Enterprise Systems Assignment
As part of this module, you are required to produce a 6000-word report.
Business Background
Bandon Group is a US family owned distributor of copiers, electronic printers, faxes, and other office equipment. The company was started by Bud Brandon, who bought a copier dealership in Phoenix in 1966. Through Bud's entrepreneurial skill, motivation, and commitment to customer service, Brandon Phoenix aggressively gained market share and grew to $10 million in sales in the Phoenix marketplace by 1982. One of Bud's greatest accomplishments was the creation of Brandon Leasing Company, which held leases on copiers and electronic printers and became a major source of positive cash flow.
Assignment
Your assignment is to conduct the information systems study for Bandon Group Inc., using the interviews, supplementary materials, and resources provided in appendix. Your work will advise Ed and Steve Bandon as to the feasibility of adopting enterprise systems solutions, including CRM and e-Business, within the Bandon Group Inc. You will follow the process outlined in table 1. The documentation needed to complete the study is included in the appendix. Your part of the project is outlined in the "Things to Do" section associated with each step. Steps 6 and 7 will be formally assessed as part of this assignment. 50% of the total relates to an executive recommendation (step 6), i.e. to critically address whether Bandon Group Inc. should or should not pursue an enterprise systems solutions. 40% of the total mark relates to a commercial plan, i.e.: a critical evaluation of alternative commercial enterprise system solutions, for use within Bandon Group Inc. (at least three); a recommendation of a commercial solution that best meets their needs; and a detailed 3-5 year implementation. 10% of the mark relates to the commercial presentation material (i.e. group presentation slides + slide documenting personal contribution). All parts should be included in a separate section (i.e. commercial presentation / summary slide).
Table 1: Detailed nine-step plan of action for the information systems study
|
Step
|
Strategy
|
Activity
|
Documentation
|
Things to Do
|
|
1
|
Purpose and scope of study
|
Define the purpose and scope of the MIS study.
|
Purpose and scope of the MIS study
(Appendix 1)
|
(NOT ASSESSED)
|
|
2
|
Document high-level business direction
|
Executive management interviews
|
Transcripts of executive management interviews
(Appendix 2)
|
(NOT ASSESSED)
|
|
3
|
Identify key information needs and measures
|
Executive management and team interviews
|
Matrix: goals, critical success factors, measures, IT needs.
(Appendix 3)
|
(NOT ASSESSED)
|
|
4
|
Determine detailer business requirements
|
In-depth interviews with division presidents and teams
|
Interview findings: problems, goals and opportunities, IT needs, priorities
(Appendix 4)
|
(NOT ASSESSED)
|
|
5
|
Determine gap between current IT situation and desired IT direction
|
Follow-up interviews with division presidents
|
List of IT priorities
(Appendix 5)
|
(NOT ASSESSED)
|
|
6
|
Determine feasibility of an Enterprise Systems solution
|
Assessment of the feasibility of enterprise systems (i.e. ERP, CRM, SCM, KMS)
|
Web-based resources on enterprise systems implementation; articles in trade publications; vendor resources
|
Write an executive recommendation to critically address whether Bandon Group should or should not pursue an enterprise systems solution?
|
|
7
|
Determine Enterprise Systems design issues
|
Assessment of alternative enterprise systems solutions
|
External research on enterprise systems solutions, with consideration of integrated CRM capabilities (e.g. trade publications, vendor reports, web-based materials)
|
1) Evaluate alternative commercial Enterprise solutions for use within Bandon Group (at least three), and make a recommendation of a solution that meets their needs.
2) Provide a detailed 3-5 year implementation plan.
|
Reference - Sumner M. (2005) Enterprise Resource Planning, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13-140343-5
Attachment:- Assignment File.rar