Great Day Fitness Tracking Final Plan
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Great Day Fitness Tracking Final Plan
Great Day Fitness founder is seeking to expand her business to online platforms. For Karen to expand the business to online platforms, they would require extra hands in creating the organization’s website that entails different elements such as the charitable component. The founder of the organization has, in turn, hired IT consultants to help in developing the systems and help her expand her online businesses and reach.
Relationship between Business Processes and Information Systems
According to Stair & Reynolds (2020), business processes refer to a systematic chain of activities and tasks undertaken by people to help deliver a certain service or product to a specific consumer. Usually, business processes are integrated into organizations to help in achieving a specific objective or goal. Also, such processes are evident and applied at all organizational levels. Notably, each organization has different processes within its organizational levels. Integrating information systems into a business process helps streamline business processes and enhance easy data sharing and efficiency.
An information system would work perfectly for Karen’s business. It would help ease access to information on their products to consumers. Besides, it would help capture different consumers’ behaviors, such as their purchase patterns, resulting in improved performance.
Flowchart for Handling an Online Order
| Go to Website |
Customer Website
| Is style Available? |
| Finished Shopping? |
| Proceed to Checkout |
| Customize and Add to Cart |
| Yes |
| New Customer? |
| Login |
| Order received |
| Place Order |
| Verify billing Information |
| Inform customer |
| Receive receipt |
| Originate receipt |
| Payment charged to the customer |
| Payment information entered |
| Is payment, OK? |
| Proceed to checkout |
| Create Account |
| No |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| Select Wearable Tracking Device Style
|
| Percentage of payment donated to charity |
Areas for Information Systems (IS) Use and Security Concerns
The information system designed for Karen’s business requires customers and consumers to provide their private details when making orders. The customer’s information will be stored within the organization’s database, and only those permitted to access the information will be granted access. The information system will be protected through a series of well-designed rules and regulations that will prevent unauthorized access to highly classified information.
Hardware and Software Selection
Hardware and software selection plays a critical role in the eventual success of any organization. According to Ayres (2019), Hardware refers to monitors or any tangible component of a computer. On the other hand, softwares are interfaces that undertake one input into a computer (Popovič et al.,2019). Stair & Reynolds (2020) assert that one’s choice of software and hardware plays a significant role in enhancing an organization’s productivity and performance. Therefore, choosing the right hardware and software plays a significant role in getting the job done correctly and in the right way. However, it is challenging and tough for organizations and businesses to pick the right hardware and software for constant technological change.
Great Day Fitness will require different hardware such as computers, wireless routers for its online network, and hard drives for data storage. The most technologically advanced hardware would prove to be a success for the organization. As for software selection, the organization should consider the needs of their customers and consumers. Without a clear view of what the customers need, an organization can pick the wrong solution to the wrong problem.
Managing Data for Easy Access and Security
There is a need for Great Day Fitness to identify and establish suitable guidelines that protect the creation, collection, storage, and removal of data. The business can use different strategies to manage data for easy access and security. The best way for the business to manage its data is through onsite and cloud computing solutions. Onsite softwares will help the business store and access data easily through their internal infrastructure. Also, the company could use cloud computing solutions to access data using an internet connection. This method is less costly and better as opposed to the use of onsite softwares that require external hardware and constant maintenance costs. Cloud computing solutions for managing data are less costly and effective as opposed to the onsite opinion. Moreover, it does not present any security issues and risks.
Benefits of using TPS, CRM, and SCM
| Transaction Processing System (TPS) | |
| Role of TPS | Detects and records each transaction process(Popovič et al.,2019) |
| Advantages | 1. Enhanced processing in bulk
2. There is a reduced cost in workforce and inventory. 3. Reduced processing time and cycle 4. Enhanced customer satisfaction |
| Disadvantage | 1. Requires a lot of money and resources to set up |
| The benefit to Karen’s Business | 1. Safeguard and protect her customers’ information
2. Eases the process of ordering 3. There is easy access to products and services worldwide. |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | |
| Role of CRM | They are often used to collect information from different sources and store them in a centralized space for easy access. Customer relationship management helps in customer services and enhancing customer retention. |
| Advantages | 1. Easy to scale and expand
2. Helps in streamlining sales and customer relations |
| Disadvantage | 1. It requires high maintenance; therefore, it is costly.
2. Requires continuous data entry |
| The benefit to Karen’s Business | 1. Enhance customer relations with different stakeholders within the organization.
2. Help in capturing useful customer data and information 3. Help in the storage of client’s data |
| Supply Chain Management (SCM) | |
| Role of SCM | It allows for the streamlined flow of goods and services while enhancing the process of making products from raw materials. |
| Advantages | 1. Enhanced inventory control
2. Improved organization performance 3. Reduce costs involved in labor |
| Disadvantage | 1. Costly to maintain and initiate |
| The benefit to Karen’s Business | 1. It can help Great Day Fitness enhance its competitive advantage.
2. Offers real-time data to businesses 3. Enhances customer demands |
Importance of Business Intelligence
Business intelligence, according to Popovič et al.(2019), plays a significant role in helping organizations achieve a suitable and sustainable balance between their goals and their objectives. Business intelligence helps in improving the decision-making process and creating more business opportunities. There are various benefits that business intelligence provides to an organization. First, with business intelligence, businesses can analyze various business trends through performance indicators such as the supply tend and how different factors affect consumer attitudes. Businesses can therefore leverage the information to develop suitable plans and strategies of productions that fit the trends. Ultimately, there would be improved customer satisfaction and relations. Another significance of business intelligence is the enhanced return on investment. The more a business understands different intricacies involved in businesses’ analytics, the better and more aware they become of opportunities and business processes. The awareness a business gains helps them fasten the process of reporting their gains and losses and lowers the costs involved in operations. Business intelligence, according to Popovič et al.(2019), is more effective in enhancing business performance.
Another notable importance of business intelligence is that it helps businesses reduce and mitigate risks and enhance their market positioning. Gaining pertinent information on market trends and developments helps businesses recognize different risks and work towards mitigating them. Business intelligence allows a business to gain insight into already analyzed data, allowing them to understand different risks and their inefficiencies. Also, it helps businesses gain a competitive edge over their competitors by updating themselves on current news and trends. Overall, business intelligence helps businesses save on costs and make better decisions using different analytical tools and resources.
Information Systems Planning
Information systems planning, according to Satapathy et al.(2016), refers to the development of different information systems tools and resources in a bid to enhance the organization’s performance. Information systems planning is often used by businesses to identify customer needs, develop business strategies, and assess how best technology can be used as part of the entire information system. Information systems planning and management focus on how different technological systems and processes could be used by organizations to enhance their market position. Some of the key elements involved in information systems planning include the available hardware and softwares and the required personnel for its implementation. Planning as an information management system component plays a critical role in developing and integrating strategic plans developed by organizations. Equally, it helps businesses by providing an easier means for explaining different business systems’ costs and benefits.
The planning process in information systems involves both strategic and operational planning. Strategic planning entails a systematic structure of long term goals and their goals. It also focuses on visions and how best people can work together to achieve the stipulated goals and objectives (Satapathy et al., 2016). The top echelon of leaders and executives are often tasked with the role of developing strategic plans. Once they have devised the plan, they push it down the hierarchy to the rest at middle management and lower management. Strategic plans also involve quarterly and annual meetings to help the executives and stakeholders understand how the organization is performing.
Conversely, operational planning is tailored to the organization’s short term goals. The plan focuses on different goals and timelines. For instance, a short term goal would be to achieve a certain goal in a year. So, in the next fiscal year, the organization or business intends to have achieved an improved market position or performance. Usually, operation planning objectives are tailored to specific organizations. Department managers and leaders are left to lead the organization’s overall success. Operational planning finances and plans are always covered within their annual budgets and activities.
Potential Methodologies
Different methodologies are available to help Karen and Great Day fitness monitor, plan, and control their information systems development and implementation. Notable methodologies include agile, lean development, waterfall, extreme programming, and joint scrum. The use of agile methodologies allows businesses to mitigate risks through the development of iterations. The software iterations are designed to last for up to a month. Also, agile softwares help detect risks and defects and the best solution to the issues. On the other hand, joint scrim and application development help clients and users create a workable system. According to Weintraub & Cohen (2017), the use of joint application development allows end-used and clients to identify suitable solutions to existing problems before finalizing the process. The use of this methodology helps in involving customers in the development of different applications and systems. This methodology will help Karen accomplish a suitable framework and structure that involve both the client and the organization’s employees and members. This model will come in handy in identifying business problems rather than focusing on technical issues that can easily be resolved.
Utility and Cloud Computing Services
According to Kamariotou & Kitsios (2019), utility and cloud computing services refer to a business model that is primarily focused on a cloud-like infrastructure. The main purpose of the model is the provision of computing services based on the cloud-like infrastructure. Utility computing services as a single entity involve providing services to clients that can only pay for. On the other hand, cloud computing is hinged on its underlying architecture and infrastructure, where the services are tailored to meet that design. Cloud computing is often argued to be computing services run within an internal organizational network or an unknown cloud source.
Even though utility and cloud computing is clustered together, there are significant differences in their terms and how they are implemented and used. Utility computing is more aligned with how softwares and hardware are delivered, whereas cloud computing focuses on how different applications are run within the virtual internet space. However, cloud computing offers more advantages to utility computing because it can be scaled, enhanced, and reliable.
Three-year Strategic Plan
Great Day Fitness Tracking under the leadership of Karen Adams has designed and created a three-year strategic plan to enhance its shift to online platforms and overall business strategy. Through meetings and extensive deliberations, the IT consultants reviewed the organization’s vision and mission with the input of key leaders, including Karen. The strategy was developed for the fiscal years 2020-2023. Great Day Fitness missions and goals were reviewed to meet the technological demands for the next three years. Both strategic and operational plans were involved in each fiscal year to ensure the organization meets its objectives. The following metrics were devised to help establish and monitor the success of each plan.
- Personnel Strategic Goals:
- Train and retain skilled employees
- Adopt best market trends
- Customer Strategic Goals:
- Enhance customer retention
- Introduce different products into the market
- Financial Strategic Goals:
- Enhance organizational performance on revenue by 30% annually
- Decrease liabilities and utilities by 10%
- Operational Strategic Goals:
- Increased operational efficiencies using technology
- Develop and implement a suitable customer relations system
Conclusion
With the shift to online platforms, the Great Day Fitness Tracking business needs to implement and integrate different factors into their structure to ensure success. The business should have an information system to ease access to information on their products to consumers. Besides, it would help capture different consumers’ behaviors, such as their purchase patterns. Also, the information system needs to capture customer’s information and store it within the organization’s database, and only those permitted to access the information will be granted access. Other than that, systems that could ensure streamlined operations include the use of TPS, CRM, and SCM.
The company should also use business intelligence. Business intelligence helps businesses reduce and mitigate risks and enhance their market positioning. Gaining pertinent information on market trends and developments helps businesses recognize different risks and work towards mitigating them.
References
Ayres, F., Ayres, F., & Barão, A. (2019, November). Methodologies for Large SAP ERP Projects Implementation. In International Conference Europe Middle East & North Africa Information Systems and Technologies to Support Learning (pp. 243-247). Springer, Cham.
Kamariotou, M., & Kitsios, F. (2019). Strategic information systems planning. In Advanced Methodologies and Technologies in Business Operations and Management (pp. 535-546). IGI Global.
Popovič, A., Puklavec, B., & Oliveira, T. (2019). Justifying business intelligence systems adoption in SMEs. Industrial Management & Data Systems.
Satapathy, S. C., Mandal, J. K., Udgata, S. K., & Bhateja, V. (2016). Information systems design and intelligent applications. Advances in intelligent System and Computing, 2(1), 219-223.
Stair, R., & Reynolds, G. (2020). Principles of information systems. Cengage Learning.
Weintraub, E., & Cohen, Y. (2017). Multi Objective Optimization of Cloud Computing Services for Consumers. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 8(2), 139-147.