Business Problems at Club IT
Club IT, is a downtown music store, managed by Ruben Keys and Lisa Tejada (Wiley.com, n.d). Even though the business is running as laid down in the organizational mission and vision, there are some issues that Ruben and Lisa are facing with the conduct of the business and these problems hinder the progress of the company. An analysis of the problems reveals that:
- The Company does not have advanced information systems due to which the company is facing a lot of issues. While every other company in the industry is working with advanced information systems Club IT has not thought about instituting any advanced systems to provide the management with the information required for decision-making. This necessitates the company to introduce several advanced information systems to enable the company to manage its resources efficiently.
- The company also lacks technological capabilities which are vitally important for effective management of information resources. The company needs to invest in sophisticated hardware and software to improve its performance.
- Dealing with the suppliers and guests is another major area where the company needs improvement to be carried out forthwith. Presently the company uses the traditional methods of contacting the suppliers and guests through telephone which most of the time proves to be inefficient and does not produce the desired results.
Club IT – Background on Resources, Customers, and Supply Chain
Human resources is one of the key factors contributing to the performance of Club IT. The Company’s success also depends on the periodic and frequent remodeling of the interiors. The ceiling and lighting have been arranged in such a way that the place is filled with energy and enjoyment. The ceilings are high and the lighting has high energy to achieve this. The club adds fun to the recreation of the customers by hiring live bands now and then and also over weekends. The company also engages live DJ working from Tuesdays to Thursdays.
Club IT has most of the customers from the elite class who have the knowledge and working with mobile technologies such as Blackberrys, PDAs, camera phones, and other wireless communication devices. The customers of Club IT also resort to online shopping as a regular part of their lifestyle. Club IT’s supply chain consists mainly of its human resources. The supply chain functions using the traditional method of contacting the customers and suppliers by telephone. On some occasions people at Club IT even personally contact the customers and suppliers for passing on messages or information to them.
IT solutions to resolve Business Problems
Presently several IT solutions can be used by organizations of any size for improving information systems and thereby improving the performance of the organization. The following section presents some of the IT solutions Club IT can implement to resolve the business problems of the Company discussed within this paper.
Improving Information Systems
For resolving the issue of management of information systems within the organization Club IT can implement an Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) system, ERP systems can be tailor-made to correct the lack of communication within several functional areas of an organization. By integrating the information systems operating within different functional areas of an organization, the ERP system enables the collection and dissemination of information from a common database. Different departments can draw information from this common database for use in their respective departments. “Enterprise resource planning (ERP) represents a broad set of activities supported by software that helps an organization manage the important parts of its business, such as product planning, purchasing and managing inventories, financial data, vendor relations, customer service and sales management.” (ITBusinessEdge, 2009) Thus ERP system can improve the flow of communication within Club IT and pass the information at the required time and in the right manner to enable the different departments to function effectively. (Chapter 2 Information Systems: Concepts and Management).
Improving Technological Capabilities
By instituting different Office Automation Systems, Club IT can resolve the problem of lack of technological capabilities within the Company. To intrude office automation systems, the clerical staff, lower and middle managers, and knowledge workers will be able to improve their performance level which in turn will increase the information technology capability of the Company. Word processing, desktop publishing, electronic calendar, email, voice mail, and video conferencing are some of the office automation systems that will improve the performance of the people at Club IT.
Improvements in Dealing with Customers and Suppliers
An effective supply chain management system when implemented in Club IT will resolve the issue of dealing with the customers and suppliers. “Supply chain management (SCM) is the combination of art and science that goes into improving the way your company finds the raw components it needs to make a product or service and deliver it to customers.” (Wailgum, 2008) In the case of Club, IT the supply chain management system will handle the delivery of information and messages to the customers and suppliers in an efficient way rather than the traditional system of through telephones or personal meetings. The suppliers and customers can be connected with the Company on e-commerce enabling the customers to deal with the Company online.
Depending on the needs and requirements the different departments in Club IT may choose the IT solutions discussed in this paper. For instance, an efficient ERP system will function to interconnect all the departments to ensure a smooth flow of information systems among the different departments. The Office Automation System will enable the departments to work in close coordination with each other to pass on the information efficiently and on time. The Supply chain management system will ensure that the supplies are made effectively and the customers are provided with timely information.
References
ITBusinessEdge. (2009). ERP Systems. Web.
Wailgum, T. (2008). Supply Chain Managment Definition and Solutions. Web.
Wiley.com. (n.d.). About Club IT. 2009. Web.