Decision Support System (DSS)

Applicable course objective:

- demonstrate problem-solving skills by identifying and resolving issues relating to information systems and their components, and proficiently utilise different types of information systems software (especially gaining proficiency in utilising databases, spreadsheets, and presentation applications).

- demonstrate written communication skills by understanding basic information, communication and technology (ICT) terminology for effective communication and applying it within a business environment.

Applicable graduate qualities and skills gained from this assessment instrument:

- Problem Solving (Skill U2)

- Written & Oral Communication (Skill U4)

This assignment is quite complex, and exposes you to many different components in Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current), some or all of which might be very unfamiliar to you. The assignment description provides some explanation of how to use these components, but you are also expected to use available resources such as Online Help, the Beskeen et al text, the Practical Skills sections at the end of each Module in the Study Materials, the SAM online tutorial activities and the course discussion forums, as well as exploring and experimenting on your own.

Preamble

Dr Nikola Teslawas extremely impressed with our computing firm's - Einstein Technologies- development of the Ye Olde Steampunk Emporium's Database Management System (DBMS) utilising Microsoft Access (Assignment 1). The business has contracted our firm to assist in setting up more of the business's various computer-based information systems.

The next computer-based information system that the businessis interested in is a Decision Support System (DSS) utilising Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current). The DSS will be used to analyse sales trends for the business to determine future courses of action for the business.

Dr Nikola Tesla would like the information in the Database Management System (DBMS) (Assignment 1) imported into Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current) so that the information can be summarised as a report and some future analysis of sales trends performed. The suppliers used by the business, source items from either Luxembourg(LU) or Tuvalu(TV). They allow the business to select from either of these two regions on an ad hoc basic depending on the most favourable exchange rate at the time.

Dr Nikola Teslahas noted that a number of the business's competitors are providing a discount to customers who place large orders. The businesswould like to see what affect adopting a similar policy would have on the business. The businesshas also noted a growing number of online businesses are starting to provide free freight delivery as a way of encouraging more online business; the businesswould like to run a number of scenarios based on potential Mark-up and Freight options to ascertain the best combination for the business if they were to adopt this policy too.

Decision Support SystemDesign
Mrs Ada Lovelace, your manager, has set up the following tasks for you to complete for this phase of the project:
1. Create a Spreadsheet and import the four (4) Access Tables into four (4) Worksheets
2. Data Validation Check
3. Create an Index Worksheet
4. Create a Data Input Worksheet Template for later use
5. Create a Calculations Worksheet Template for later use
6. Create Name Ranges for the Customers, Items, and Suppliers data
7. Create a Report Worksheet and set up the column headings
8. Modify the Report Worksheet by Cell Referencing all the Orders Table data
9. Modify the Report Worksheet by using VLOOKUP to get Customer, Item and Supplier data
10. Modify the Data Input Worksheet to include extra data needed for tasks 11 to 15
11. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Cost Price (AU)
12. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Selling Price
13. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Freight Cost
14. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a AND / IF to calculate Item Discount
15. Modify the Report Worksheet by using simple formulas to find Purchases and Sales, and Modify the Report Worksheet by using a formula to calculate the Order Discount
16. Modify the Data Input Worksheet to include extra data needed for tasks 18 to 22
17. Modify the Calculations Worksheet by using simple formulas
18. Modify the Data Input Worksheet by Cell Referencing all the Calculations data
19. Create eight (8) Scenarios on the Data Input Worksheet
20. Create a Scenario Summary of the eight (8) Scenarios
21. Create an Documentation Worksheet
22. Create an Analytical Essay to describe the findings made using the Spreadsheet

Task 1: Create and Import

Open a single new Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current) spreadsheet and name the file - ‘[lastname] [initial] _ [student number] _ [course code] _ [assignment number]' (eg. genrichr_0050051005_CIS5100_assign2.xlsx).
Import the following four (4) database tables from your Assignment 1 Microsoft Access (any version from Access 2007 to current)Database File and into Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current) (tblCustomers, tblItems, tblSuppliers, tblOrders). The easiest and quickest way to import data fromAccess (any version from Access 2007 to current) into Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current)is by using the "Import From Access" Wizard. The following steps will assist you with this process:
1) Select the first unused tab at the bottom of the Spreadsheet, right click on it and rename it "CustomersTable".

2) Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called "Customers Table".

3) Go to the DataIcon Ribbon (see below)

4) Click on the From Access option in the Get External Dataicon area.
5) In the Get External Data - From Accesswizard popup, browse to find your Assignment 1 Access Database file and select the - then click Open.
6) In the Select Tablewizard popup, select tblCustomers - click OK.
7) In the Import Datawizard popup, select Tableand Existing Worksheet$A$3 as the location to Import the place to put the data.
8) Left click anywhere on the imported data in worksheet then go to the DesignIcon Ribbon and select Convert to Range then click OK.
9) Check that the data has correctly been imported correctly into this worksheet.
10) Modify the layout of the data to a professional level of presentation, making sure that the headings are in English (Customer ID not CustID).
Use bold, italics, font size, font colours, shading, lines and borders.
Repeat the above 10 steps for the rest of the Access Database tables naming each worksheet as follows:

Task 2: Data Validation Check
Check the imported data in the CustomersTable, ItemsTable, SuppliersTable and OrdersTable to ensure that:
1. The column headings are displayed correctly
2. The content of each column displays in a format that appears valid for that type of data (apply appropriate formatting if required).
3. The content of each column contains complete and accurate data values (eg. Phone numbers are not truncated).
4. The content of each column contains reasonable data values for the use of this business.

If you discover that the data imported in any of your 4 table worksheets contains missing or inaccurate values, please contact the CIS5100 course team immediately. You will be issued with a new copy of the Assignment 1 Access Database file (containing the 4 Database Tables) to restart Task 1.

Task 3: Index Worksheet
Add a worksheet labelled Index before the four tables from Task 1. Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called Index Worksheet.Ensure that it contains all the recommended data for this worksheet listed in the Practical Appendixes found on the Study Schedule and Module Materials - Spreadsheet design considerations.
Modify the layout of the data to a professional level of presentation. Use bold, italics, font size, font colours, shading, lines and borders.

Task 4: Data Input Worksheet Template
Add a worksheet labelled DataInput after the Index worksheet from Task 2 (but before the four tables from Task 1) that conforms to the Practical Appendixes found on the Study Schedule and Module Materials - Spreadsheet design considerations. Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called Data Input Worksheet and then input the following templatein the exact cells shown below onto this worksheet:

Task 5:Calculations Worksheet Template
Add a worksheet labelled Calculations after the DataInput worksheet from Task 4 (but before the four tables from Task 1)that conforms to the Practical Appendixes found on the Study Schedule and Module Materials - Spreadsheet design considerations. Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called Calculations Worksheet and then input the following templatein the exact cells shown below onto this worksheet:

Task 6: Name Ranges
On the CustomersTable, ItemsTable and SuppliersTable worksheets set the following Cell Range Names:
- Cust- on all the data (not headings) in the CustomersTable worksheet
- Itms- on all the data (not headings) in the ItemsTable worksheet
- Supp- on all the data (not headings) in the SuppliersTable worksheet

Task 7: Report Worksheet Headings
Add a worksheet labelled Report after the Calculations worksheet from Task 5 (but before the four tables from Task 1)that conforms to the Practical Appendixes found on the Study Schedule and Module Materials - Spreadsheet design considerations. Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called Report Worksheet and then type the following column headings, starting in cell A3:
- Customer ID, Title, Family Name, Given Names, Address, City, State, Postcode, Distance (km), Item ID, Type, Description, Colour, Size, Freight Weight (Kg), Supplier ID, Supplier Name, Supplier Recommended Markup (%), Order Date, Order Qty, Cost Price (LU), Cost Price (TV), Cost Price (AU), Selling Price, Purchases, Item Discount, Sales, Freight Cost, Order Discount.
Modify the Report worksheets to a professional level of presentation, making sure that the headings are in English (Customer ID not CustID). Use bold, italics, font size, font colours, shading, lines and borders.

Task 8: Report Worksheet Cell Reference
On the Reportworksheet, Use the Cell References formula, to obtain all 1000 rowsof data from the OrdersTableworksheet for the following:
- Customer ID, Item ID, Order Date, Order Qty.
(For example, type =OrdersTable!A4 to reference data in cell A4 of the OrdersTableworksheet.)

Modify the Summary worksheets to a professional level of presentation, making sure that the data is formatted correctly.
Note: All formulas must be designed to be typed once at the top of each column and copied down to the remaining cells in the column.

Task 9: Report Worksheet VLOOKUP
On the Reportworksheet use the VLOOKUP function with the Cell Range Names (Task 2), obtain all 1000 rows of data from the CustomersTable, ItemsTable and SuppliersTable worksheets for the following:
- Customers Worksheet:
o Title, Family Name, Given Names, Address, City, State, Postcode, Freight Distance (km)
- Items Worksheet:
o Type, Description,Colour, Size, Freight Weight (kg), Supplier ID, Cost Price (LU),
Cost Price (TV)
- Suppliers Worksheet:
o Supplier Name, Recommended Markup (%)

Task 10: Modify Data Input Worksheet
On the DataInput worksheet perform the following:
- type Store into the cell containing the phrase: [Insert Markup Type here],
- type 62.5% into the cell containing the phrase: [Insert Standard MarkUp here],
- type LU into the cell containing the phrase: [Insert Exchange Rate Type here],
- type 1.49066into the cell containing the phrase: [Insert LU to AU Exchange Rate here],
- type 0.95887 into the cell containing the phrase: [Insert TV to AU Exchange Rate here].

Task 11: Report Worksheet Cost Price (AU) Nested IF
On the Reportworksheet:
1. Develop an IF function using the new RecommendedExchange Rate Type value (from the DataInput worksheet to calculate the Cost Price (AU) (in the Cost Price (AU) column) using the following criteria:
- If the Exchange Rate Type is LU then the Cost Price (AU) is calculated by multiplying the Cost Price (LU) by the Exchange Rate (LU to AU) cell on the DataInput worksheet.
Hint:
Cost Price (LU) x Exchange Rate (LU to AU)
- If the Exchange Rate Type is TV then the Cost Price (AU) is calculated by multiplying the Cost Price (TV) by the Exchange Rate (TV to AU) cell on the DataInput worksheet.
Hint:
Cost Price (TV) x Exchange Rate (TV to AU)

2. Ensure that you include rounding (to 2 decimal places - Beskeen Excel Unit B) into each calculation in your IF function and error checking(Beskeen Excel Unit E) to avoid incorrect results due to typing mistakes.

Note: All formulas must be designed to be typed once at the top of each column and copied down to the remaining cells in the column - Beskeen Excel Unit B.

3. Test the IF function: Once you have completed the Cost Price (AU) IF function, perform the following two tests on it to ensure that it is working correctly:
- On the DataInput worksheet, type TV into the Exchange Rate Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Cost Price (AU) have changed.
- On the DataInput worksheet, type GIGO into the Exchange Rate Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Cost Price (AU) now displays an error message.

Task 12: Report Worksheet Selling Price Nested IF
On the Reportworksheet:
1. Develop an IF function using the new RecommendedMarkUp Type value (from the DataInput worksheet) to calculate the Selling Price (in the Selling Price column) using the following criteria:
- If the MarkUp Type is Store then the Selling Price is calculated by increasing Cost Price bythe Store's RecommendedMarkUp % from the DataInput worksheet
Hint:
Cost Price (AU) + Cost Price (AU) x Store Recommended MarkUp
- If the MarkUp Type is Supplier then the Selling Price is calculated by increasing Cost Price bythe Supplier's Recommended MarkUp

2. Ensure that you include rounding (to 2 decimal places - Beskeen Excel Unit B) into each calculation in your IF function and error checking(Beskeen Excel Unit E) to avoid incorrect results due to typing mistakes.

3. Test the IF function: Once you have completed the Selling Price IF function, perform the following two tests on it to ensure that it is working correctly:
- On the DataInput worksheet, type Supplier into the MarkUp Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Selling Prices have changed.
- On the DataInput worksheet, type GIGO into the MarkUp Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Selling Prices now displays an error message.

Task 13: Report Worksheet Freight Cost Nested IF
1. On the DataInput worksheet, type Johannes Kepler Freightinto the cell containing the phrase: [Insert Freight Type here].
2. On the Reportworksheet develop an IF function using the new RecommendedFreight Type value (from the DataInput worksheet to calculate the Freight Cost (in the Freight Cost column) using the following criteria:
- If the Freight Type is Johannes Kepler Freight then the Freight Cost is calculated at seventy-five cents ($0.75) per kilogram of the item's freight weight a half of a cent ($0.005) per kilometre (Distance) if over 500 kmand per item ordered (Order Qty).
Hint:
($0.75 x Item Weight + IF(Distance > 500 km, $0.005 x Distance, 0)) x OrderQty
- If the Freight Type isNicolaus Copernicus Transportthen the Freight Cost is calculated at aseventy-five cents ($0.75) for the first twoand a half kilograms (2.50 kg)andthen at a dollar ($1.00) per kilogram of the item's freight weight over two and a half kilograms (2.50 kg) per item ordered (Order Qty).
Hint:
($0.75 + IF(Item Weight >2.50 kg, (Item Weight -2.50kg) x $1.00, 0)) x OrderQty
Do not post formulas to the StudyDesk Forums; it may result in academic misconduct.
3. Ensure that you include rounding (to 2 decimal places - Beskeen Excel Unit B) into each calculation in your IF function and error checking(Beskeen Excel Unit E) to avoid incorrect results due to typing mistakes.

4. Test the IF function: Once you have completed the Freight Cost IF function, perform the following three tests on it to ensure that it is working correctly:
- On the DataInput worksheet, type Nicolaus Copernicus Transport into the Freight Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Freight Costs have changed.
- On the DataInput worksheet, type GIGO into the Freight Type cell.
- Go to the Report worksheet and observe whether the Freight Costs now displays an error message.

Task 14: Report Worksheet IF / AND: Item Discount
1. On the Reportworksheet develop an IF / AND function to calculate the amount of ItemDiscount given to an individual item on an order (in the Item Discount column) using the following criteria:
- If the OrderQty is greater than or equal toseven (7) of the same item in any single order AND the Selling Price for that item is greater than $30.00, then the ItemDiscount is calculated at 5% of the Selling Price for that item, otherwise the ItemDiscountis zero.
Hint:
=IF (AND (OrderQty >= 7, Selling Price > $30), Selling Price x5%, 0)
2. Ensure that you include rounding (to 2 decimal places - Beskeen Excel Unit B) into each calculation in your IF / AND function.

3. Test the IF function: Once you have completed the Item Discount IF / AND function and filled it down the column, review the values to ensure that it is working correctly in the following situations:
- OrderQty is less than seven (7) and Selling Price is less than or equal to $30, should result in $0.00 Item Discount.
- OrderQty is less than seven (7) and Selling Price is greater than $30, should result in $0.00 Item Discount.
- OrderQty is greater than or equal to seven (7) and Selling Price is less than or equal to $30, should result in $0.00 Item Discount.
- OrderQty is greater than or equal to seven (7) and Selling Price is greater than $30, should result in anItem Discount.

Task 15: Report Worksheet Purchases, Sales and Order Discount Formulas
On the Reportworksheet calculate the following three simple formulas:
1. Purchases by multiplying Order Qty with Cost Price (AU).
2. Sales by multiplying Order Qty bythe difference of Selling Price less the Item Discount amount.
Hint:
=(Selling Price -Item Discount) x Order Qty
3. Order Discount by multiplying Order Qty with Item Discount.
Note: All formulas must be designed to be typed once at the top of each column and copied down to the remaining cells in the column - Beskeen Excel Unit B.

You must remove any reference to the prefix Report! from these formulaeto reduce complexity and redundancy of code.Brackets must only be used as indicated in the hints given above, any incorrect or extraneous usage of brackets may result in loss of marks.
Do not post formulas to the StudyDesk Forums; it may result in academic misconduct.

Task 16: Modify Data Input Worksheet
On the DataInputworksheet:
1. Replace the phrase "[Insert Bank Charges Expenses here]" in cell D15 with $4,389.65
2. Replace the phrase "[Insert Electricity Expenses here]" in cell D16 with $4,792.92
3. Replace the phrase " [Insert Freight Inwards Expense here] " in cell D17 with $94,209.14
4. Replace the phrase " [Insert Internet Expense here] " in cell D18 with $4,072.60
5. Replace the phrase "[Insert Telephone Expenses here]" in cell D19 with $7,320.93
6. Replace the phrase "[Insert Wages Expenses here]" in cell D20 with $86,582.82

Task 17: Calculations Worksheet Formulas
On the Calculationsworksheet calculate the following four simple formula:
1. Replace the phrase in D4 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Total Sales by adding all the Sales in the Sales column on the Reports worksheet.
2. Replace the phrase in D7 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Total Quarterly Fixed Expenses by adding all the Quarterly Fixed Expenses on the DataInput worksheet.
3. Replace the phrase in D10 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Total Purchases by adding all the Purchases in the Purchases column on the Reports worksheet.
4. Replace the phrase in D11 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Total Freight by adding all the Freight Costs in the Freight Cost column on the Reports worksheet.
5. Replace the phrase in D13 "[Insert Formula here]" with a formula to calculate the Total Quarterly Variable Expenses by adding all the Quarterly Variable Expenses on the Calculations worksheet.
6. Replace the phrase in D15 "[Insert Formula here]" with a formula to calculate the Total Profit by subtracting the Total Quarterly Fixed and Total Quarterly Variable Expenses from the Total Sales on the Calculations worksheet.
7. Replace the phrase in D16 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Total Discountfor Orders by using the SUMIF() function to add up all cells with an Order Discount greater than 0 in the Order Discount column on the Reports worksheet.
8. Replace the phrase in D17 "[Insert Formula here]" with a function to calculate the Number of Orders where a Discount was Applied by using the COUNTIF() function to count all cells with an Order Discount greater than 0 in the Order Discount column on the Reports worksheet.

Task 18: Data Input Cell References
On the DataInputworksheet:
1. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D12 with a cell reference to the Total Sales amount on the Calculations worksheet.
2. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D22 with a cell reference to the Total Quarterly Fixed Expenses amount on the Calculations worksheet.
3. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D25 with a cell reference to the Total Purchases Expenses amount on the Calculations worksheet.
4. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D26 with a cell reference to the Total Freight Outwards Expenses amount on the Calculations worksheet.
5. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D28 with a cell reference to the Total Quarterly Variable Expenses amount on the Calculations worksheet.
6. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D30 with a cell reference to the Total Profit amount on the Calculations worksheet.
7. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D31 with a cell reference to the Total Discount for Orders amount on the Calculations worksheet.
8. Replace the phrase "[Insert Cell Reference Here]" in cell D32 with a cell reference to the No. Orders Discount Applied amount on the Calculations worksheet.

Task 19: Scenarios
Using the Scenario Manager in Excel create and check the following eight (8) Scenarios using the Changing Cells of D4, D5 and D7on the DataInput worksheet:

Task 20: Scenario Summary

Using the Scenario Manager in Excel create a Scenario Summary worksheet from the DataInput worksheet based on the eight (8) Scenarios from Task 20 and focusing on the Result cells D12, D22, D25, D26, D28, D30,D31and D32on the DataInput worksheet.
Place the Scenario Summary worksheet between the Calculations and Report worksheets.
Note:Format your Scenario Summary worksheet to look professional as follows:
- Modify the heading of the Scenario Summary
- Remove the Current Value and Notes
- Label the Changing Cells and Results Cells

Task 21: Documentation Worksheet

Add a Documentation worksheet after the four tables from Task 1. Put a heading at the top of the worksheet in cell A1 called Documentation. Ensure that contains all the recommended information for this worksheet listed in the Practical Appendixes found on the Study Schedule and Module Materials - Spreadsheet design considerations.
The Documentation Worksheet must demonstrate the following:
- A statement outlining the purpose of the Spreadsheet:
Purpose should outline why the Spreadsheet was created including - discussion about the Markup Type, Exchange Rate and Freight Type.
- A statement about the protection level that should be used on each Worksheet.
Protection should look at all 10 Worksheets and outline whether each sheet should contain protection and why.

DO NOT actually apply protection to your Spreadsheet - this will result in it being unable to be marked.
- A statement about how the user can access and use the Worksheets.
User Notes should provide a step by step guide for a new user to use the Spreadsheet from changing the values on the DataInput Worksheet to observing the outcome of these changes on both DataInput and Report Worksheets.
- A statement about what calculations have been used in the development of this Spreadsheet.
Calculations Notes should provide a brief description of each calculation found on the Calculations and Report Worksheets (does not need to discuss individualCell References and VLOOKUPs - these can be discussed generally as a single calculation type).

Modify the layout of the data to a professional level of presentation. Use bold, italics, font size, font colours, shading, lines and borders.

Task 22: Analytical Essay
Mrs Ada Lovelacehas asked you to develop an analytical essay (between 750and 1000words in length) to the client, Dr Nikola Teslaoutlining the major issues that the Decision Support System's results havehighlighted. Create a Word 2007/2010/2013 Document and name it ‘[lastname][initial] _ [student number] _ [course code] _ [assignment number'
(eg. genrichr_0050051005_CIS5100_assign2.docx).
Essays have a particular structure - An introduction, a body (where you write your answer in a number of paragraphs, usually one for each idea or topic) and a conclusion. The conclusion is where you sum up your 'argument'. Essays normally do not have headings.

The body of your essay should consider the following issues:
- Define what a Decision Support System is.
- Explain why a Decision Support System is the appropriate tool for this project.
- From the results of the Decision Support System results discuss the following (keeping in mind the information provided in the preamble on page 2):
1. Which Mark-up Type would be most appropriate for the business? Why?
2. How would the choice of the Mark-up Type impact on the customer's decision to purchase from the company? Why?
3. What would be the impact on the business's profit if the plan to provide a discount to large orders was implemented? Why?
4. Which Recommended Freight Type would be most appropriate for the business? Why?
5. What would be the impact that the different Recommended Freight Types would have on the business's profit if the cost was transferred to the business instead of the customer (as discussed in the preamble)? Why?
6. Which country would be most appropriate for the business to import from at the moment? Why?
7. What issues could cause the business to rethink its choice of country of import? Why?
The essay should be using a proportional font (eg. Arial, Times New Roman etc.), with a font size of 11 or 12, and be laid out using 1 ½ line spacing.

Attachment:- Assignment Question.rar