Questions:

1. Analyze the Virginia's Finest Meat Distributors business. This question has 2 parts.

a. Discuss each of Porter's Five Forces in relationship to VFMD.

b. Identify which one of the forces should be the primary factor in the development of future business and their information technology strategy.

Include the chosen force and your explanation of why you chose that force using information you've learned in this course and specifics from the case study in a minimum of 3well-written sentences. Your explanation must explicitly refer to the VFMD business in the case study.

2. Identify which of Porter's Generic Strategies is most appropriateto Virginia's Finest Meat Distributors and explain why you selected it in light of your Five Forces Analysis.You must incorporate information from the case study to gain all points for your response.

3. Victor uses the three business processes listed below, and each of them could be improved using technology. Identify and explain how a type of information technology system solution could improve each one of the processes.

Do not research a specific product (e.g., SalesForce) but it must be clear what type of solution this is - for example, CRM, human resource system, etc.

a. Purchasing meat products from suppliers. How could a technology solution improve this process?

b. Creating and managing a schedule to deliver ordered products (standing orders and special orders) to the right customers each day. How could a technology solution improve this process?

c. Managing inventory.How could a technology solution improve this process?
 
4. Using the three business processes listed in question #3,identify one step in the process, and thenlist one input, one system processing action, and one output that would be part of that step in the process.Note: these 4 pieces need to relate to each other.

5. Victor has decided to use technology to improve one of the business processes identified in question #4 above. Select one of the processes and analyze the IT requirements as they apply to that process using the table below.

6. Using a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, list and briefly explain three specific quantifiable (measurable) business benefits. These should reflectmeasurablebenefits achieved by using a SaaS solution specifically that would improve VFMD - not general benefits. Your explanation must explicitly refer to a SaaS solution and the VFMDbusiness in the case study.

a. Business Benefit #1 and explanation:

b. Business Benefit #2 and explanation:

c. Business Benefit #3 and explanation:

7. Victor has decided to implement a cloud-based SaaS solution to improve the process of shipping products to his customers. Identifyoneimportant activity that Victor would need to do during each of the following phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC) to implement his solution.

Your answers should demonstrate an understanding of the phase of the SDLC and implementation of a SaaS solution. (An example answer is provided for the Programming phase-all other phases are applicable to this solution.) . Your explanation must explicitly refer to the VFMD business in the case study.

a. Planning:

b. Analysis and Design:

c. Programming: Since the system has already been developed by the SaaS vendor, Victor is not required to take any action regarding the Programming Phase.

d. Configuration:

e. Testing:

f. Implementation and ContinuedUse:

8. Victor would like to increase the profit margins on his products - increasing the volume on those products that yield higher profits. He wants to analyze the data he will be collecting in his new information system to help him do this.

• Identify three questions that Victor would want answers to in order to determine ways to increase sales of the more profitable products.

• Then, identify what information Victor would need in his information system to answer each question.

• Finally, explain how that information and the answers to the questions would help Victorwith data-driven decision making.

For example, to solve a different problem:If Victor wanted to know when he could schedule his delivery trucks for maintenance, he might ask: On average, how many delivery trucks have been sent out each day of the week (over the past 6 months)?

He would need to know this so he could figure out when his trucks are least in demand. Using this information, he might see that he makes very few deliveries on Sundays. But, his maintenance shop is not open on Sundays, so he would have to look at the next least busy day.

If he found that Tuesdays generally require the next fewer delivery vehicles, he could schedule his trucks for maintenance on Tuesdays on a rotating cycle. Victor can then use that information to ensure his trucks are in good working order without impacting his ability to deliver the products to his customers.

a. Question, information needed and explanation #1:

b. Question, information needed and explanation #2:

c. Question, information needed and explanation #3:

9. Victor has asked you to explain how e-commerce could help him in dealing with his current and new commercial customers. (He is not interested in taking orders from just anyone ordering on the Internet.)

• Identify two different categories of e-commerce (as defined in the Week 2 Learning Resource "Categories of Electronic Commerce") that VFMD could use to improve their business.

• Explain how each e-commerce category would be used and what business process changes would be needed to implement it. Your explanations should include the name of Victor's business and demonstrate your understanding of each of the two e-commerce categories.

a. E-Commerce category #1, how it would be used, and what business changes are needed:

b. E-Commerce category #2 how it would be used and what business changes are needed:

10. Explain how each of the following could benefitVictor's Virginia's Finest Meat Distributorsbusiness. Use 2-3 sentences for each and be sure your explanations demonstratethat you understand each of the types of systems. Your explanation must explicitly refer to the VFMD business in the case study.

a. Supply Chain Management System

b. Customer Relationship Management System

c. Enterprise Resource Planning System