Operation Information System Management - Case Study Example

Operation Information System Management Table of Contents Introduction 2 1)Key Operations that TGL Work Upon by Using Transformation Process Model and Systems Thinking Concepts 3 2)Possibility of Installing a New Network Infrastructure and Deploying Technological Gadgets in TGL 8 3a) Advice on a Suitable Set of Operations 11 3b) Drawbacks of Introducing Storefront Model of E-Commerce 14 Conclusion 16 References 17 Introduction Operations Management (OM) and Information Systems (IS) have been viewed to be interrelated with each other that are regarded as the imperative aspects to businesses belonging to both private as well as public sectors. In this similar context, OM represents the application of various sophisticated systems in order to solve different complex problems relating to businesses that encompass logistics, planning as well as enhancing any sort of business operations and most importantly supply chain management procedures. On the other hand, IS emphasises upon introducing as well as developing significant approaches in order to provide information technology related solutions to different organisations with the intention of mitigating the complex business problems (The University of Nottingham, n.d.). In relation to the application of OM and IS concepts, Trendy Garments Ltd (TGL) which is regarded as a textiles manufacturing organisation possesses several departments in order to perform its different operational functions. The departments comprise Human Resource Management (HRM), Accounting, Logistics and Marketing among others. The organisation has been noted to introduce as well as to develop an advanced department of information systems in order to enhance its effectiveness in performing different operational functions. In this paper, a detailed analysis about the role and acquisition of IS for TGL will be taken into concern. Various aspects that encompass explaining the key operations that TGL work upon by using the transformation process model as well as the systems thinking concepts and offering suitable suggestions to TGL concerning the accessibility of new technologies for its operational use will also be discussed in the paper. 1) Key Operations that TGL Work Upon by Using Transformation Process Model and Systems Thinking Concepts TGL has introduced a new department based on information systems for performing different operational functions in an effective manner. The management of the company seeks to develop this particular department for the motive of raising greater efficiency and most importantly lessening operational costs by a greater degree. The company possesses numerous operational departments to perform its different operational functions that comprise logistics, marketing, manufacturing, HRM and accounting among others. In order to determine the key operations that TGL work upon, it has been viewed that the various departments of the organisation handle different sorts of information effectively. For instance, the department of Accounts of the organisation is principally engaged in managing purchase orders and preparing required financial statements. Conversely, the department of marketing of TGL deals in gathering relevant information concerning the reputation of its broad assortment of products and then advices the organisation on making attractive product designs. Moreover, this marketing department of the organisation also markets as well as advertises its products by a significant level. The idea of Transformation Process Model is fundamentally regarded as a guideline that helps the business leaders to fully comprehend their respective organisations. It is worth mentioning that this particular model supports the modern organisations to lessen the complexities that prevail in the businesses within a particular organisation. The model comprises eight chief variables that need to be considered by the organisations for the motive of enhancing their performance in executing various operational functions (The Center for Organizational Design, 2012). The variables of the model have been described hereunder. Environment: The organisations can subsist only if they preserve harmony with their external as well as internal business environment. The organisations need to consider certain imperative factors that comprise recognising the requirements of the customers and comprehending the alterations that are happening in technologies. In this regard, TGL introduced a new department of information systems in order to raise its operational effectiveness and most importantly to identify the transformations particularly in technologies. Strategy: Business strategy is regarded as a predetermined set of making valuable decisions that supports an organisation to demarcate itself from its chief business market competitors. In this similar concern, TGL developed the strategy of creating several individual departments in order to perform its different operational functions effectively. Core Process: This particular variable associated with Transformation Process Model determines the workflow of an organisation. In this regard, the core procedure of TGL relating to flow of materials has been viewed to be large involvement of fabric suppliers, retailers as well as wholesalers. The organisation buys different materials from fabric suppliers and delivers the final product to the customers through retailers along with wholesalers. Structure: The structure of an organisation in accordance with Transformation Process Model typically denotes the management of people around business procedures. In this regard, TGL organises as well as manages its people by introducing several operational departments. Systems: This variable signifies the activities that assist the organisations towards organising along with coordinating work. In this similar concern, TGL possesses several different information systems concerning its various operational departments that eventually aid the organisation to coordinate work at large. Culture: The culture of any organisation represents the way in which it performs various operational functions. In this similar context, TGL has been noted to generate a new department of information systems with the intention of performing different operational functions. Results: This particular variable belonging to Transformation Process Model depicts the current performance possessed by the organisations. In this regard, the current performance of TGL can be stated as quite flourishing as the organisation is seeking towards introducing as well as developing information systems for the purpose of raising greater operational effectiveness. Leadership: The business leaders of any particular organisation possess certain responsibilities that ultimately lead towards attaining success. The responsibilities include setting targets, implementing effective business strategies and scanning business environment among others. In this similar context, the business leaders of TGL implement certain effectual business strategies like making constant product innovation and offering superior customer services that ultimately lead the organisation towards attaining success (The Center for Organizational Design, 2012). The aspect of Transformation Process Model can be better comprehended with the help of the following graphical representation. Source: (The Center for Organizational Design, 2012) The perception of Systems thinking concepts is fundamentally described as a powerful perspective that provides effective solutions towards mitigating any sort of operational problems. The different concepts relating to systems thinking have been described hereunder. Competences and Skills: This particular concept linked with strategic thinking denotes the strengths of any company that helps it to attain superior competitive position. In this similar context, the imperative strengths of TGL have been noted to be smooth operations in its material flow and the role played by different sorts of information systems within the organisation. From the perspective of smooth operations in material flow, TGL involves several fabric suppliers, retailers and wholesalers among others. In relation to the role played by the information systems, it has been viewed that the information system regarding one of the operational departments of TGL i.e. accounting supports the organisation in with dealing purchase orders effectively. Suppliers and Buyers: This particular concept of systems thinking determines the involved parties that help the organisations in making smooth flow of materials. From the perspective of paying much attention to material flow and the role played by different types of information systems, it has been noted that the involvement of fabric retailers and each of its department’s information systems ultimately have aided the organisation to provide superior services to the customers. Products and Offerings: TGL mainly deals with manufacturing as well as selling garments to its customers. In relation to material flow and the role played by different types of information systems, the company has been viewed to introduce new department of information systems with the intention of delivering its broad assortment of product offerings to the customers (CFAR, 2001). The different concepts linked with systems thinking can be better explained with the help of the following pictorial illustration. 2) Possibility of Installing a New Network Infrastructure and Deploying Technological Gadgets in TGL The installation of advanced network infrastructures and the application of pioneering technological gadgets have been the prime focus areas for the management team as well as the business managers of different business organisations to accomplish their predetermined business targets. Similarly, the Managing Director of TGL realised the utmost requirement to introduce along with develop IS with the intention of raising its operational effectiveness and most importantly enhancing its profitability as well as productivity by a significant level. Moreover, the management team of TGL also realised that the installation of an advanced network infrastructure and the application of an innovative technical gadget are quite indispensable for the organisation to facilitate organisational wide computing and to increase operational effectiveness by a greater degree. Due to the immense growth along with increasing complexities in performing operational functions, TGL requires installing advanced network infrastructures and applying pioneering technical gadgets. By taking into concern this aspect, it can broadly be affirmed that there lay the probability of installing a new network infrastructure and deploying technological gadgets especially in TGL by a considerable level. It has been apparently observed that TGL possesses several individual operational departments like HRM, marketing, logistics and accounting among others that ultimately generate the possibility of installing advanced network infrastructures and applying pioneering technical gadgets within the organisation. The introduction as well as the development of the aforementioned operational departments eventually would assist TGL to raise its operational effectiveness and to enhance its productivity at large. With regard to evaluating current network infrastructures and new technologies that are readily accessible for operational use in the organisations like TGL, it has been viewed that the modern world comprises several technologies along with network infrastructures that can support an organisation to transform its business procedures by a greater degree. In order to determine the accessibility of advanced network infrastructures relating to TGL, it can be affirmed that the facet of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology can be suitable for the organisation in its operational usage. In this similar concern, it has been apparently observed that this particular technology i.e. WLAN is primarily adopted by different organisations as a form of advanced networking infrastructure. This is owing to the reason that this technology aids them towards supporting various standard desktop related applications that comprise conducting web browsing, accessing various important operational functions and enhancing existing operational procedures. Though the technology has been noted to be quite limited in performing its functions due to certain critical reasons like insufficient management solutions and high deployment costs among others but speedy advancements in its different facets ultimately have made the technology to be adopted extensively (Aruba Networks, Inc., 2012). Owing to the fact that there lays the probability of installing a new network infrastructure and deploying technological gadgets in TGL, the organisation can largely execute WLAN technology by a significant level. Moreover, TGL possesses several individual working departments in order to perform diverse operational functions that ultimately necessitate the utilisation of WLAN technology within the organisation. TGL can use the facet of WLAN technology as a form of an advanced network infrastructure in order to reap significant benefits. In this regard, the benefits that TGL can attain by using WLAN technology within the organisation comprise enhanced flexibility in performing various operational functions, increased operational productivity and decreased operational costs among others. Moreover, the execution of the technology would assist TGL towards lessening installation time, raising speed in performing different operational functions, delivering reliable as well as precise information and mitigating any sort of operational risk (Aruba Networks, Inc., 2012). Apart from installing WLAN technology as an advanced network infrastructure, TGL can also deploy tablet computers as a type of pioneering technological gadgets with the intention of raising its operational effectiveness by a greater degree. It has been apparently observed that tablet PC’s are broadly used for conducting various operational functions in different business sectors encompassing the manufacturing industry. Tablet PC’s are typically viewed as a notebook that facilitates a user to operate different functions with ease. These sorts of PC’s are often used in certain situations where the normal computers become non-functional or impractical. This particular technological gadget can be suitable for TGL as the organisation possesses several operational departments and intends to generate new information systems for conducting operational functions in an effective manner. The technological gadget i.e. Tablet PC has gained momentum in terms of operational usage in recent times due to possessing significant facets such as portability, versatility and flexibility among others. In this similar concern, the use of tablet PCs particularly in the manufacturing industry has been raised due to its capability of tracking operational effectiveness and most importantly smooth functioning of the flow of materials effectively. As TGL is involved with manufacturing garments in various sites, the execution of tablet PCs would be quite beneficial for the organisation to effectually monitor the tasks linked with its manufacturing process in various locations. Moreover, the use of tablet PCs would be quite advantageous for TGL as the technical gadget can assist the individuals of the respective operational departments of the organisation to perform various dynamic activities. The activities include remotely controlling operational equipments, working accordingly with task guidelines and mitigating any sort of operational issues (Stair & Reynolds, 2011). Thus, on the basis of the above discussion, it can be affirmed that WLAN technology as a form of advanced network infrastructure and tablet PCs as a type of pioneering technical gadget is readily accessible for the operational use in the organisations like TGL. 3a) Advice on a Suitable Set of Operations Electronic commerce which is prevalently acknowledged as e-commerce represents buying as well as selling of products or services over the medium of internet. The management team of TGL is quite interested towards selling its broad assortment of products to the customers through online. In this similar context, a particular e-business model has been advised to TGL for conducting a suitable set of operations. The organisation can raise its operational effectiveness by adopting one of the models of e-commerce i.e. the Storefront Model. This particular model is fundamentally regarded as a primary form of e-commerce wherein their lies a direct interaction between the purchasers and the sellers. It combines several valuable aspects that eventually facilitate the organisations to vend their respective products directly to the customers through online. The aspects include security as well as transaction processing, information storage and online payment among others. In order to conduct this Storefront facet of e-commerce, a specific organisation requires to organise as well as to manage online product catalogs, along with taking orders from online websites, securely accepting payments and most significantly handling customer data. One of the major advantages of this e-commerce model is that it helps the organisations to construct a unique brand and smoothly conduct their respective business or operational functions. Furthermore, the other advantages of Storefront model of e-commerce include inexpensive feature and time saving attribute among others (Deitel & et. al., 2011). After acquiring a brief idea about the significant benefits of Storefront model, it can broadly be affirmed that this particular model can prove to be much beneficial for TGL in setting up its operational functions effectively. An online web portal is often viewed to be a website or a system that supports an individual to access different valuable information that are gathered from various sources. It has been apparently observed that a dynamic web portal assists different organisations to navigate valuable information that might raise their operational effectiveness by a greater degree. Moreover, an attractive as well as a vibrant web portal has been noted to aid the organisations in easily locating their respective products or services in the online websites for attracting the customers. A particular web portal of any organisation possesses numerous features or functions that have the ability to attract the customers or the individuals at large. In this similar concern, the different features of an online web portal might include user authentication wherein the users must possess a valid email-id as well as password, personalised content views and personalised navigation tools among others (Motive Ltd., 2010). Relating to TGL, an online web portal must include the facets of ‘About Us’ in which the corporate information of the organisation would be portrayed, ‘Product Information’ in which information about different products of the organisation will be given and ‘Our Businesses’ in which information about the different businesses of the organisation will be provided. A graphical representation of an effective online web portal has been depicted hereunder. Source: (Catedra Inginerie Software, n.d.) In order to analyse the impact of e-business over traditional procedures of TGL, it has been viewed that the aspect of e-business is speedily becoming one of the imperative initiatives of the organisations in this modern day context for the motive of attaining their predetermined business targets. In this regard, the modern organisations strongly believe that with the application of e-commerce, they can accomplish superior competitive position over their chief business market contenders. One of the significant impacts of e-business over traditional business relating to TGL is that it focuses upon enhancing as well as raising business or operational effectiveness by installing pioneering technological advancements and utilising valuable resources effectively (Smith, 2013). 3b) Drawbacks of Introducing Storefront Model of E-Commerce Apart from various advantages that are possessed by the Storefront model relating to e-commerce, it has also been viewed that this model possesses certain critical drawbacks. The drawbacks of introducing the Storefront model of e-commerce as a type of customer and information processing technology can be identified from both the customer as well as the company acting as the supplier viewpoint. From the perspective of consumers, one of the drawbacks of Storefront model is that an adequate knowledge about dealing with the computers along with the internet browsers is needed to be acquired for smooth performance of the operations. As the model supports an organisation to offer a broad assortment of updated product information to the customers, it is quite indispensable for it to possess a clear understanding about accessing computers, online websites and internet browsers by a considerable level. This particular drawback of Storefront model might not prove to be much beneficial especially for the customers to acquire updated product related information. Another drawback of the model relating to customers’ viewpoint is no such physical proximity takes place with the items that are purchased by them. In this similar context, it can be affirmed that as the customers are viewing their desired products via online mode through Storefront model, the customers do not possess any physical proximity with the purchased products (Scribd Inc., 2013). From the standpoint of the company as the supplier, one of the critical drawbacks of the Storefront model is huge fixed costs. The organisations have to incur substantial expenditures in relation to timely offering updated product information to the customers. The organisations have been viewed to incur more expenses upon technological aspects that enable them to deliver updated information regarding products to the customers. The huge fixed costs ultimately affect the profitability of the organisations by a greater degree (Scribd Inc., 2013). After acquiring a brief idea about the drawbacks of the Storefront model as a type of customer and information processing technology for both the customer and the company as the supplier, it has been apparently observed that certain critical problems might rise from the aforementioned model while transacting with TGL. In this regard, the decisive problems or issues that could arise from the Storefront model while transacting with TGL are regarding online security and consumer privacy. By concentrating upon these crucial problems that might be generated from the Storefront model, it can broadly be affirmed that the issues linked with online security and consumer privacy have been raised considerably with rapid execution as well as the application of e-commerce. It has been viewed in this particular circumstance that there are certain factors that ultimately raise the aforementioned issues at large. The reasons encompass the adoption along with the implementation of imperfect laws relating to e-commerce, inappropriate regulations linked with e-commerce business transactions and the introduction of high level of technologies. As the computer possesses the capability to collect as well as to process considerable quantity of data and most importantly provide valuable information on a global basis, the need along with the concern for providing better security to the online users have also been raised extensively. The crucial problems or the issues concerning online security and consumer privacy can adversely affect the profitability as well as the productivity of TGL by lessening customer level by a greater degree (Scribd Inc., 2013). Thus, on the basis of the above discussion, it can broadly be affirmed that the problems of online security and consumer privacy could arise from Storefront model while transacting with TGL. Conclusion After acquiring a brief idea about the key operations that TGL work upon, it can be stated that the organisation is flourishing in terms of its growth in this present day context due to the establishment of advanced information systems and involvement of fabric suppliers along with retailers as well as wholesalers. There lies the probability of installing a new network infrastructure and deploying technological gadgets within TGL as the organisation possesses several individual working departments in order to perform different operational functions effectively. In this regard, the technologies like WLAN and tablet PCs are broadly accessible for operational use in organisations like TGL. In order to make products available through online, TGL can focus upon the Storefront model relating to e-commerce and design an effectual online web portal. It has been viewed that there pertain a greater impact of e-business over traditional business approaches as the facet of e-business remains much focused upon adopting as well as developing pioneering technological advancements. However, the Storefront model could generate certain crucial problems while transacting businesses in terms of online security and consumer privacy that might affect the profitability of TGL at large. In this regard, the organisation would have to develop more customer oriented privacy related practices in order to resolve the aforementioned issues or problems by a considerable level. References Aruba Networks, Inc., 2012. Introduction. Technology Advances in Retail. [Online] Available at: http://www.arubanetworks.com/pdf/technology/whitepapers/wp_Retail_advances.pdf [Accessed March 10, 2013]. CFAR, 2001. What is Strategic Thinking? Documents. [Online] Available at: http://www.cfar.com/Documents/strathink.pdf [Accessed March 10, 2013]. Catedra Inginerie Software, No Date. Storefront Model. e-Business Models. [Online] Available at: http://software.ucv.ro/~cbadica/didactic/ce/documente/ModeleEBusiness.pdf [Accessed March 10, 2013]. Deitel, H.M., 2011. e-Business & e-Commerce for Managers. Pearson Education India. Motive Ltd., 2010. The Motive Web Design Glossary. Glossary. [Online] Available at: http://www.motive.co.nz/glossary/portal.php [Accessed March 10, 2013]. Stair, R. M. & Reynolds, G. W., 2011. Principles of Information Systems. Cengage Learning. Smith, R., 2013. Introduction. The Impact of Electronic Business on the Organisation. Scribd Inc., 2013. E-Business Models. Documents. 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