Information System
Retrieving new and topical information is especially important for a company operating within a food industry. Consequently, an appropriate information system must be used in order to feel the pulse of the food market, learn about the recent changes in its environment, etc. Particularly, the information about major concerns of the target audience regarding the food provided to them must be analyzed fast and efficiently; for instance, with the advent of advanced food technology and the creation of genetically modified products, it has become obligatory for food producing companies to prove that their products do not contain the dreaded GMO. Hence, the need for establishing a proper information system is evident.
As far as global information systems are concerned, the use of social networks seems the most adequate solution to the company’s current issues. Indeed, it is clear that the organization is going to face a very tough competition; such monster corporations as McDonalds, Burger King, etc., as well as famous restaurant chains, will definitely put the firm out of business unless a proper promotion campaign is used to sustain the organization. Therefore, the project in question will require a comparatively cheap yet efficient method of promotion, which social networks will be perfect for.
Compared to the rest of the methods (i.e., billboards, transport advertisements, advertisements in magazines and newspapers), the approach specified is the most efficient (i.e., targeted at the greatest amount of the potential customers) and the cheapest of all available. Indeed, a closer look at the policies of such companies as Facebook and Twitter will show that the specified social networks, as well as every social network on average, charge their partners a minimum of $4,500 per month (Prosser, 2013). A billboard poster, in its turn, will cost the company at least $5,000 per month, or $60,000 per year, if placed in a comparatively small city (CBS Outdoor, 2014).
It goes without saying that social networks as the basic information system for the company to work in have their problems, they key one being the programs blocking advertisements. Such Google Chrome and Mozilla applications as AdBlock and AdBlockPlus hinder the promotion of products to a considerable degree. Statistically, however, the advertisements placed in social networks still deliver an impressive result, since a number of users do not install the aforementioned advertisement blocking applications into their browsers. Speaking of geographical information systems, the ArcGIS system must be considered as a probable option.
Allowing to create maps, it will help track the possible issues with the product delivery, resources allocation, etc. (e.g., the problem of product delivery to the patients residing in distanced areas can be identified and solved comparatively easily by creating a map in ArcGIS and designing the most favorable route). As far as planning information systems are concerned, the CRM system should be viewed as a reasonable tool for approaching the company’s goals (ESRI, 2014).
Customers and Transactions: Capturing, Retrieving, Organizing, and Protecting Information
The process of information retrieval, organization, analysis and distribution often happens to be the most complicated issue for a company to deal with. In the environment of a modern global market, information emerges very frequently and comes in large pieces, which makes it extremely complicated to track the important data down. The process of differentiating between the verified and the untrustworthy data also becomes increasingly difficult with an influx of facts that are yet to be checked. Therefore, in order to be competitive, the company will have to develop a comparatively cheap system of data management, which will allow for quick data processing.
In order to make the process of data management les painstaking, it will be reasonable to introduce the company to the concept of knowledge sharing. By creating a database that may be accessed by any member of the company and encouraging the employees working in different departments to share the attained information with each other, the leaders of the company will benefit greatly. It is worth noting, though, that such a step will require that the competition rates among the staff should be reduced. There is no secret that, with a lack of trustworthiness and high competitiveness rates among the staff, sharing information is practically impossible (Oz, 2009). Therefore, it will be required to shape the organizational behavior standards among the staff; this change, in its turn, will be attainable with the alteration of the corporate values and the introduction of corporate ethics principles into the culture of the organization.
In addition, the issue of data security must be brought up. With the technological breakthrough that was witnessed at the beginning of the 21st century, the problem of information leakage and the breach of the company’s security has become especially tangible. While the endeavors of software companies to make the process of data storage more secure by creating sophisticated programs is definitely appreciated, it is important to keep in mind that malware, as well as computer viruses, Trojans, etc., get improved consistently. Hence, the threat of the company’s database being attacked by hackers is practically unavoidable.
However, with the application of some ground rules, the threat may be brought down a few notches. Combined with the knowledge sharing approach mentioned above and the introduction of password-protected databases, the suggestion made below will help ensure comparative safety of the firm’s data. To make the company’s information safe, it will be required to ensure that not only password protected databases should be created, but also that the company’s policy should be switched to a stricter approach towards information transfer. While the principles of information sharing must be supported among the members of the staff, the latter should be discouraged from sharing the data with any third party unless ordered so and approved by the higher authority of the company.
Operational Processes and Business Functioning Profitability
Seeing that the food company in question is extremely young, it will be reasonable to focus on such an element of the operational processes as marketing. As it has been explained above, the company’s marketing will rely mostly on the information technology, particularly, on social networking, as the key marketing tool. In addition, the company should consider direct e-marketing (e.g., suggesting the potential customers e-mail subscriptions and updating them on the company’s news on a weekly basis) as the strategy that will inevitably lead to the profitability of the firm. In addition, such social networks as Pinterest and Instagram are not to be ignored; the latter will allow to show the target audience in a graphic manner what the company has to offer, and the former will help announce the events that the firm is planning to hold in the nearest future.
In its purchasing process, the company will have to follow the principle of using only the materials of the finest quality. While the ingredients for the products may be quite costly, it will be crucial to maintain the company’s reputation and purchase the ones that meet the highest requirements in terms of taste, nutritional value and quality. Such a high standard can be met by reducing the costs for logistics; particularly, the transportation services should take less money. With the introduction of a proper geographical information system, it will be possible for the company to design the routes that will take the minimum time and financial resources. In addition, a better cooperation with the logistic related partners and, therefore, fewer chances for a mistake will be possible with an adequate geographical information system.
The manufacturing processes will also be optimized by introducing the staff to a new system of time management. The shifts and the necessary actions will be scheduled; thus, the production process will be carried out faster and more efficiently. As far as the sales are concerned, it will be desirable that more attention should be given to the leadership style. With an introduction of transformational leadership into the company, it will become possible to motivate the employees for a better performance and, therefore, maintain the profitability rates quite high.
Tracking Sustainability and Triple Bottom Line Measures: Systems to Use
Business sustainability is an essential element of any entrepreneurship. By keeping every single element of its processes, the company in question will be able to withstand high competition rates in the realm of the global market. In order to keep the business of a food company sustainable, it will be necessary to incorporate such elements as value creation, customer intensity, resource leveraging, proactiveness and innovativeness into the company’s operational processes (Mort, Weerawardena & Liesch, 2012).
Reference List
CBS Outdoor. (2014). Outdoor advertising and billboard advertising costs. CBS Outdoor. Web.
ESRI. (2014). ArcGIS resources. ESRI.
Mort, G. S., Weerawardena, J. & Liesch, P. (2012) Advancing entrepreneurial marketing: Evidence from born global firms. European Journal of Marketing, 46(3/4), 542 – 561. Web.
Oz, E. (2009). Managing information systems (6th ed.). Great Valley, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press. Web.
Prosser, M. (2013). How much does billboard advertising cost? Fit small business. Web.