Solution to a Real World Problem - Assignment Example

Solution to a Real World Problem Solution to a Real World Problem Problem d Formulation Investa Inc. isa company which offers financial services to both local and international investors. The company provides its clients with consultancy services on financial markets and various companies in which they would invest. The customer relations officer of the company has noted that there an increase in customer complaints about the effectiveness of the services of the help desk. An investigation by an outsourced group of IT specialists revealed that the application of relational or database oriented spreadsheets by the help desk staff has some limitations.

It is these limitations that have caused inefficiencies in the retrieval of financial information by the help desk staff as required by clients. The problem with the database model at the help desk has led to a recommendation by the IT specialists for a calculation oriented spreadsheet model. The arguments that the IT specialists and their recommendations have caused the need to determine the effectiveness of a calculation oriented spreadsheet to enhance informed decision making by the company executives.

Assumptions and Model Structures The application of database oriented spreadsheets at the help desk is assumed to be the major cause of the increasing complaints from the clients. Additionally, it is assumed that the investigation that the outsourced group of IT specialized way focused on the problem that the company was facing. Furthermore the recommendation for a calculation oriented spreadsheet is assumed not to be a complete replacement of the database oriented spreadsheets that are already in use at the company’s help desk.

This is because database oriented spreadsheets provides tools for effective management of a large number of variables (Fulford, 2009). In record management, variables are usually spread over large volumes and diverse records. In this regard database oriented databases are effective and commonly used in organizations for the retrieval and use of information (Caine & Robson, 2007). However, the company will also require a calculation oriented spreadsheet model because of the nature of information that the help desk staff are mandated to provide to the clients depending on requests.

The difference between the two model structures and their application within the company is assumed to be the cause of the problem which the company is facing. Analysis of Results Calculation oriented spreadsheet model requires fewer inputs in information retrieval (Fulford, 2009). This makes this model effective in increasing the efficiency in data retrieval by the help desk staff. The accuracy of calculation oriented spreadsheet model is improved by the cells that are dedicated to specific data (Caine & Robson, 2007).

Moreover, calculation oriented spreadsheet model eliminates errors in data update (Fulford, 2009). On the other hand, database oriented spreadsheet model has dedicated tabs which prevents confusion in dealing with many variables and large volumes of information (Caine & Robson, 2007). The analysis of these results show that Investa Inc. requires to adopt and implement a calculation oriented spreadsheet model within its help desk. This could promote the efficiency with which the help desk staff will retrieve and provide financial information to clients.

Additionally, the calculation oriented spreadsheet model will ensure that the information that clients are offered is free of error and updated. Nonetheless, the database oriented spreadsheet model is equally important for the organization. This is due to the fact that the company is rapidly growing and as a result the volume of information and the number of data retrieve variables in increasing. This means that the help desk staff requires this model of spreadsheets to effectively execute their duties.

Therefore accurate tradeoffs are required in coming up with a solution to the problem which the company is facing. For example the company will consider introducing a calculation oriented database for its benefits and implement it in customer in conjunction with the database oriented model. Conclusions and Interpretation of Solution In order to benefit from the advantages of both the database and calculation oriented spreadsheet models, it is recommended that the company implements the later and retains the former.

This means that both models of spreadsheets are to be installed to the computer systems at the help desk. In this sense, the help desk staff will be able employ these database models to improve the efficiency and accuracy with which customer care services are provided. The calculation based spreadsheet model will promote the speed and accuracy at which financial information is retrieved by the help desk staff. This will promote the provision of adequate, relevant and timely information to clients and as a result avoid complaints.

The retention of the database oriented spreadsheet model will help the help desk staff to manage large amount of information with efficiency and provide it to the clients as they require. References Caine, D. J., & Robson, A. J. (2007). Spreadsheet modelling: Guidelines for model development. Management Decision, 31(1), 38-38 Fulford, J. (2009). Designing spreadsheet models: Can you afford to be wrong? Accountancy Ireland, 29(5), 18-19