The United Cinemas - Systems Analysis - Case Study Example

System Analysis Name Institution System Analysis Major business objectives and processes The internet has transformed how businesses do their work and meet the demands of the customers. In Australia, business organizations and government agencies are in the forefront of adopting internet portal as a medium of providing information and services. The film industry is one of the business categories that have embraced online internet portal. Because of the importance of internet portals, film players such as United Cinemas have internet portal designed to offer services to its customer. Apart from having a point of presence in the local officers, United Cinema, offer online services in the internet portal, accessible at http://www.unitedcinemas.com.au . The United Cinemas has it headquarter in Collaroy, Australia. This firm offers motion picture services in its cinemas distributed across principal cities in Australia. As a business organization, the core functions of United Cinemas are providing customers with film shows of selected films. The business objective of the firm is providing customers with theater services where customers purchase a ticket to watch films at the firm’s cinema. In addition, United Cinema strives to provide its customers with other services such as snacks, which customers purchase when watching movies at the cinema. In general, the business objective of United Cinema is providing customers the opportunity to watch their movies and enjoy meals of their preferred choice. United Cinemas has several cinemas located in Avalon, Collaroy, Narellan, Warriewood, and Rockingham. These locations offer United Cinemas the opportunity to watch films the firms screen at the cinemas. To support its business objectives, the firm sells tickets to customers interested in watching films at any of their preferred Cinema. As a result, customers, children, or adults purchase tickets that give them access to the cinema during the screening of particular movies. United Cinemas operates an information desk, which is responsible for gathering of information about films and providing customers with the information. This operation ensures that customers know the movies United Cinema is screening and movies that are coming soon. Moreover, the firm offers customers with snacks, which customers must purchase during a show. Consequently, the United Cinema operates a snack shop. A listing of the information systems The internet portal of United Cinema plays an essential role in its business model. The internet portal supplements the firm’s brick and mortar presence in several towns. Similar to other online portals, the online portal of United Cinema offers customers several services that relate to the company business objectives. Through the online internet portal, United Cinemas integrates several information system fundamental in its business endeavor. The business organization has the following information systems in place. a) United Cinema portal has an online ticketing information system. This information system is accessible via the firm’s home page under the Buy Tickets Menu. This information system redirects customers to another website where they can choose a desired movie and purchase the ticket online. This information system helps United Cinema to automate the sale of tickets to its customers. The information system is therefore consistent with the business process of selling tickets to customers based on the movies they would like to watch at the cinema. The online ticketing system allows customer to purchase tickets from their e-wallet and present them at the cinema before the start of the shows. b) The internet portal has a session time’s information system that provides users with screening times for selected movies. This is one of the critical information system customers access via the home page of the internet portal. Upon clicking the menu of this information system, the system provides users with the option of choosing their preferred cinema located in five locations United Cinemas has a theater. This information system allows United Cinema to provide users with information on the movies ready for filming. The Sessions Times information system connects with business function of United Cinemas, which is providing customers with timely information about movies awaiting screening. This system, thus, enables customers to make appropriate decisions before purchasing tickets. Most important, it enables consumers to schedule their visits to the cinemas when their movies of choice are displaying. The integration of the Session Times in the United Cinemas has made it possible for the firm to automate information delivery on movies waiting to be showcased at the cinemas. c) The third information system at United Cinema internet portal is the coming soon blog. This part of the internet portal offer consumers with information about upcoming movies that United Cinema hopes to screen in its cinemas. This useful information system keeps customers expecting more from the cinema than what is currently available. The information system is available via the company’s internet portal on the Coming Soon portal. Users who click on this information system get to view a page listing coming soon movies. The page has information about the movies such as the release data and the synopsis along with the characters. The inclusion of this coming soon information systems automates the provision of information to customers about movies waiting release. Scenario choices and results This section presents the scenarios that users can face when using the United Cinema internet portal. The scenarios in this section are consistent with the information system found at the website and supported by United Cinema at the local offices. The presentation of these scenarios will be critical in the evaluation of the United Cinema internet portal. This is because three users will use the script to use any of three-information system available through the internet portal. Below are two scripts that users will execute on the United Cinema’s online portal. a) As a moviegoer, you are interested in finding a movie, say A Royal Affair, when and where the movie will be screening in the United Cinemas. You would like to know when the movie is set for screening so that you can buy a ticket and attend the screening. b) You would like to buy the ticket of your preferred movie A Royal Affair online for you and some of your friends. This will allow you to save time rather than driving from your office to the local office of United Cinema. The first scenario (a) is based on the Time Sessions information system, which automates one of the processes customers go through before buying movie ticket. Customers are interested in finding information about movies awaiting screening and select movies of the choice. The scenario is selected because it helps test the information system meant to provide customers with information necessary for scheduling of movie shows. In addition, the second scenario (b) test a critical part of the information system—online ticketing system. The online ticketing system allows users to purchase a ticket. This choice of this scenario stems from the process importance, because it forms a critical part of the United Cinemas business process. This scenario is important in understanding the usefulness of the ticketing information system. There are three users namely: user A, user B and user C. These users will simulate the two processes and their interaction will be observed. User A interaction User A executed the first scenario by clicking on Session Times and choosing one of the locations in this case, Collaroy. The user then clicked on next item menu describing events between 23 August and 29 August 2012. The user was then able to screen through the list, located the movie A Royal Affair on the list, and noted its date. In the second scenario, user A clicked on Buy Ticket menu, but did not proceed with the purchase because the location of interest was not on the list. User B interaction User B executed the first scenario by clicking on Session Times and choosing one of the locations in this case, Collaroy. The users looked puzzled by the menu items, but the user went on and clicked on Narellan. The user was then able to see the listing of the movies and their time schedule. User B clicked on the buy tickets menu and chose Warriewood where the user was interested in watching a movie. The system took a few seconds before opening a new page. The page listed several films, which the user had difficulty choosing. However, the user located the movie, and chose a session for the movies. The user then proceeded to input the number of desired tickets and a contact number before checking out. User C interaction User C executed the first scenario by clicking on Session Times and choosing Warriewood as the location. The user then clicked the event tab for events between 23 August and 29 August 2012. The user unable to locate the movie listing because the window with the listing was lower and it was not visible. Similar to user C, user C clicked on Buy Ticket menu, but did not proceed with the purchase because the location of interest was not on the list. He was interested in buying a ticket at the Avalon area. Improvement recommendation United Cinemas can implement several recommendations to enhance it internet portal. First, the Time Session information system needs an improvement in the input and output requirements. The system must be improved to allow users choose a date from a calendar, which will then present a table of the movies scheduled between the selected dates. This improvement will require the analyst to consider the number of locations and schedules of each location. The analyst must also consider the ease of changing the schedule The United Cinema ticketing system needs some improvement, as well. First, there is need to add several location on the list as some customers cannot purchase tickets online for some locations. This implies that the analyst must consider the movies screening in these areas and the availability of seats. The analyst must also consider the cost of the tickets along with other costs relating to online purchases. Moreover, an improvement can be made on the tickets purchasing system to allow customers purchase a movie by clicking on a movie and selecting options below the movie. This will reduce the number of redirection customer experience when purchasing the movie. Stakeholder identification The success of the improvement process rests on the collaboration process between various stakeholders. During the improvement process, the analysts must involve users, management of United Cinema and technical support working for the cinema. Research reveals that stakeholder play a vital role in system development process (Wang & Wang, 2012). The user will offer critical insight on the system’s ease of use. Moreover, the user will test and give feedback that can help refine the system improvement’s process. On the other hand, the client will provide help on how the business process run and provide insight on budgeting requirements. The firm’s preparedness and resources will also be known through the analyst interaction with the client. The analyst should clarify how the client wants the system to be improved and roll out. Considering this interest will ensure the client accepts the new system and provide required resources. The technical support will offer information about how users interact with them when they had issue with the system (Dennis, Wixom, & Roth, 2009). The analyst can gain information on how to avoid technical barriers based in the new system. Detailed description of the data gathering techniques used This system analysis process was possible because of two fact-finding techniques: Observation and research. Shelly and Rosenblatt (2011) identify research as an essential process of gathering facts about a current system. In this activity, research was done on the company’s website and other company directories on the United Cinemas. This research yielded the company’s business objectives and critical processes. In addition, the research included reading of magazine and a walkthrough of the company’s website. The second technique was observation. This technique offers analysts insight of a system during requirement gathering (Baldauf & Stair, 2011; langer, 2008). Three users took part in simulating two scenarios. In each scenario, the user’s action and experience was noted. Difficulties and time spent were also captured during the interaction of the users with the system. During the observation process, each user was given an opportunity to use the first after each scenario was read out for them. An observer standing next to them recorded the user interactions. The observation revealed challenges and complexity of the system of the current system. References Baldauf, K., & Stair, R. M. (2011). Succeeding with technology: Computer system concepts for your life. Boston, Mass: Course Technology/Cengage Learning. Dennis, A., Wixom, B. H., & Roth, R. M. (2009). System analysis and design. Hoboken: Wiley. Langer, A. M. (2008). Analysis and design of information systems. London: Springer. Shelly, G. B., & Rosenblatt, H. J. (2012). Systems analysis and design. Boston: Course Technology Cengage Learning. Wang, S., & Wang, H. (2012). Information systems analysis and design. Boca Raton: Universal- Publishers. Read More