.

Ha, Y.M. and Ahn, H.J., 2014. Factors affecting the performance of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the post-implementation stage. Behaviour & Information Technology, 33(10), pp.1065-1081.

Hoch, J.E. and Dulebohn, J.H., 2013. Shared leadership in enterprise resource planning and human resource management system implementation. Human Resource Management Review, 23(1), pp.114-125.

Jeston, J. and Nelis, J., 2014. Business process management. Routledge.

Leon, A., 2014. Enterprise resource planning. McGraw-Hill Education.

Olson, D.L., Johansson, B. and De Carvalho, R.A., 2015. Open source ERP business model framework. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing.

Reijers, H.A., Mendling, J. and Recker, J., 2015. Business process quality management. In Handbook on Business Process Management 1 (pp. 167-185). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Rosemann, M. and vom Brocke, J., 2015. The six core elements of business process management. In Handbook on business process management 1 (pp. 105-122). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Said, H.M., Latif, R.A. and Ishak, N.K., 2014. Strategic information system and environmental scanning practices in Malaysian hotel organizations. Theory and Practice in Hospitality and Tourism Research, p.83.

Samara, T., 2015. ERP and Information Systems: Integration Or Disintegration. John Wiley & Sons.

Shapiro, C. and Varian, H.R., 2013. Information rules: a strategic guide to the network economy. Harvard Business Press.

Sudhaman, P. and Thangavel, C., 2015. Efficiency analysis of ERP projects—software quality perspective. International Journal of Project Management, 33(4), pp.961-970.

Tarhini, A., Ammar, H. and Tarhini, T., 2015. Analysis of the critical success factors for enterprise resource planning implementation from stakeholders’ perspective: A systematic review. International Business Research, 8(4), p.25.

Usmanij, P.A., Khosla, R. and Chu, M.T., 2013. Successful product or successful system? User satisfaction measurement of ERP software. Journal of intelligent manufacturing, 24(6), pp.1131-1144.

Zeng, Y. and Skibniewski, M.J., 2013. Risk assessment for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementations: A fault tree analysis approach. Enterprise Information Systems, 7(3), pp.332-353.