OIM Assignment: Music Mates Report

Learning Outcomes:

• Critically analyse the theory, concepts and models of operations and information management and demonstrate an understanding of the strategic importance of information management in global organisations.
• Evaluate critically the fundamental principles of information systems and the significance of a socio-technical approach to their use in organisations.
• Select and apply appropriate problem-solving and improvement approaches for information systems in organisations.

Assignment Brief - Case Study: Music Mates

Music Mates is a group of three musicians who have been performing together for approximately two years. The group have regular repeat gigs around the North West of   England,   which   provides   enough   funds   for   them   to   be   paid   as   part-time professional musicians. In addition to their musical talents, Alexander, Sergei, and Vassily, are experienced sound engineers, who provide a PA service for the Music Mates gigs and for a number of other bands in the North-West area. They share a wide network of friends who are also musicians and they often promote other bands. But recently these other bands have asked them to be agents for an agree fee. If they decide to take this professional route, it would mean that they could work full-time as musicians/agents.

However, they are aware that starting the agency would require a business approach. They would be responsible for advertising events, social media marketing, keeping business accounts, providing an updated calendar of events, and keeping track of   the communications between themselves, the clients who want to book bands, and the bands who are signed to the Music Mates agency.

At the moment, they use a website, a Facebook page, and the SoundCloud audio platform. Alexander, Sergei, and Vassily all have iphone's and macbook pro laptop computers. They realise that starting the agency requires a business approach, which includes software that will support their business. They have read about Customer Relationship Management software and Enterprise Resource Management software, which appears to offer the type of information technology support that they will need. However, they need professional help before they can make any final decisions about investing funds in business software. They are also interested in the possibility of utilising Open Source Software, but require information on the advantages and disadvantages.

Growing  Music  Mates  into  a  full-time  small  to  medium  enterprise  business  that supports three members of staff will mean significant changes and there are some concerns that using business technology might change the close working relationships which exist between Alexander, Sergei, Vassily and the bands with which they have personal connections. They are keen to run the business in a democratic style and as such, everyone will have an equal vote on any business decisions. Therefore, they require a report that can be read and understood by each of them. You are the OIM consultant who is responsible for researching this business and providing a consultancy report.

Task -

You are an OIM consultant who has been employed to advise Music Mates on the effective implementation of these strategic changes. You are required to produce the following:

Part A: Analysis - Business Process Models and strategy analysis

In this section you should develop

1. A series of Business Process Models, which capture the existing and proposed business processes. The models should follow the BPMN notation. You can use Microsoft Visio to create the models although you may if you prefer use Word, PowerPoint or appropriate alternatives.

2. Strategic analysis for Music Mates: You should use a recognised analysis technique such as SWOT, PESTLE etc

Part B: Open Source Software Comparison Table

In this section you should conduct research into a suitable software solution for Music Mates. You should decide on the set of characteristics which you will use to evaluate the  software  and  your  research  should  consider  4R5  alternatives  in  detail.  This section should be presented as a table.

Part C: Report

In this section you should write a report which provides an overview of the current situation together with a roadmap outlining how the proposed changes to the business can be achieved to the benefit of the business. This should draw on your analysis in Part A, include your recommendation for software, and provide recommendations for ensuring that the strategy is effectively implemented, including consideration of the challenges ahead.

This section should follow standard report structure:

Title Page - Contents - Introduction - Main Section - Conclusions and Recommendations - References.

Part D: Reflection on your contribution to the online discussion and wiki

In this section you should submit a 250 word reflective summary, accompanied by your own self-assessment of your contribution to the online elements throughout the module, using the table labelled Reflection Self Assessment Proforma in Appendix A. The reflective report should include your detailed reflection, supported with evidence from the online discussion.

You should use appropriate theories, frameworks, models, that we have covered in the module, to inform and justify your recommendations.