ASSIGNMENT 1

What kinds of applications are described here? What business functions do they support? How
do they improve operational efficiency and decision making?

There are different types of business applications being described in this case study
(calendar, email, contact management, monitoring and analytical apps, inventory management
among others) that focused on increasing the productivity of different business processes.
These applications can help the users in preparing presentations, read documents in different
formats, manage inventory, analyze business activities and interact with the internet for different
business update. Some business applications on the apple store are Salesforce mobile, Cisco
WebEx, and iWork etc. these applications add productivity to the business processes. These
applications can improve efficiency as they can be used to schedule different tasks and inform
the users about the milestones. Presentations can be prepared without the need of a computer
and on the go hence saving time and making decisions faster and quicker.
Identify the problems that businesses in this case study solved by using mobile digital devices.

There are a variety of problems that were solved with the help of the productivity apps in this
case study. These apps help businesses better communicate with its customers. They help
monitor performance of different employees and sales. These applications can help in
scheduling and time keeping. There are also some applications used by business that help
businesses keep a record of employee attendance, and have ability to respond to customer
requests.
What kind of businesses are most likely to benefit from equipping their employees with mobile digital
devices such as iPhones and iPads?

In the modern world, most of the businesses have gone online in parts or whole. In my opinion
all business should equip their employees with a hand held mobile device depending on the
budget and requirements. Especially ipads and other tablets can be used to survey customers
and get their feedback. Retail business can use hand held devices to keep track of the inventory
and supplies. The hand held devices can be used by the employees of financial firms as there
are many forex applications available for regular check on the forex market.
One company deploying iPhones has said: The iPhone is not a game changer, it’s an industry changer.
It changes the way that you can interact with your customers and with your suppliers. Discuss the imp
lications of this statement.

There are two implications of the statement. First is that with an increased use of iphones and
like devices, an interaction with customers has become really easy. The customers and
suppliers can communicate to a business from almost anywhere and anytime. This has added
quality to the customer communication process. On the other hand an increased digital
communication has decreased in person communication with customers. There are some parts
of consumer behavior, especially customer’s behavior that cannot be assessed with the help of
digital interactions like audio or videos.
It has made it more convenient to conduct business at any time of the day
but has also decreased the face to face business interactions that occurred prior to the deploym
ent of mobile digital devices.
ASSIGNMENT 2

1. DISCUSS THE ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS TODAY

2. HOW INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE TRANSFORMING BUSINESS
3. WHAT IS NEW IN MANAGEMNET INFORMATION SYSTEMS?

THE ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS TODAY

An information system can be a mainframe, mid-range or network computer concept that allows
distributed processing for a group of users accessing the same software application. These
systems provide management with control over their data, with various tools to extract data or
view data structures and records. The role of an information system is to foster a data
management environment that is robust and can be expanded according to a business’
strategic plan for information processing. An information system also satisfies diverse
information needs in any business today.
Information technology and systems have revolutionized firms and industries, becoming the
largest component of capital investment in the world. and many industrialized societies.
Investment in information technology accounts for approximately 50 percent of all capital
invested.
AUTOMATION OF MANUAL TASKS
Information systems architecture can assist a business in automating manual tasks. Automation
can save time, money and resources and enhance organizational workflow. There are various
types of information systems that automate manual tasking, ranging from robotic information
systems used in areas such as health and medical services to logistical information systems
(automated warehouses and distribution systems).
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INTEGRATION
A business can have several different computer platforms (hardware and software). The
concept of information systems as a scalable platform can merge different hardware and
software systems. A system can process, store and distribute information if integrated into the
workflow of an information system. For example, a local area network (LAN) can integrate into a
mainframe system that processes accounting information through a concept called a “gateway.”
An open architecture information system allows for integration at all levels throughout an
organization.
PROVIDES DATA FOR DECISION SUPPORT

The most important role of an information system in a business is to provide data to help
executive management make decisions. Data is compiled through transaction processing or
query routines built into the information system to access item and detail records. Through
decision support programs, which are packaged as software routines, executive management
can analyze several areas of an organization and create scenarios through the information
system for a desired result. These results are defined in the organizations’ objectives and goals
to improve productivity.
SUPPORT OF A MULTI-PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT

An information system can support a “real-time” multi-processing environment through the

concept of “time-sharing application.” Time-sharing application allows for the prioritizing of
applications based on user-id and system priority assigned to an application, device, and
database or system catalog. These features are important to an organization that process
transactions while developing and testing program applications. In a multi-processing
environment, various departments, divisions or branches can have access to the system at the
same time intervals.
HOW INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE TRANSFORMING BUSINESS

Information systems are essential for conducting day-to-day business and as well as achieving
strategic business objectives. Some firms, such as Amazon and E*Trade, would be nonexistent
without information systems. Some service industries, such as finance, insurance, and real
estate industries, could not operate without information systems. The ability of a firm to use IT is
becoming intertwined with the firm's ability to implement corporate strategy.
Information systems are transforming business and the visible results of this include;
1. Increased use of cell phones and wireless telecommunications devices
2. A massive shift toward online news and information
3. Booming e-commerce and Internet advertising
4. New federal security and accounting laws that address issues raised by the exponential
growth of digital information. The Internet has also drastically reduced the costs of
businesses operating on a global scale.
There is a growing interdependence between a firm’s information systems and its business
capabilities. Changes in strategy, rules, and business processes increasingly require changes in
hardware, software, databases, and telecommunications. Often, what the organization would
like to do depends on what its systems will permit it to do.
Business firms invest heavily in information systems to achieve six strategic business
objectives:

1. Operational excellence: Efficiency, productivity, and improved changes in business

practices and management behavior

2. New products, services, and business models: A business model describes how a
company produces, delivers, and sells a product or service to create wealth. Information
systems and technologies create opportunities for products, services, and new ways to
engage in business.

3. Customer and supplier intimacy: Improved communication with and service to

customers’ raises revenues, and improved communication with suppliers lowers costs.

4. Improved decision making: Without accurate and timely information, business

managers must make decisions based on forecasts, best guesses, and luck, a process
 that results in over and under-production of goods, raising costs, and the loss of
customers.

5. Competitive advantage: Implementing effective and efficient information systems can

allow a company to charge less for superior products, adding up to higher sales and
profits than their competitors.

6. Survival: Information systems can also be a necessity of doing business. A necessity

may be driven by industry-level changes, as in the implementation of ATMs in the retail
banking industry. A necessity may also be driven by governmental regulations, such as
federal or state statutes requiring a business to retain data and report specific
information.

WHAT IS NEW IN MANAGEMNET INFORMATION SYSTEMS?

Management information systems (MIS) are complex decision support systems used by
companies to enhance and improve their business operations. Historically, an MIS was a
management tool to help company management make informed decisions for their business
based on information gathered from all business departments. Technology has greatly improved
the effectiveness of the MIS.
The management information systems (MIS) landscape is constantly changing as new
technologies are introduced and existing technologies evolve, making it critical for MIS
professionals to stay on top of current trends and continue to develop their technological savvy.
Some of the biggest management information systems trends affecting business today are;
1. Big data analytics.
The digitalization of business has led to the rise of big data analytics. Big data analytics refers to
the collection, organization and analysis of large sets of data. Two areas of big data analytics
that MIS professionals may be involved with at a business are raw data maintenance and data
mining.
2. Cloud computing.
Cloud computing utilizes shared computing resources rather than local servers and personal
computers. In other words, cloud computing refers to storing and accessing data and
applications using the Internet rather than your computer's hard drive. Cloud computing has
become essential to modern business.
3. Smart machines.
As smart machines become more and more prevalent in business, it has become increasingly
important for MIS professionals to stay on the cutting edge of this technology. MIS professionals
need to be able to both work with smart machines (implementation, troubleshooting, integration,
etc.) and also perform job duties that smart machines can't automate.
4. Mobile Computing
Mobile computing has forever changed the way we do business. The mobile revolution has not
only changed consumer behavior—the way consumers find and purchase products, interact
with brands, utilize customer reviews, and so on—but business practices as well. In addition to
creating a great mobile experience for consumers (a responsive mobile website, mobile
payment options, mobile apps, etc.), businesses also need to adopt mobile policies for
employees that allow them to take advantage of the benefits of mobile computing without
sacrificing security. As mobile computing continues to play an ever-growing role in business, it's
critical for MIS professionals to stay abreast of mobile computing trends.

ASSIGNMENT 3

1. Classify and describe the problems Kaiser faced in setting up the transplant center.
What was the role of information systems and information management in these
problems?
2. What were the management, organization and technology factors responsible for those
problems?
3. What steps would you have taken to increase the project’s chances for success?
4. Were there any ethical problems created by this failed project? Explain your answer.

The IT based problems that Kaiser faced in setting up the transplant center were;
1. Use of paperwork,
2. Lost records,
3. Incomplete or incorrect date,
4. Lack of specific procedures for transferring data,
5. No process for tracking or responding to patient complaints.
The people problems were that the employees had little guidance and training related to their
job requirements, and lacked prior experience with transplant program.
The employees that worked on processing transplant information were overworked.
What were the management, organization and technology factors responsible for
those problems?
The organizational problems were the company did not anticipate the personnel requirements of
their new project. There was little guidance given to employees and there was little executive
governance to correct procedural problems. There was no attempt to identify and define the
processes required to ensure a smooth transition from external transplant to in-house program.
The company forced its members to transfer to its kidney transplant program without having
adequately prepared to treat those patients.
The company had no comprehensive transplant patient master list or database and lost track of
records.
Incomplete or incorrect data, such as erroneous social security numbers and missing test
results.
The company had no multiple IT professionals assigned to maintain the complicated databases
required for a transplant program.
There were no systematic processes for tracking or responding to patient complaints or
requests.
Luck of executive governance to identify and correct any of the procedural problems that arose
immediately after the beginning of the project.
Information systems and management had an important role to play there were no procedures
to transfer data on the patients to the United Network for Organ Sharing. There were no
processes for tracking or responding to patient complaints/requests. Further, there were no
procedures for transferring data.
What steps would you have taken to increase the project’s chances for success?
Increase on the human resource needed especially the IT professionals to handle the
complicated database.
Offer job trainings to the employees towards the transplant program detail.
Admission of a few possible patients that the program can handle.
Utilization of the electronic database and minimize the use of paper based record keeping.
Long waiting patients be taken a priority for transplant.
Setting up clear and specific procedures or plans to run the program.
Were there any ethical problems created by this failed project?
The unnoticed shutdown of the transplant center just after a few years.
Overworking the employees was un-ethical
Lack of staff guidance and training regarding their job requirements and uniformly lacked prior
experience with transplant programs.
Failure to offer specific directions to patients about what to do for example potential kidney
recipients consent forms that were mailed, thus patients returned the forms to wrong entities.
Patients failure to correct the incorrect information that seemingly denied them to be included on
the transplant program.
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