Learning Higher Education College/Universities - Research Paper Example

REPORT ON USE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS) TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary………………………………………………….2 2. Introduction………………………………………………………….3 3. Findings………………………………………………………………3 3.0 History and Background…………………………………………3 3.1 Target customer………………………………………………….4 3.2 Competition………………………………………………………4 3.3 Survey and Results……………………………………………….5 3.4 Proposed Use of MIS…………………………………………….6 3.5 Implications………………………………………………………7 3.6 Financial Benefits………………………………………………..8 3.7 The Future………………………………………………………..9 4. Conclusion……………………………………………………………9 References……………………………………………………………10 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Many businesses try to embrace management information systems in their operations in order to enhance and improve their operations. The report aims at giving the strategies that Tasty Bites Corporation intends to use in order to enhance its overall operations. The report has examined the strengths and weaknesses of the company, which might aid or limit the implementation. In addition, it also examines the key financial costs and benefits that the company is likely to incur during the implementation. Therefore, from the report it will be analyze whether the MIS will be to the corporation. 2. INTRODUCTION The business market continues to become more competitive each day as different production methods come into the market and businesses make use of current technology. In addition, innovations and inventions have also created a wide range of opportunities for individuals willing to start their own business ventures. Therefore, the number of participants in the business markets has increased. Consequently, the level of competition has also increased significantly. Consequently, individuals find ways that they can use to edge themselves against this stiff competition. Tasty Bites is a corporation that deals with the sale of snacks and munchies. The organization is mainly investigating on the use of MIS to improve its operations. 3. FINDINGS 3.0 History and Background Tasty Industry is a corporation in the foods and beverages industry. The corporation was started in the year 2010 and has been expanding its operations since its start. Being three years old, the organization has managed to open a number of branches in the country and its customers too. In addition, the company also diversified itself from snacks only, to fast foods and beverages. Previously, the company had specialized in the sale of snacks and biscuits only. However, it realized that there were opportunities in the market of fast foods. Therefore, it was expanded in order to accommodate a fast-food store. The key strengths of the business include the readily available market, and its financial stability. The company enjoys a financially sound operational system due to its large capital base. On the other hand, the company also enjoys having quality and experienced staff and thus, its products are of a high quality. The weaknesses on the other hand include limited space of serving customers, and the use of poor and old-fashioned methods of running the business. Most of the customers have to carry take-away in order to eat their food at their homes due to the limited space available to accommodate all the customers. 3.1 Target Customer Tasty Bites Company mainly targets young persons and youths whole like taking snacks. The company aims at all the middle-aged persons who might not have the time to prepare meals at home. Therefore, the fast foods mainly target customers are aged between 20 to 35 years, on the other hand the snacks target customers aged between ten to thirty years. The company targets both female and male customers since both genders take fast foods. However, it mostly targets persons who are located in the town and urban centers. This is because; persons in the rural areas might not be interested in purchasing these products. Over the years, the customers’ needs have been changing as customers demand better products each time. Customers also tend to get used to some of the foods and thus, they always want to experience something with a different taste. Most of these needs have been fulfilled since; the company comes up with innovative products that satisfy the consumers’ needs. In addition, the company fulfills these needs by enquiring the suggestions of its customers. For instance, if a customer has a suggestion of how a certain new blend of juice should be made, then the company can use such suggestions to bring new products into the market. This way, the gap between the customers’ need and the market offerings continues to reduce significantly. 3.2 Competition Competition in the business is very stiff since, there are many businesses dealing with fast foods and snacks. The company competes with all the fast foods stores in the country, supermarkets selling snacks, and restaurants offering any other kinds of meals. This is because, if customers choose to purchase meals from the restaurants, then they will not purchase fast foods form Tasty Bites. However, the key competitor of the store is McDonalds food and beverages store. This is because, McDonalds is a company that has an established market. Therefore, it is unlikely for customers to shift from McDonalds to any other fast-food store. To ensure that the Company steps ahead of the competitors, as the top executive I intend to implement the use of better and faster methods of products. In addition, the company should also come up with unique products that do not compare to those of the competitors. Therefore, customers will end up choosing the products of tasty Bites. If there are changes in the competitive environment, I will respond by changing the operations of the business accordingly. For instance, by offering quality services to the customers, customers will be attracted to purchase the products of my corporation. 3.3 Survey and Results In the project, the study conducted mainly aimed at finding the effect of implementing management information systems in the operations of the company. The sample size used include sixty consumers from around the town and 30 employees from the organization The questions given to the employees in the survey included: a) Do you think the management information system to be implemented in the company will have a positive or a negative relationship? b) What do you think will be the major challenges of adopting the MIS? c) In what ways do you think the system can be made more effective? On the other hand, the questions given to the customers included: a) Do you think that the quality of services offered to you will improve after implementation of the MIS? b) What other ways of improving our information system can you propose? c) Are there possible challenges that you feel you might face as a customer once the system is implemented? The results of the survey showed that all the employees supported implementation of the new management information system. On the other hand, three quarter of the consumers supported the system since, the thought it would increase speed and quality of services. The other quarter of the customers thought that the system would lead to increased prices and thus; they were not supporting it. My recommendations were that, since more than half of both groups had supported the system, then it would wise to implement it in the corporation. On the other hand, to consider the group that feared for the increase in prices, the company should ensure that it does not hike its prices after implementation of the system. 3.4 Proposed Use of MIS The MIS to be implemented in the company will have a wide range of benefits. For instance, the system will make it easier to operate information in the company. This is because; all the company’s data will be controlled from a central point in the company. In addition, the company will more organized in all its operation. The amount of time taken to serve the customers will also be greatly reduced. Therefore, there will be no time wastage in the organization (Van, 2002). Challenges that might be faced by the organization include reduction of staff morale (Mackie, 2004). Some of the employees of the organization might not embrace the new information system implemented in the organization. In addition, other employees might feel like they are being replaced by the new system. Therefore, they will not readily support it. Another challenge that could be faced in the implementation stage of the system is malfunctioning of the whole system. In the beginning, the system might experience some complications before everyone adapts to it fully (Van, 2002). 3.5 Implications The implementation of the management information system will have a number of implications on both the organization and the consumers. The organization will be able to diversify its operations since; it will now be having an organized system (Arain & Low, 2009). The use of MIS in the industry will also lead to quality services in the company. This is because; operations will no longer be run manually. For instance, with the implementation of the systems the company will be able to meet customer orders without delay. The company will also compete effectively with its competitors when it implements MIS in its operations (Ross, 2005). This is because; other companies that have not implemented the system in their programs will not be able to attract a large number of customers like Tasty Bites Company. The competitive advantage can also be explained by the fact that the company will attract customers from competitors. Therefore, the company will increase its customer base. This will also be an opportunity for the company to diversify its services and products to the parts where is products have not yet been used. Therefore, this will imply that the market being served will also increase (Sarngadharan & Minimol, 2010). 3.6 Financial benefits The key financial benefit of the MIS is reduction of the costs of operation in the company. Although initially the company will experience an increase in the costs of operation, the financial benefits will increase with time and override the costs. The costs of keeping the information of the organization will also fall since the company will not be using manual methods. In addition, the management costs will also fall and the company will be able to recover all the costs initially suffered (Ross, 2005). Variable costs such as labor costs will also decrease since; the systems will now function more faster making the organization to reduce its laborers and workers. For instance, sales persons in the organization will greatly reduce since; the organization will come up with better and cheaper methods of marketing its products (Sarngadharan & Minimol, 2010). With MIS, operations in the corporation will be more organized and thus, miscellaneous costs such as costs arising from mistakes and errors will be highly reduced. In addition, the organization will also reduce advertisement and marketing costs since; its information system will be more updated. The revenue of the organization will increase greatly since; the company will attract more customers thus leading to increased sales in the company. However, the organization will have to incur costs of training the employees on how to use the new system (Ross, 2005). Fixed costs in the organization will not change since; the costs do not vary with the sales of the company. However, some of the costs such as electricity will change. In addition, other costs such as rent expenses will also increase due to an increase in the storage needs (Van, 2002). 3.7 The Future In future, the company intends to expend itself, and to come up with new brands of products. In addition, the company also intends to adopt advanced technology in order to enhance its production methods (Arain & Low, 2009). The company will also learn the methods used by other companies in order to also apply them in its production. Therefore, in future the company intends to be more competitive and productive. Future changes in the economic environment such as changes in the prices will be handled depending on the way in which the competitors handled them. On the other hand, the company will respond to changes in customers’ tastes and preferences by diversifying its products and services. In addition, the company will also come up with products that are more advanced, and products that satisfy all the wants of the customers. 4. CONCLUSION In conclusion, from the report it is clear that implementation of the MIS in the company will be very essential for effective operations of the business. The business will expand more with the new system and it will have a larger customer base. The MIS will require the company to undergo costs such as training costs, and installation costs. It is also clear that although the costs might be high, the business will recover them after the system, has started working. The company should however check on the methods that it could use to cut down on the costs that might be incurred in the company. References Arain, F. M., & Low, S. P. (2009). IT-based project change management system. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Mackie, B. G. (2004). Developing a homegrown course management system: Community/course action/interaction management system (CAMS). Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. Ross, J. E. (2005). Management by information system. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall. Sarngadharan, M., & Minimol, M. C. (2010). Management information system. Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House. Van, G. W. (2002). Information systems evaluation management. Hershey, PA: IRM Press. Read More