Case Study for Information Systems

 MGT 205-001

Information Systems

 Instructor: Asish Satpathy, Ph.D., MBA

Case 1

Beijia Fan 861246229

Jiaxuan Liu 861309418

Xiaobin Cai 861241399

Yuchuan Liang 861312682

Jang Kyun Cho 861312205

2-13.List and describe the technologies used in this case study.

        1). Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite-based navigation systems. The GPS computer receives signals from earth-orbiting satellites to track each piece of equipment’s location and where it has gone. The system issues instructions for hoses to deliver precise amounts of fertilizer right into the grooves cut by the tiller. The system helps steer the equipment, so farmers can monitor progress on iPads and other tablet computers in their tractor cabs.

        2.)Prescriptive planting allows companies’ computers to analyze the data generated during this computerized planting work to show farmers how to increase their crop output further. Because adjustments in planting depth or the distance between crop rows can make a big difference in crop yields.

Here’s how prescriptive planting works. The farmer provides data about field boundaries, historic crop yields, and soil conditions to an agricultural data analysis company, which analyzes the data along with other data it has collected about seed performance and soil types in different areas. The company then sends a computer file with recommendations back to the farmer, who uploads the data into computerized planting equipment. The farmer’s planting equipment follows the recommendations as it plants fields. The farmer might also receive advice about the exact type of seed to plant in different areas. The data analysis company monitors weather and other factors to advise farmers how to manage crops as they grow.

        3). FieldScripts that takes into account variables such as the amount of sunlight and shade and variations in soil nitrogen and phosphorous content down to an area as small as a ten-meter by ten-meter grid. FieldScripts would allow farmers to pinpoint areas that need more or less fertilizer, saving them the cost of spreading fertilizer everywhere, while boosting their yields in areas that have performed more poorly and reducing the amount of excess fertilizer that enters the water table.

2-14.How do the systems described in this case provide business intelligence?

        This system meets the needs of majority of farmers. Given the fact that information technology is reshaping many businesses these days, reforming farming by using   technological equipment is really an excellent choice. The system has created close connection between advanced technology and individual farmer or agriculture companies, thus boosting profit through each process of farming. Beyond that, the company has also come up with a new software application，which is widely accepted due to the popularity of portable electronics such as iPad. Business intelligence is well reflected through this application——try to find business opportunities in constantly changing industry. Another thing is that the system charges for the service in terms of acre so that farmers have to pay more either to retrofit its existing planting equipment or buy more modern tractors that include the electronics gear that syncs the scripts the Monsanto online service provides with the planter’s onboard navigation systems. Also,the system provide the prediction for the local climate which charge an extra service fee,profiting more by offering such targeted service. The data analysis takes place with the combination of genetic properties of the seeds and the other information like climate prediction, delivery and produces precise planting instructions that are connected with iPad for planting the equipment in the filed. The cost of investment with the new technology and vendor services provide more benefit to small farmers by earning from their fields depicting the business intelligence.Finally，what is pretty significant in business is confidentiality. The system promises that it obtains consent from customers before sharing any of their data. Complying with the rules of business is a sensible choice which is a precondition to make sure that your product（the system）has a growing market.