Monday, October 12, 2009
Case No. 3 Henry Schein Inc.: The Business Value of a Data Warehouse
0 comments Posted by Rojie Urbane Alpas at 1:05 AM1. What are some of the key requirements for building a good data warehouse? Use Henry Schein Inc. as an example.
Answer:
a. A database management system is a set of computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and use of the databases of an organization. Major uses are database development, database interrogation, database maintenance, and development of application programs.
b. Key requirements would include:
• Those involved in building the data warehouse should have the right skills and experience.
• Ensure data quality.
• Determine on the front-end the information the potential business users need access to and the reports they want to see.
• Analyze the old paper reports and the condition of the data housed in the company’s core transaction system.
• Standardize transactional codes in order to produce reports needed.
• Developing and testing summary tables to make queries work faster.
2. What are the key software tools needed to construct and use a data warehouse?
Answer:
Key software tools need would include:
• Data extraction software.
• User query and reporting software.
• Data transformation and loading software.
3. What is the business value of a data warehouse to Henry Schein? To any company?
Answer:
The business value would include:
• Determine the most profitable customers.
• Determine which customers to target with special promotion offers.
• Analyze the business by product category, sales territory, etc.
• Determine which customers should be included in specific direct marketing efforts.
• Ability of a user to add more fields to reports as they are using the system.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
1. Do you agree with the argument made by Nick Carr to support his position that IT no longer gives companies a competitive advantage? Why or why not?
- For me, I don’t agree with Nick Carr because as I’ve observed businesses today, most of them use IT and their business improves in terms of profitability. In general, IT has high cost and takes time to be understood or to be use as to what its purpose is, but later if you know already how to interact with it, it can give business benefits and one of it is competitive advantage.
2. Do you agree with the argument made by the business leaders in this case in support of the competitive advantage that IT can provide to a business? Why or why not?
- From the case, the statement that I had agreed is the statement of Michael Dell that without the proper use of the equipment, its expense outweighs the benefits gained. This means that when a company is using IT in processing business it’s so important to use it in a proper way as to what it is made or use it according to its purpose. And with relation to that business must put people in positions that are competent or qualified. With the advances in technology that are happening everyday, it would be an unwise choice not to capitalize on use of this new software, because when your competitor does, you will be at an obvious disadvantage.
3. What are several ways that IT could provide a competitive advantage to a business? Use some of the companies mentioned in this case as examples. Visit their websites to gather more information to help you answer.
- At present and as what I have observed, the ways that IT could provide a competitive advantage to a business is continuous big help in large corporate businesses is increase of means in communication. The ability to spread, and share new information at a moments notices helps minimize downtime, and increase efficiency, which means larger profits in the end.
- For me, I don’t agree with Nick Carr because as I’ve observed businesses today, most of them use IT and their business improves in terms of profitability. In general, IT has high cost and takes time to be understood or to be use as to what its purpose is, but later if you know already how to interact with it, it can give business benefits and one of it is competitive advantage.
2. Do you agree with the argument made by the business leaders in this case in support of the competitive advantage that IT can provide to a business? Why or why not?
- From the case, the statement that I had agreed is the statement of Michael Dell that without the proper use of the equipment, its expense outweighs the benefits gained. This means that when a company is using IT in processing business it’s so important to use it in a proper way as to what it is made or use it according to its purpose. And with relation to that business must put people in positions that are competent or qualified. With the advances in technology that are happening everyday, it would be an unwise choice not to capitalize on use of this new software, because when your competitor does, you will be at an obvious disadvantage.
3. What are several ways that IT could provide a competitive advantage to a business? Use some of the companies mentioned in this case as examples. Visit their websites to gather more information to help you answer.
- At present and as what I have observed, the ways that IT could provide a competitive advantage to a business is continuous big help in large corporate businesses is increase of means in communication. The ability to spread, and share new information at a moments notices helps minimize downtime, and increase efficiency, which means larger profits in the end.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
1. Why do you think that Aviall failed in their implementation of an enterprise resource planning system? What could they have done differently?
- The reasons why Aviall failed in their implementation resource planning system are because of inadequate consideration of the magnitude of the project, ERP implementation did not improve the basic operational support system needed by Aviall to provide timely supply chain management, ERP system did not support adequately Aviall's business strategies and ERP system project did not adequately address the issue of systems integration between applications. Aviall have done several things which are differently and these are; project planning through the use of some form of a systematic development process, analysis of the business requirements prior to making decisions about the software to acquire for the ERP system and project management should have been a higher consideration of Aviall.
2. How has information technology brought new business success to Aviall? How did IT change Aviall’s business model?
- The reasons why Aviall failed in their implementation resource planning system are because of inadequate consideration of the magnitude of the project, ERP implementation did not improve the basic operational support system needed by Aviall to provide timely supply chain management, ERP system did not support adequately Aviall's business strategies and ERP system project did not adequately address the issue of systems integration between applications. Aviall have done several things which are differently and these are; project planning through the use of some form of a systematic development process, analysis of the business requirements prior to making decisions about the software to acquire for the ERP system and project management should have been a higher consideration of Aviall.
2. How has information technology brought new business success to Aviall? How did IT change Aviall’s business model?
- Information technology brought new business success to Aviall by Aviall can bettermatch production to demand from the IT improvements, sales force spends more time developing customer relationships than processing routine orders, customers have access to price and availability information in less thatn five seconds - a real time feature, Customers are able to transfer their orders from an Excel spreadsheet directly to the web site, system integrated by using common business databases managed by database software from Sybase, Inc., and by designing the new combined system to properly access and deal with customized pricing charts for 17,000 customers who receive various types of discounts, and with an inventory of 380,000 different aerospace parts, developing Aviall.com to reduce the cost per order from $9 per transaction to 39 cents. Information technology changed Aviall's business model by changing it from a catalogbusiness to full-scale logistics business and putting it as a provider of supply chain management services through the integration of a range of Web-enabled e-business software systems.
3. How could other companies use Aviall’s approach to the use of IT to improve their business success? Give several examples.
- Other companies can use Aviall’s approach to the use of IT to improve their business success by securing to its business that it would have a better impact and has no negative effect such as increase in expenses. Good examples with these are reposition of a firm as a supply chain management services provider through Web-enabled e-business software systems and redesign the customer relationship management system to minimize the routine order processing and permit the sales force to focus on product and service development efforts that will grow revenue.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
1. Are many of Lufthansa’s challenges identified in the case similar to those being experienced by other businesses in today’s global economy? Explain and provide some examples.
- Yes, the challenges which is identified in the case faced by Lufthansa are similar to those being experienced by other businesses in today’s global economy. It is similar because today's businesses specifically after employment, immediately put their newly employed employees in a training or briefing seminars so that their skills will improved and therefore they can work well in the company which will lead to the progress of a company . Today's businesses also face challenges such as communicating efficiently between large groups of employees. Good example for this that apply this kind of practice are private companies and companies abroad.
2. What other tangible and intangible benefits, beyond those identified by Lufthansa, might a mobile workforce enjoy as a result of deploying mobile technologies? Explain.
- Tangible benefits are those benefits that we can had physically. This includes laptop and other technologies used for work and at home and probably decrease of cost or expenses is included because they would no longer pay for training equipments, such as training modules and for most the trainer. Intangible benefits are benefits we can had too but we could not have it physically but we can observe it. It include more productivity, time-efficient and well-trained employees that would fit and enjoy a more flexible work environment.
3. Lufthansa was clearly taking a big risk with their decision to deploy notebook computers to their pilots. What steps did they take to manage that risk and what others might be needed in today’s business environment? Provide some examples.
- To manage the risks, Lufthansa did the following steps: he had strict parameters that notebook PCs needed to meet before the pilots and provide requirements, such as: The notebooks had to have enough performance capability to run key software applications used by the pilots, the notebooks had to weigh less than 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds), their screens had be at least 12 inches diagonally as well as be bright and easy to read due to lighting conditions in the cockpit, and battery life had to be at least five hours for long airplane trips. For today's business environment, the basic step they would take to manage the risk or it could be better to avoid and prevent the risks within their company is to provide a security measures.
- Yes, the challenges which is identified in the case faced by Lufthansa are similar to those being experienced by other businesses in today’s global economy. It is similar because today's businesses specifically after employment, immediately put their newly employed employees in a training or briefing seminars so that their skills will improved and therefore they can work well in the company which will lead to the progress of a company . Today's businesses also face challenges such as communicating efficiently between large groups of employees. Good example for this that apply this kind of practice are private companies and companies abroad.
2. What other tangible and intangible benefits, beyond those identified by Lufthansa, might a mobile workforce enjoy as a result of deploying mobile technologies? Explain.
- Tangible benefits are those benefits that we can had physically. This includes laptop and other technologies used for work and at home and probably decrease of cost or expenses is included because they would no longer pay for training equipments, such as training modules and for most the trainer. Intangible benefits are benefits we can had too but we could not have it physically but we can observe it. It include more productivity, time-efficient and well-trained employees that would fit and enjoy a more flexible work environment.
3. Lufthansa was clearly taking a big risk with their decision to deploy notebook computers to their pilots. What steps did they take to manage that risk and what others might be needed in today’s business environment? Provide some examples.
- To manage the risks, Lufthansa did the following steps: he had strict parameters that notebook PCs needed to meet before the pilots and provide requirements, such as: The notebooks had to have enough performance capability to run key software applications used by the pilots, the notebooks had to weigh less than 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds), their screens had be at least 12 inches diagonally as well as be bright and easy to read due to lighting conditions in the cockpit, and battery life had to be at least five hours for long airplane trips. For today's business environment, the basic step they would take to manage the risk or it could be better to avoid and prevent the risks within their company is to provide a security measures.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
1. Could the 2004 Athens Olympics have been a success without all of the networks and backup technologies?
As I analyzed the question above, I thought that the 2004 Athens Olympics will succeed without using all the networks and backup technologies by recording all the information needed and the result if and only if there were no problems and destructions occurred in the Olympics and it’s also because even today there are things that come to succession without using any technologies. Those are transactions that are manually done. But in terms of time frame, the succession of the Athens Olympics will take a long time and not accurate.
2. The 2004 Olympics is a global business. Can a business today succeed without information technology? Why or why not?
Yes a today’s business will still be a business without using information technology or in short it will succeed. It is simply because the success of one’s business does not rely only on the technology that are being used but in many aspects such as relationship towards clients. The advantage only to a business when using IT are it makes the business still commit its success in a short period of time, transactions are being processed more easier, faster and comfortably and increase profit by the decreasing the number of staffs doing a particular transaction and a part of a business .
3. Claude Philipps said dealing with “crazy scenarios of what might happen in every area: a network problem, staff stopped in a traffic jam, a security attack . . . everything that might happen,” was the reason for so much testing. Can you think of other businesses that would require “crazy scenario” testing? Explain.
Life insurance business such as, (SSS) Social Security System. This business requires “crazy scenario” testing because this kind of business keep and store all the data of their clients and it should be kept privately so that no one will know about it. It needs several testing because it also uses network connection for an easier process of transaction but security must still be considered because of possible attacks. This business is related to Olympics.
As I analyzed the question above, I thought that the 2004 Athens Olympics will succeed without using all the networks and backup technologies by recording all the information needed and the result if and only if there were no problems and destructions occurred in the Olympics and it’s also because even today there are things that come to succession without using any technologies. Those are transactions that are manually done. But in terms of time frame, the succession of the Athens Olympics will take a long time and not accurate.
2. The 2004 Olympics is a global business. Can a business today succeed without information technology? Why or why not?
Yes a today’s business will still be a business without using information technology or in short it will succeed. It is simply because the success of one’s business does not rely only on the technology that are being used but in many aspects such as relationship towards clients. The advantage only to a business when using IT are it makes the business still commit its success in a short period of time, transactions are being processed more easier, faster and comfortably and increase profit by the decreasing the number of staffs doing a particular transaction and a part of a business .
3. Claude Philipps said dealing with “crazy scenarios of what might happen in every area: a network problem, staff stopped in a traffic jam, a security attack . . . everything that might happen,” was the reason for so much testing. Can you think of other businesses that would require “crazy scenario” testing? Explain.
Life insurance business such as, (SSS) Social Security System. This business requires “crazy scenario” testing because this kind of business keep and store all the data of their clients and it should be kept privately so that no one will know about it. It needs several testing because it also uses network connection for an easier process of transaction but security must still be considered because of possible attacks. This business is related to Olympics.
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