The Personal Trainer is a supercenter located in the Toronto area which offers basic services such as exercise equipment, a swimming pool, sporting goods shop, health food store, teen center, and snack bar, and special services that include child fitness programs and a computer café. The aforementioned functions will require the following business processes:
- Register new user
- Add training program
- Change schedule class
- Sell a sport item
- Receive sports item sale order
- Calculate bills and discounts
The Organizational Chart of the company will look as follows:
The manager of the Super Center, Gray Lewis, is not totally convinced about the need for a new system. The main argument can be seen through the inability to identify the tasks which the old system – Bumble Bee cannot perform. Additional data management capabilities were expected to occur, but no needs were identified beforehand. Thus, the reluctance to adopt the new system can be seen through the fear of unjustified charges and expenses. Susan’s response can be seen as corresponding to the responsibilities and the skills IT analysts must-have. She listened to the words of users, but at the same time, she did not follow any preconceived notions Gray might have. At the same time, she understands the hierarchy of the company. Being hired by the president, she remained flexible and ethical at the same time, supporting the position of the president, and answering the questions of the Gray, with whom she will have to work closely. Thus, she took the right position when responding to Gray’s comments.
The company might consider several options for information systems, one of which is Enterprise Computing System. Enterprise computing system can be seen as a suitable solution for Personal Trainer, which primary goal is integrating the functions of the center together. Such a goal will save the company time and increase efficiency. Additionally, working with confidential information such as sales, user profiles, accounting data, it can be stated that security is an important aspect for the company. Such aspects will be improved through the use of enterprise computing system, which improves data security and reliability. Being the first initiative of the company’s expansion, it can be assumed that the company has a growth potential that can be utilized.
Having sale functions, it can be stated that a transaction processing system will be beneficial as well. Buying sporting goods online implies transactions, which can be accordingly handled by transaction processing systems. Business support systems can be also beneficial for the company is forecasting sales, procurement, and making future decisions. Integrated with transaction processing systems, business support systems can aid the company in purchases, and/or identifying demand and supply of particular goods. Knowledge systems can be used for registered users such processes as customization of training programs and tracking results. Knowledge management can be used to analyze users’ data and suggest a training program, specific diet, or adjust training schedule. The company can also consider a user productivity system through the way the company will share data from different centers. Information sharing will be improved between various departments, reducing costs, and empowering employees.
Web-based B2C transactions are certainly within the opportunities that Personal Training can utilize. The simplest example for such a transaction can be seen through the ability of users, who have online access, to change their membership type. Other functions might occur in the future. Web-based B2B transactions system is an opportunity to manage the relationships with the suppliers of the company, e.g. sporting goods, snack bar procurement, equipment, etc.
References
Shelly, G. B., Cashman, T. J., & Rosenblatt, H. J. (2007). Systems Analysis and Design: Course Technology.