Information Systems in Business - Wal-Mart - Coursework Example

INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS Number: Lecturer: Question 3 (i) Wal-Mart is one of the leading retail stores in the world that has relatively high number of users. A data warehouse for this company would probably be the largest data warehouse given the size of the company. The company requires transactional and operational data such as forecast data, sales, inventory, payroll, cost and accounting (Paul, 2001). Additionally, they will need industry sales, macro-economic data and Meta data. This data can be sourced by capturing point of sale transactions from the over 2900 stores in six countries. They can also source data from the suppliers who supply their products and services. Other data such a s population and demographic data that is important for forecasting can be sourced from government institutions and agencies (Paul, 2001). (ii) Data warehousing for Wal- mart will enhance decision making in the company with regards to inventory management, price control and sales monitoring. The data warehouse will provide data on a real time basis that will effectively aide in quick decision making on supply chain management and customer relationship management (Paul, 2001). Data mining which involves extraction and acquisition of data from the relevant sources to be stored in the data warehouse enables the company; to have up to date and real time data from all its retail stores. This allows real time analysis of the data and facilitates decision making that is appropriate for each store based on the data available (Paul, 2001). (iii) ECM applications are basically provides formalized techniques by which an organization can store and its documents, contents records and other content that is related to business processes and transactions. It entails strategies, tools and methods that used throughout (John, 2013). ECM application Features Rating on business features/ 10 Management & collaboration Document tools & integration Security & Compliance Help & support average MFiles Offers cloud storage, Document imaging and backup capabilities. User-friendly ECM solutions 10 10 10 10 10 Smart Search Provides mobile access Detailed auditing trail email notifications. 8.13 9.25 9.63 9.38 9.1 On Base powerful audit trails document-imaging capabilities, 8.25 8.25 9.38 8.0 8.47 Alfresco Most portable enterprise CMS products available. You can access this solution on your mobile phone or tablet. It also offers cloud storage 8.25 8.88 8.13 8.0 8.32 Question 4 Databases can be structured in different ways depending on how data is stored and accessed in the data base. There are four basic structure models of a database; these include: Hierarchical model where data is structured in a hierarchical manner following a sort of sequence exhibiting a tree structure. There is a root that has branches emanating from it. Network data base model that exhibits a many to many relationship. Items in this model can connect to any item in the database creating a network. Most databases that are used on the Mini and Micro computers are normally based on either hierarchical or network database model. Relational database model has data organized in two dimensional tables with rows and columns populated with related data. Most of the Database software packages available on microcomputers (PCs) are of relational model (Graham & David, 2008). Other database structure models used include the multimedia database that allows storage of multimedia information in their original form. It also allows manipulation of this data in the conventional way. Object oriented databases are built with object-oriented programming unlike all other database models. It has recently gained popular attention. Object oriented databases are useful in enabling users to access complex and integrated information that is not provided by the other models. Finally, the online database model is useful for access of large amount of information that is external to the organization. Information in such a databases is accessed using search keywords and phrases (Graham & David, 2008). Question 5 i) Structured approach to analysis and design allows one to plan, manage and control a project hence enhancing timely delivery of product. It also emphasises on analysis of user needs and at the same time developing a system model hence enhancing usability of the system. Systems are easily set up by use of effective and easily learned tools such as CASE tools. Business goals and objectives can be tailored to the system since structured analysis emphasizes on the consideration of business objectives during the design of the system (Graham & David, 2008). Errors are also reduced by using structured approach hence quality is maintained from the beginning to the end of product design and implementation. The approach also cuts costs that are associated with system development by separating the logical and physical system design hence the implementation won’t require new hardware and software. (ii) Slide 13-14 System design is the use of objects to create a model or blue print to be followed during the system analysis and design. It is the steps that will be used to create the system and implement it. Design is done by determining the user needs and requirements in order to develop an efficient design. Fact finding tools including interviews, questionnaires, observation and record inspection. Interviews are most widely used and most productive fact finding tools. Questionnaires save time but are difficult to create. They are also used only when the study involves different geographical locations. Additionally, administration is difficult since some respondents may not fill all the questions. Observation is combined with other techniques to yield the best results. Record inspection involves review of charts, statistics among others. This technique is quite effective and has authenticity. It is used with the other methods to gain accurate and substantial results. (iii) Slide 17, 18 Logic flowcharts, systems flowcharts, decision tables and data flow diagrams are some of the tools that are used by analysts and programmers to provide documentation and for analysis and design of the systems. System flowcharts symbolically represent a system or series of procedures shown in sequence (Graham & David, 2008). It is mainly used to show the system and its procedures. Decision tables on the other show conditions and actions in a more simplified manner. They are purposely used to assemble and present complex decision logic in such a way that its meaning can be readily understood. Data flow diagrams are tools that are basically used to represent the changes that data undergo in the system. Finally decision trees helps to analyse decisions that are to be made within the processing and sequence in which they should be made (Graham & David, 2008). Question 6 RULES Condition Stub 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1. Part-Professional Qualification Only Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N 2. Two Advanced Levels - - - - - - - - Y Y Y Y N N N N 3. Three Advanced Levels - - - - - - - - Y Y N N Y Y N N 4. Both Advanced levels and a Part- professional qualification - - - - - - - - Y Y - - - - - - Action Stub 1. Professional Course X X X X X X X X 2. HND X X X 3. Degree or HND X X X X 4. Professional course, HND or Degree X X The table has 4 conditions that are placed on the condition stub based on the qualifications for admission. The conditions are arranged in ascending order. The results can either be a Y (yes) or N (No). The rules are determined by the number of conditions by using the number of the results in this case 2 to the power of the number of conditions 4. Hence, 2^4 which gives us 16 rules. On the Action Stub the Actions corresponding to the conditions are listed. The result to be entered on the rules against each condition can either be a Y (Yes) or N (No). On the first condition, we divide the total number of rules by 2 . then enter the resulting number of Y and N on the table. On the second condition we divide 8 by 2 and enter the resulting number of Y and N. However, it is important to note that when the first condition is Y all other conditions are not considered hence (–) is entered in the columns for other conditions where the first condition is Y. The symbol X is entered in the Action stub corresponding to the result Y of each condition. Where the condition is Y the Action is marked X. this results in the first raw marked X only for the first condition. The First 8 rules for all other conditions are left blank because they are not considered because first condition is Y. this is based on the assumption that if a student has part professional qualification only, he or she cannot have any other qualification. Reference Graham, C., & David, C. (2008). Business information systems. Prentice Hall. John, C. (2013). Enterprise content Management Review. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from Toptenreviews.com: http://enterprise-content-management-system-review.toptenreviews.com/ Paul, W. (2001). Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model. Morgan Kaufmann. Read More