Functioning of the Business Activity in the Dixie Group - Case Study Example

THE This study aims at finding out how the information is gathered from various systems which help in the functioning of the business activity. The Dixie group, it has various groups of business in London. It needs to integrate the various activity of the business functions, certain functions has to be left to the different groups themselves. It includes introduction of various time saving methods, integration between the departments, and proper channel of communications. The various stock control devices are explained here which are applicable to the Bosworth Park hotel, the Dixie Arms restaurants and Red Lion restaurants. The Familytique, the Peppercorn Cottage and the Michaelmas house too need to integrate their sales activity as they come under the shops category. The market square which is a public place for the traders which happens every Wednesday, they book their stall in advance. The payments collected from them should be properly listed and receipts are given in return. These should be integrated using program based information system. The management information system provides information to support management decision making. Pre-specific and pre-planned reporting to managers is accomplished by information reporting systems. Support for managers is accomplished by decision support systems. Information for top management is provided by executive information system. The information system provides information on the operations of the system to management for the direction and maintenance of the system (control). It is important to understand information system in the context of their use in information processing, which is also called data processing. “an information system uses the resources of hardware (machines and media), software (programs and procedures), and people (specialities and end users) to perform input, processing, output, storage and control activities that convert data resources into information products.” (James A. O’Brien). Thus the information system performs operational, managerial, and strategic support role in the business. These need to be a good information system to integrate the business activity to achieve the goals. The operations information system uses the data generated by and used in business operations. That is, it record and process data update it and produce it into reports. Physical processes are controlled by process control system and office activities are supported by the office automation system. This would help the organisation to achieve an organised office. The information systems are integrated combination of various types of information systems. A better managed information system would help the organisation solve its problems. This is designed to produce information and support decision making for various levels of management and business function. The Dixie Group: The hotel is based around a former stately home belonging to the once wealthy Dixie family. The parkland was purchased by Wolstan Dixie, Lord Major of London in 1589. the current building was built during the William and Mary by Sir Beaumont Dixie. Then this has turned from many hands to become the present hotel. The Dixie group includes, the Bosworth Park hotel and conference centre, the Forge Art Gallery, the Peppercorn Cottage, the Red Lion, The Dixie Arms, the Familytique, Michaelmas House, Bosworth Gallery, the Market square. The Bosworth Park Hotel and conference centre set in the 11 acres of beautifully landscaped garden and woodland. They provide excellent cuisines in elegant surroundings with a period style and adjoining cocktail bar, there is a definite relaxed feel to the rooms which complements the foods. Due to which advance booking is needed. The customers are more regular who uses the conference hall for their company meetings. The hotel’s outdated computerisation has to be changed. An updated version has to be installed. The hotel needs to change the system software, that is, the programs that manage and support the resources and operation of a computer system as it performs various tasks. It includes operating system, system performance monitor, system security monitors, and programming languages. Likewise the application software also needs a change, that is the word processing, desktop accessories, specific programs like those of accounting, marketing(sales, analysis), finance(capital, budget), manufacturing (production, control). The staffs and management needs to be educated about the change The stock control minimise the cost of holding these stocks while ensuring that there are enough materials for production to continue and be able to meet customer demand. The marketing department should be able to provide sales forecasts for coming weeks or months. This may not be as easy as the demand is seasonal and it depends on various other factors. So it allows stock control managers to judge the type, the quantity and timing of the stock needed. Electronic Point of sales (EPOS) helps record the sales activity daily and conveniently. For example an SQL Server database, each dish and drink which has been served and what ingredients go into them, as well as accounting data such as the amount payable on each bill. Managers can act on recommendations made by the stock control system about the quantity and timing of new orders. Trained all waiters and managers to use their PDAs as information tools, not only to take orders but also to review bills, reserve tables and communicate with the kitchen. The Peppercorn Cottage is a fine foods delicatessen and bristo. It provides an extensive range of Belgian chocolates, grounded coffees and teas from around the world, hand baked biscuits. It has a tea room, with light refreshments. Apart from that it sells chocolate gift hampers of various sizes according to the occasions. The Familytique , another form of store. It is one of the most sought after boutique when it comes to drawing the principle guests at the wedding. It showcases collection from Europe’s designers. The stocks arranged are by size and designers; this would mean that it would be a pleasurable experience to shoppers. The Michaelmas house is a country furniture and home accessories retailers. They make and sell according to the customer order. They have a display of stock too. The Peppercorn cottage, the familytique and the Michaelmas house, they should have a punctual and up-to-date stock detail. The reports notify when stock levels are low, reduce slippage and identifying well performing areas. This has added advantage of improving the workforce and decreasing the level of theft and produce targeted stock. It includes touch screen EPOS system, scanning tills. The Forge Art Gallery, Bosworth Gallery: Located in the rural Lincolnshire village, the forge Art Gallery houses spectacular work from Phyllis Mahon, Jill Tattersall etc. Here the artist exhibits their work and get commission for their work sold. The Pubs The Red lion hotel situated at Market Bosworth. It has quiz nights every first Sunday of the month, live music and outside eating .Nearby the Red lion Hotel the Dixie Arms Hotel is also situated. It features Jukebox, Pool Table, Real ale and also accommodation facilities. The pubs would be having a different system to control stock. Computer based Pos and management System designed specifically for restaurants and clubs developed on windows, it can be modified as the industry develops. It has unparallel speed of operation, flexibility and ease of user friendly. Latest would include Colour touch screen, Ethernet communications, Stock control software, EPOS Office, CCTV, Flow metering, real-time floating table and basemen links to waiter pad hand held terminals, bill …. Customer name, electronic journal, Stock takes report The market Square Market Bosworth is a small town in Leincestershire, England. There are every Wednesday and farmers market on fourth Sunday and one two Sundays before Christmas. The rent is changed per pitch which varies according to the space occupied. Traders usually book stalls, receipts are issued to the rent collected. The rent collected should be immediately entered into the system. Name address and amount paid. This could be very well done by electronic point of selling equipments. The receipts can be given on time so there won’t be any further confusion Group Functions Even when the Dixie group owns the various said business, each has its own different functioning as it ranges from restaurants’ to boutiques, gallery But there are some functions that can be maintained by this groups. They are Marketing:- It would be expensive to have marketing force for each categories. So there is a department responsible for publicity and marketing for each business. But each will have there own web address and literature style. The Payroll and Human resource: Except the Bosworth Park Hotel, The Dixie Arms Hotel and the Red Lion, rest all are having small numbers of staff. So it is wise to centralise these functions. The recruitments, training and appraisal and the payment can be recorded under one management system. The estates: This includes the cleaning (excluding hotel housekeeping) and maintenance of the premises and grounds, the building works; these are done on contract basis. This too forms a small portion which can be integrated with the other systems. The function will be successful if the management, the executives and the operational level staff has a good rapport with each other. The executives include the family members who are the shareholders. They get the strategy planned and they executive it. The management are those appointed by the family, they see through the working of the operational level. They include the other workers which come under the various business activities. The functions to be carried out by each level of hierarchy should be specific. Works Cited James, O’Brien. Management Information System. Irwin McGraw Hill Publications. Read More