Determining Databases and Data Communications

Determining Databases and Data Communications

Lucinda Degarmo

BIS/320

November 02, 2015

Karl Jaufmann

Scenario 1

As the marketing assistant, I would definitely have to use a program that would track ordering, delivery and losses of any equipment used.   The typical fields that would be needed for such database would be the following:

Event Name, Event Date, Name of equipment/display, Serial Number, Date ordered, Date shipped, Date delivered, Date packed, Date shipped, Date received, Loss remarks.  

The first tracking relationships would be of course the Event Name, Event date and Name of equipment, Date ordered.   By tracking these fields, I would be able to figure out what types of equipment or displays to order for the event and ensure timely delivery for the event.  

The second tracking relationships would be the return of the equipment which would include packing date, shipping date and date received and any losses incurred.   By tracking the return of the equipment, I would be sure that the equipment has been accounted for and safely returned back to the warehouse.   By using a tracking program for each event, the accountability for the equipment is monitored from the day it leaves the warehouse and is returned safely back to the warehouse.

A database would definitely be needed to track the inventory. Excel could handle the tracking input and output; however, since the shipping and receipt of the equipment would not be readily available another database would be needed to accommodate all departments involved in the tracking of the valuable equipment.  Excel could be used to import the data so it could be manipulated into an office tracking device for quarterly, yearly tracking and to have a running inventory of what items were used for each event.

I would use an enterprise database so each department could access it and share the information within the company.   Since company would be able to access it internally, it would be able to have up to date information about each event and each piece of equipment.  Once an item is ordered for an event, the shipping department could open up the database and enter the date shipped. That goes the same for the return of each item.  If the item was damaged, there would be another tracking element to track the amount of damage and whether it was sent to be fixed or removed from inventory.  By tracking the shipping and receipt of the items the company would know if the item will be available for certain events.  One thing that could really discourage me is expecting a piece of equipment only to find out it has been sent to another event.  To accommodate the internal company tracking, a Decision Support System (DSS) would be helpful.