Question: Business Liaison Role You have been employed as a systems analyst in the information systems organization of a medium-sized consumer goods manufacturer for three years. You are quite surprised when your manager offers you a one-year special assignment as a manager supervising workers and operations in the large distribution center used to store your company's finished products and prepare them for shipment to retail stores around the country. Your manager explains that the company wishes to groom you to become the business liaison with the distribution organization and wants you to become familiar with the entire order-fulfillment process. Based on its recent growth, the company is planning to open at least two new distribution centers in different regions of the country over the next two to three years. Management has chosen you to be a key player in leading a future project to design and implement the information systems and automated equipment to support these new centers.

Review Questions

1. What is the role of a business liaison person, and what skills and knowledge do they need?

2. How would you classify the project to outfit the organization's new distribution center?

Critical Thinking Questions

1. For you, personally, what are the pros and cons of accepting this position?

2. Would you take this assignment? Why or why not?