Chapter 2 Info System

Chapter 2: DQ 1-3, CS

1. Information systems automate many steps in business processes that were formerly performed manually, such as checking a client’s credit, or generating an invoice and shipping orders. Today’s information technology allows more people to access and share information and allows tasks to be able to perform simultaneously, leading to faster decision making. The most important pieces of information that technology should capture are to convert manual business processes to automate ones. With technology to do things automatically, it lowers the rate of human errors and at the same time, making process a lot faster and less stressful. The purpose of technology system should be to assist the people in making their jobs easier.

2. The process for checking out a book in the library is very similar to the order fulfillment process presented in figure 2-1. The process includes:

I. Searching the library’s database for the desired book.

II. The system will then check whether the book is in the inventory and if it is still available for check out.

III. The librarian will then check whether the student owes a late book and whether or not they are qualified to check out another one.

IV. If they are qualified, the book is checked out and the system determines the due date and updates the library’s database.

The school’s library system is already effective as it is. However, the only improvement to the system would be to have more supplies for each book. The reason is that the book in demand runs out extremely fast considering the classroom size and the number of available book. They could add an e-book version; that way it does not have physical limitation and students can access, read, and print via their personal computers.

3. BMW Oracle team is able to use the collaboration system to improve the chance of winning in the America’s Cup. It is known that their technology is superior. However, a single person would not be able to perform all the tasks even though they have excellent technology and information system. That means, they are able to use collaboration and cooperate with teammates in order to maximize the efficiency. Each member is assigned to specific roles. That way, they have multiple specialists that excel in certain area and with collaboration and teamwork, they would be able to perform at maximum efficiency.

Case Study

1. Procter & Gamble’s business strategy is to focus on their three main categories of consumer products.