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RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 1
Compare and Recommendation
Business Information Technology
Shauna Beaudin
Roland Kleiner, Grace Sargent, Miguel Marreiros, Kent Keeler
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 2
Critique
Simple System
1- How does the information system make the partners more competitive?
The information within the simple system can be shared between each
partner. By doing this the customers data is shared allowing partners to know
what type of service they should be providing and what they should not be
providing.
2- What is the cost involved with implementing the system (one-time and
on-going)?
The payments for this system will be an ongoing payment. The payments
could be anywhere from ten dollars a month to fifty dollars a month.
3- Is the data shared or dependent on specific partner (Silos or Integrated
Data)?
With this simple system the data can be shared between employees and
partners. But it can also be kept dependent to one person.
4- How easy is it to find a specific desired piece of information?
Data can be very easy to find with the different features offered. There is the
search bar that allows you to search for emails. There is also different folders
you can make and you can even flag important emails or star them.
5- How easy it is to modify the system to upcoming needs (upgrades)?
The system is very easy to upgrade as they use automatic upgrades. A
remind will be sent out of when the update will be and then the software will
automatically update, usually in the night.
6- How quickly can decisions be made using this system
(reporting/dashboards)?
E-mail is primarily used in organizations as a resource, a form of
communication that facilitates the process of notifying large groups of people
and increasing efficiency of productivity. Decisions can be made almost
immediately due to the fact that email is instant communication
7- How does the system control data accuracy (avoid missing & wrong
information)?
Although using email would be the easiest option for the communication
between the three property-owners, they face some issues associated with
the use of the e-mail. Many companies deal with confidential information such
as customers names, credit card numbers, social security numbers and
phone numbers. Everyone knows that is really difficult to organize and locate
the files. However, this problem would be solved if they would create and
develop an organizational system that would required a constant
maintenance. Another problem is that e-mails can be lost in transit and
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 3
therefore easily stolen if not encrypted correctly. Normally, this is an
organizational problem. This problem can be overcome by using email
encryption. However, it is clear that this safety measure will be costly for the
business.
8- How easy is it for a partner to understand how to use the system
(training)?
E-mail is easy to deal with. There are a lot of ways to learn how to use e-mail
properly. Business Training Works offers an E-mail Etiquette Training that is
designed to help employees know the proper use of the Internet while at work
as well as behaviors they must vigorously avoid.
9- How much energy does a partner need to use to produce a desired result
(process)?
There is no better way than use email when you need to send information as
soon as you can. This process does not take much effort from the three
property owners.
10- How well does the system support solving the problem of the partners?
Every problem has a solution. However, the safety measures can be
inconvenient and costly for the business. E-mail encryption is one of possible
solutions to keep information organized and not misplaced. By creating and
developing an organizational system, would solve the problem of how hard is
to organize and locate the files. However, this process requires a constant
maintenance.
Complex System
1. How does the information system make the partners more competitive?
The information system in a complex system could create a
competitiveness in terms of hierarchy.
2. What is the cost involved with implementing the system (one-time and on-
going)?
The costs in an intricate system such as a complex system is annually on-
going
3. Is the data shared or dependent on specific partner (Silos or Integrated
Data)?
The data is dependent in a complex system and only shared to a degree
4. How easy is it to find a specific desired piece of information?
Information about an organization that operates a complex system is
usually private or hybrid.
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 4
5. How easy it is to modify the system to upcoming needs (upgrades)?
Difficult. Complex systems tend to remain consistent.
6. How quickly can decisions be made using this system
(reporting/dashboards)?
Very quickly. Google drive, and Google mail are very effective systems for
many reasons. Decisions can be made fast in both because any sent mail,
or changes made on a document can be seen by anyone that is concerns
immediately. This is very important in an organization because it allows for
efficiency. It will also enable a chat for people currently working on a
document or on their email to communicate through.
7. How does the system control data accuracy (avoid missing & wrong
information)?
The system has an auto correct feature, which is very good to enable
people to not send incorrect information, or confusion due to errors in
spelling or grammar. This is very important throughout the process
because it ensures that information is trustworthy. If there were small
errors they can often make a big difference and cause a lot of confusion
when communicating. Having an auto correct feature will prevent this from
happening.
8. How easy is it for a partner to understand how to use the system
(training)?
Very easy. Google drive and Google mail is a very straightforward system
for anyone to work with. Training would include a walkthrough of all of the
features that would be needed for anyone's specific job, and a
walkthrough of the communication tools. It would be very easy to train new
employees, and most people would be able to adjust very easily seeing as
most people have used cell phones or smart devices. This is good for new
hired employees and the organization because it allows for the easy
adjustment for new employees, and makes it less of a investment to train
them. They can shadow for a little while and learn this way.
9. How much energy does a partner need to use to produce a desired result
(process)?
Not a lot. This system is always running in the background of the
computer, if Google chrome is used. This web browser will allow
notifications to be seen immediately by all partners, when data is shared,
or a message is sent. This is important because it also allows for
efficiency. When a partner gets an email or a chat directly to their web
browser, they can instantly reply which is the best way to transfer data or
information rapidly. Notifications can also be set so that when information
is shared that is crucial all partners can see it immediately.
10.How well does the system support solving the problem of the partners?
The system is very good in solving the problems of the partners. It allows
not only for them to communicate, but to share data and information. This
is very good because things such as Income Statements can be seen by
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 5
all partners to ensure that the business is going well and running
smoothly. These statements would also always be up to date which is
another huge benefit. If partners had information to share quickly they
could also do this with chat or with email to solve problems, which is the
most effective way to communicate.
Industry Analysis
Five Force Analysis
Baker Santa Fe
Rivalry
There is a large amount of rivalry in Santa Fe for Barker. This means that
in order for Barker to be able to open a successful business, the price would
have to be a bargain, or customers can easily go elsewhere. This puts a lot of
pressure on Barker in a motivated, competitive market.
Threat Of New Entry
This is a very weak threat to the resort. The land is very mountainous, and
is not easily navigated. Adding another resort would not be easy, or profitable for
a new entrant. The biggest threat is the already existing market, and pricing
which can affect this market.
Bargaining Power Of Suppliers
There is a good amount of bargaining power for the supplier in this
specific area. There are other resorts, but not an extreme amount to where the
bargaining power for the supplier is weakened. Being so mountainous it is limited
in where a customer can go in the area, allowing for a good amount of bargaining
power for Barker in this market.
Threat of Substitutions
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 6
There is a low threat for any substitution to occur due to the fact that the
area around the resort is mountainous, and not easily uninhabitable. The resorts
are also not as common, many people wanting another option go to rent condos,
or other options rather than going to a resort.
Bargaining Power Of Customer
There is only a moderate amount of bargaining power for a customer in
this area. This is because there are not too many places available, so there is a
good amount of demand. This demand means that the customers bargaining
power goes down a little bit, customers are however left with a medium amount
of bargaining power because there are some other options around for resorts or
rentals.
Chris Bickle: Leighton Realty
As Leighton Realty in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, supplier power is
considerably weak due to a large number of competitors. A competitive
environment weakens the power that any supplier of a service has over the buyer
or consumer. In real estate, the supplier is not the real estate agent. Real estate
is an industry that provides a service, not a product. The seller sets the price and
the buyer determines the value based on supply and demand in the market --
much like the stock market!
As a buyer in the Cape Cod area, you have an abundance of power due to
numerous options of real estate companies. However, if Leighton Reality had a
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 7
large market share, the buyer would not have the power to drive the pricing of the
service down due to the company's dominance in the market.
In a real estate, it is difficult to advertise your service differently than
competitors that provide a similar service. However, companies that have been
in business for an extended period of time and have a presence in the market not
only locally but also regionally and nationally would have a competitive
advantage over a smaller firm that may have a few offices.
A threat of substitution towards a real estate company such as Leighton
Realty for example could be a consumer choosing to sell their own house. A
service such a real estate is not vital to complete the task at hand, which in this
case is selling a house. The tradeoff is the consumer is not able to bring the
same amount of professionalism provided within the service that Leighton Realty
gives versus the consumer's own expertise. If consumers choose to sell their
own property, there is less market exposure because they don't have access to
the resources such as the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), which all real estate
agents use to sell properties.
As a company that has been established for an extended period of time,
Leighton Realty would not be largely threatened by a new entry in the market.
Providing a reliable service that people are satisfied with creates a "regular"
customer base that have a developed trust and loyalty to you and your business.
The quality of service provided has an impact on a repeat customer base, which
is imperative to the success of a business that supplies a service such as real
estate.
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 8
Jerry Barker: Whistler Luxury Condos
Jerry Barker lives in Whistler Village, British Columbia and works for the
company Whistler Luxury Condos. As a supplier they have a lot to offer in the
condos. They are available year around and offer condos from anywhere from
one bedroom to five bedrooms. The offer special ski and snowboarding
packages for the winter months, and hiking and various outdoor activities in the
summer months. Jerry is not the only one is Whistler offering a luxury condo, as
there are about 36 other real estate agencies in the area, creating a tight.
As a buyer you have many different options within Whistler. The rates at
Barkers condo average at about 895 dollars a night; while at another place they
are about a hundred dollars cheaper. So as a buyer you have to look at the
different packages and amenities offered. Barker has learned that if you offer
more to the customer they are more likely to stay there. Which is probably why it
is such an exclusive place to get into.
To separate from the rest of the competition Barker needs to be able to
set his condos out from any other in the area. He has done this by making them
luxury condos, open in summer and winter months, and offering special
packages. With the competition in the area being so much he needs to make his
company stand out.
For threat of substitution towards Barkers Company the other real estate
around the area could be a threat. It could be a private homeowner renting out
their own house to visitors, or the hotel and motels in the area.
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 9
Whistler Luxury Condos is a company that has been around for a while
and as even makes a pervious condo company close in the area. As for
competition there is a lot around them, but none that are much of a threat
because they do not supply the same quality as Whistler Luxury Condos.
Competitive Strategies
Each company has their own competitive strategy, which provides them to
maximize their generation of revenue. Since Baker has a summer and winter
resort, her company attempts for a better product and service throughout the
industry. She can use as a competitive strategy buying opulent products for the
resorts and increasing the times of operation throughout the year. Barker owns a
resort that operates only in the winter season, he also strives for a better product
and service within an industry segment. Barker will increase his generation of
revenue by providing the best experience to clients compared to other winter
resorts in British Columbia. Bickel owns and operates a summer resort in Cape
Cod. He operates under the same competitive strategy as Jerry and Wilma,
planning to reach a better service within his industry segment. For achieve this
objective, he needs to buy advanced quality items and supplies and remain focus
on providing the best possible involvement to his customers.
Problem Statement
Every company has a specific problem. They plan to solve their specific
problems through their intended merger of information. The problem that the
business owners are facing is difficulty in attracting new customers. The
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 10
companies would benefit from this union of information by gaining an advantage
over their rival businesses. By working together, the three owners would
decrease the rate of vacancy in rental properties, thus maximizing their revenue.
Customers might not value the change because they may feel pressured into
paying for something they do not desire. There is also a risk that each business
owner will not be as hardworking as his colleagues in promoting another
business owner’s properties. Sharing data will rise the risk of hacking. The three
owners should only share certain data between themselves to accomplish the
goals of the intended business collaboration. They should share the price,
location, specifications and availability of properties. The companies will avoid
the appropriation of ideas and customer information if they keep the information
that will be shared simple.
Simple System
Problem
Although using email would be the easiest option for this process, the
three property-owners face some dangerous issues associated with the use of
email. A common problem when using email as a form of communication that
everyone knows is the difficulty organizing and locating files. However, this
problem would be solved if they would create and develop an organizational
system that would required a constant maintenance. Another common email
problem that they face is the easiness with which files and attachments can be
misplaced. Normally, this is an organizational problem. There are a lot of
concerns related to security gaps that the three property-owners should be
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 11
aware. Before they email reach their recipient, the email normally passes from
server to server. During this time of transit, the emails can be easily intercepted
and read. By using email encryption, these couple security concerns can be
overcome. However, it is clear that this safety measure will become inconvenient
and costly for the business owners. Being aware of the security issues is always
important, even though when the business owners do not intend to share very
sensitive data through email.
Email and its Uses
E-mail is primarily used in organizations as a resource, a form of
communication that facilitates the process of notifying large groups of people and
increasing efficiency of productivity. While e-mail is a useful tool that is widely
spread across virtually every large business in the world, it does come with some
risks. Security can be a very real issue. Many companies deal with confidential
information such as customer names, credit card numbers, social security
numbers and phone numbers. E-mails can be lost in transit and therefore easily
stolen if not encrypted correctly. Having a personal domain helps create a
professional image that also promotes the credibility of your business. The
flexibility that a domain provides is custom email aliases designated for particular
departments such as customer service or general information. When it comes to
customers attempting to contact your business with questions that they might
have, having a domain that delegates certain departments to answer certain
questions aids to organization and clarity. When having the privilege of having
your own email address, you also have full control over categories that pertain to
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 12
you or your department and removing inactive emails that you don't necessarily
need. Providing an email domain for your customers also helps create a brand
name. A representative whose email ends or starts with the name of the
company not only personalizes the customer's experience and creates a one-on-
one feel, but it also helps to make the business name more memorable. When it
comes to a domain name, the cost breakdown is considerably low and very
affordable. Averagely, it costs a business ten dollars a year to keep a single
domain name up and running, though the cost varies from registrar to registrar.
Hardware
Baker, Bickel and Barker decided to use a simple system focused on
email communication to share property information. This selected simple system
commands to a specific hardware, software, procedures and people to
accomplish its goal. In this procedure, the hardware and software must function
together to work successfully. Since they are using email communication to
share property information, the main hardware is a computer for each person
with a role in the data sharing process. An external hard drive may become
necessary in this process since storing excess data may steal a lot of space in
the computer’s internal hard drive. This external hard drive is an additional
hardware.
Software
For this organization Bickle, Baker, and Barker are going to use Gmail.
Other popular options are Yahoo Mail, iCloud mail, and Outlook.com. For GMail it
can be accessed by using any Internet access point or for mobile use you can
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 13
download the Gmail app. With Gmail it gives you 15 GB for free and then if more
is needed after that the company can buy 100 GB for $1.99 a month or 1 TB for
$9.99 a month. This is not a big business expense, when we look at how much
information 1 TB can store. It is also extremely useful, and safer than storing the
information locally. This assurance of safety is something that Bickel, Baker, and
Barker will want to have so that their customer’s information, and their
reservations are safely stowed away.
Data
For Gmail the data is stored on Google Drive. This does not only store you
emails but also your photos and documents. On Gmail you can connect with
different people and put them in your circles. So Bickle, Barker and Baker could
all add each other to a circle and keep a closed knit group to share there private
information with each other. They could also create a shared folder on Drive and
share different customer information through there. On Drive you can also upload
Microsoft Word documents if they use Word instead of Drive. To track and
manage emails you can “star” certain emails to go into a special folder or “mark
as important” to put them in a separate folder. Also emails can be moved into
specific folders you assigns. Gmail also allows you to search for all your emails
with the search bar. With all these features that Gmail offers it makes it very easy
for a components to track and manage emails.
Procedures
Proper Communication
Any and all data that is transferred should be work related
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 14
Data should be beneficial towards a work related project
Planning
Rules will be discussed
Plans will be made to implement the system
Flaws will be discussed, and addressed
Analysis
The effectiveness will be analyzed
Changes will be made accordingly going forward
Analyze the system one more time detecting flaws
Design
Take information from the analysis
Use it to finalize the system
Structure the system effectively for the organization
Implementation
Implement the designed system
Use it on a sample, do not fully implement it
Monitor it very closely
Record any flaws
Analyze the risks of these flaws
Testing and Integration
Test the system entirely
Slowly train employees for the new system
Integrate the system in the organization
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 15
Help the employees adjust to the system and make sure everyone knows it
inside and out
Maintenance
Maintain the system
Make sure new employees are familiar with the system when they get hired
Improve the system
Keep and eye on error and flaws to make sure that the system runs smoothly
People
The system will be the whole Google Drive system. The system will need
to be set up by the main person in the company. So if Barker is the owner he will
have to set it up for his employees under him. Bickle and Baker will have to do
the same. Once the owners have set up there base system all the employees as
individuals will have to get google accounts and set up their circles and share
their drive accounts. Once Bickle, Baker, and Barker have all set up their
companies they will now need to share there system with each other. Once this
is all complete they will all be connected. Training should not be necessary for
the simple system of Gmail and Google drive. The system itself shows you
instructions on how to use it when it is first set up, and the rest is self
explanatory. If training is required the owners can provide their employees with
this URL “https://apps.google.com/learning-center/products/gmail/get-started/ “
which will show the employees exactly what they need to know. If there are
further questions, technical support will also be offered, as well as training
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 16
sessions. This will ensure that the staff and customers have all of the knowledge
they need to operate the simple system, and use it effectively.
Visio
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 17
Complex System
Overview
Complex system provides lots of alternatives, depending on the software
choice of the property owners. The owners must choose between internal
systems which are database, ERP and CRM; and external systems which are
websites and social media alternatives. They have to reflect the strengths and
weaknesses of each of these alternatives prior to making a decision about which
to use for their business collaboration. A database is no more than a collection of
integrated data, and it is often used to describe a database management system
(DBMS), which is used to “create, process, and administer a database”. When
purchased a database management system, it comes in several forms, covering
a broad spectrum of price and structure variations. Databases management
systems are normally purchased from IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle. The products
produced by these companies are DB2, Access and SQL Server, and Oracle
Database, respectively. These products come with technical support and they
can be purchased at some cost. MySQL is an open source software program that
could be used to reduce costs. However, users frequently face operational
setbacks when using open source software. Cloud-based software has become
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 18
popular for database management. There are couple benefits of using cloud
storage which are a decreased cost, a convenient collaboration, and an effective
data recovery.
Hardware
There are other internal systems besides database management systems
which are CRM and ERP systems. CRM is an acronym for customer relationship
management and it is a type of software useful in customer-business relations. A
CRM would be very useful for the property owners because it would allow them
to use their shared database to gain insight into the interests of their customers.
By doing this, they would increase the likelihood of generating increased revenue
from them. There is no shortage of CRM options available to businesses. ERP
means enterprise resource planning software. ERP systems have the capacity to
accomplish all of the functions of a CRM system, and also are used in additional
business applications, such as accounting, manufacturing and human resources.
SMIS is an acronym for social media information system. Another options
for the property owners to achieve their goals is the use of an external systems
such as websites and social media alternatives. An option for them is to create a
website that would make their shared database viewable to their customer.
However, this option is going to be expensive and would require daily
maintenance. In the recent past, social media channels and social media
monitoring tools have been increasing in terms of popularity. Baker, Barker and
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 19
Bickel could create a shared business listing on social media boards such as
Facebook or Google+. These shared business listings would keep customers
alert of the day-to-day activities of the businesses, increasing the likelihood of
their future patronage. Social media monitoring software is also a practical option
for the businesses and can be used by businesses to gain insight into the actions
and interests of social media users. Many software options exist to businesses,
including Social Studio, Brandwatch and Synthesio.
Software
Cloud based systems are systems that provided by a vendor as a service,
and is maintained by the vendor themselves. Locally used systems are systems
that are installed and then maintained by the IT staff of the company. CRM
systems can be installed locally and cloud based. Depending on what system the
company chooses will determine whether or not the CRM system is downloaded
on-premise or on the cloud. For SMIS systems they are installed cloud based.
For ERP systems they are again systems that can be installed locally or cloud
based. The benefits of cloud based systems is that the vendor will fix any
problems themselves, but that also means you may have to wait a while for the
company to get the problem fixed. The benefits for locally based systems is that
the problem can be fixed by the companies professional IT personal, but that
also might mean the problem could require lots help if the problem is over IT’s
head. For mobile use the company for each system will have to download an app
that the system provides. The mobile app may cost money to download but in the
end it will be worth it to have the mobile use.
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 20
Data
Data is raw and unprocessed facts that can appear un-meaningful and
useless unless organized. Information is data that is organized or structured in
such a context that makes it useful and paints a whole picture. The data is
structured in a cloud platform that would most likely be on a hybrid-cloud system
which combines a private cloud shared among the partners exclusively and a
public cloud storage system that allows anyone to access the
infrastructure. With the technology of cloud storage, tracking and managing data
is easy. Uploading the organization's data storage to a third party service
provider and locating it onsite or offsite is as easy as clicking a button.
Procedure
It’s important to have a DMP or a Data Management Plan when you’re a
part of an organization. When sharing data, funders seek to maximize the impact
of the research they fund by encouraging or requiring data sharing. Describing
how the data will be shared is an important process whether it’s via a disciplinary
data center or repository. Include a description of file format and conditions for
reuse of the data among others by describing licenses that will be applied to the
data along with any other terms of use. Upon managing the data that is shared,
identify any departmental, institutional, or programmatic policies on data
retention, how they influence your plan, and how you will adhere to the policies.
People
For each system they will need to be installed by an IT professional to get
the system running. Each person in the company will have to download the app
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 21
and getting it running on the computer or mobile device. Partners may need
training if they have not worked with any of these systems before. IT
professionals should be around to help if needed.
Visio
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 22
Comparing Alternatives
The three business owners have broad alternatives to consider in
determining the best system to employ in their business collaboration. In order to
make a software decision, the businesses need to consider what they intend to
accomplish with their chosen software and who will be using the software. The
simple system based on email is the easiest to establish. Most of the business
proprietors already use email in their business interactions on a daily basis. They
would first need to begin communicating with each other by sharing important
information about their own properties. Although the process employed in this
email alternative sounds simple, it could quickly become confusing and as a
result be disorganized. As earlier stated, email systems are not easy to organize
or very secure. This is because email does not utilize a shared database, so the
process for customers to learn about prospective properties, express interest in
booking them, and ultimately reserve them requires lots of back and forth
communication among many different people. This abundance communication
between many different people could result in double-bookings of properties, lost
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 23
reservations, and data storage problems. Although the email system would be
low-cost and easy to establish, the disadvantages involved in solely using email
communication seem to outweigh the benefits.
The business owners also have many options for determining the complex
web-based collaboration system. The first required component for this system to
function properly is a precise and complete shared database of properties.
DBMS, CRM and ERP provide the creation of a database as well as several
other functions. DBMS is the simplest option with an incorporated database. The
business owners are able to access and to update the data in the database to
reflect reservations and other changes to the properties, but the system provides
few other structures. CRM is better in making more information available to users
about the actions of customers. The use of CRM allows the business owners to
target the needs and wants of certain clients, likely increasing the proportion of
contacts resulting in reservations. However, given the wish of each business
owner to protect their own customer base, a CRM system may prove to provide
more information about customers that are not needed. ERP systems provide all
of the functions of CRM, in addition to information about accounting,
manufacturing, human resources, and other subjects. The use of an ERP
system, by the three business owners, provide more information than is
necessary to accomplish their goals. The business owners were very clear that
they were not attracted in a merger of companies. Full use of an ERP system
would pool much of the information that is combined in a merger.
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 24
The business owners also have the external systems to reflect for their
complex system. The creation of a website would be a very good choice for the
three property owners. The problem related to the website is that it would require
lots of time, money, and expertise. Due to the fact that they just met each other, it
would be wise that before creating a website, they would test first the success of
their proposed collaboration using an easier alternative such as social media.
Social media outlets are growing rapidly, and should not be forgotten as a frontier
for business operations. The creation of a shared business page on Google+ or
Facebook would be an inexpensive way for the businesses to upload information
and updates about the properties to keep customers attracted and aware. Social
media monitoring software could work well by combining it with CRM software to
keep the business owners up to date on alterations in the interests and desires of
their customers. However, it could also compromise the business owners stated
goal, which is the protection of their customers.
Recommendation
The business owners wanted to firmly share information about their
properties, without sharing any personal information about the customer bases.
Although this goal could be reached using either the simple system or the
complex alternative, the simple system shows many disadvantages, which could
hold the companies back from effectively sharing desired information. Baker,
Barker and Bickel should choose to use the complex system instead. The
alternative that would work best for the three business owners at this time is a
database management system. By using a database management system, the
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 25
owner could completely maximize the software and effectively create a shared
database of properties. Their database management system does not include
any information about customers. By the time they will work together, if the three
business owners work well together, they could reconsider their goals and opt for
other alternatives such as CRM, ERP or even a shared website. The three
property owners could also think on purchasing social media monitoring software
or create a shared social media business listing to increase their relationships
with customers.
References
Account settings: Your browser is not supported. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016,
from https://www.google.com/settings/storage?hl=en
Apps Learning Center. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
https://apps.google.com/learning-center/products/gmail/get-started/
Cost of a Domain Name (n.d.) Retrieved April 03, 2016 fromHow Cloud ERP
Compares to On-premise ERP. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
http://www.netsuite.com/portal/uk/resource/articles/on-premise-cloud-erp.shtml
How Cloud ERP Compares to On-premise ERP. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
http://www.netsuite.com/portal/uk/resource/articles/on-premise-cloud-erp.shtml
http://searchcloudstorage.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-storage
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Data_vs_Information
http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/cost-setting-up-website.shtml
https://www.yola.com/blog/why-your-small-business-needs-its-own-email-address/
Salesforce CRM Consultant and Partner. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
http://www.crmculture.com/knowledge-base/cloud-or-on-premise-crm.html
SIMS in a MultiPlatform world…efficiency, productivity and cost savings for Schools.
(2015). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 26
https://thescarfedone.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/sims-in-a-multiplatform-world-
efficiency-productivity-and-cost-savings-for-schools/
Symantec Endpoint Encryption | Symantec. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
https://www.symantec.com/pages.jsp?id=symantec-endpoint-encryption
Top 11 Free Email Services 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
http://email.about.com/od/freeemailreviews/tp/free_email.htm
What is System Development Life Cycle? (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
https://airbrake.io/blog/insight/what-is-system-development-life-cycle
Why it is important to have a Domain Name (n.d.) Retrieved April 03, 2016 from
Appendix: Collaboration Report
Part 1: Contact Information
Kent Keeler: 603-545-1112 --- itskeeler21@me.com
Grace Sargent-603-860-8982-sargentgrace15@gmail.com
Miguel Marreiros: +(351) 962058330- m.corredoura.m@gmail.com
Roland Kleiner: 802-424-6416
Part 2: Individual Answers
• What is the purpose of the team?
• What is expected from each team member in terms of participation (share
schedules?
• What is the communication plan & expectations of each member?
• What collaboration tools will the team use to complete this case?
• How does the team plan to deal with conflict?
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 27
Grace: The purpose of this team is to learn how to work together as a team in a
new technology world. I usually work on the weekends and am free during the
week. All my classes are in the morning so afternoons work well. The
communication plan is we all have a group chat on facebook because that works
for everyone. I would expect everyone to answer in the chat so it is known that
everyone has seen what is going on. We plan on dealing with conflict in the best
way we can, by working together to get everything done on time.
Kent: The purpose of the team is to learn how to collaborate with others to
reach the same common goal. Often times in the business world, tasks assigned
in the business are far too large for one person. Splitting the task into multiple
tasks and assigning multiple people to each one is more efficient and sometimes
it even saves time. Communication is a huge part when it comes to completing a
shared task. A common goal is important to establish so nothing contrasting
arises. Each member of the team should contribute the same amount of work
whist working toward the goal, however it is not frowned upon for any individual
to go the extra mile so long as the extra effort is communicated and negotiated
with the team. Nobody wants to feel left out or have any surprises on the
presentation/due date! A communication plan using GroupMe or Facebook would
be ideal. Both are easy to use and many people already have one or the other.
With that being said, upon being notified with a message of any kind, I would
expect my team members to get into contact with me as soon as possible.
Conflicts are best handled through an on-hands approach. During times of
disagreement, I would say it’s fair that the group should meet up at the library or
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 28
other public place to resolve any issues. Communication is your best friend in
group work!
Miguel: The purpose of each team is always to work together in order to
accomplish a common goal. Collaboration is really important when working as a
team. I am on the tennis team and this semester is the season so I will be playing
almost every weekend. My free time is during the week. I cannot be specific
about my schedule because my coach is always changing the practice schedule.
Since I do not have a phone plan, we as a group, created a facebook chat where
we can talk with each other. I expect every member of the group to collaborate
and talk using this facebook group to get the work done. When dealing with
conflicts, I believe there is nothing better then meet with the group at any place
and try to solve it. Communication is the key to succeed as a group.
Roland:
What is the purpose of the team?
The purpose of the team is to complete the case study in an effective
manner. Using teamwork and collaboration we will have a diverse thought
process and many different viewpoints allowing us to get the best final product on
the case study.
• What is expected from each team member in terms of participation (share
schedules?
Each team member is expected to participate in every group activity and
meeting. There can be exceptions but effort will have to be shown on every team
member's part to make a positive contribution to the group. It is expected that
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 29
class is attended, due to this being the best, and most productive time to meet as
a group on a regularly scheduled basis.
• What is the communication plan & expectations of each member?
Communication will be on a facebook messenger group. Here the whole
group can go to ask questions, and schedule meetings. It is expected to check
this group, and to be available on it at least once a day, sometimes more if there
is a need for information or collaboration between more than one group member.
• What collaboration tools will the team use to complete this case?
The team will use google drive, and icyte to complete this project. These
two collaboration tools allow us to keep an eye on each other's work and also to
share it at the click of a button, working together with the same information to
complete the task at hand.
• How does the team plan to deal with conflict?
The team plans to deal with conflict in a controlled manner. Isolating the
situation, and deciding as a group on how to solve the problem. This will done by
a majority rules vote, and there will be no arguing to the outcome of such a vote.
Part 3: Timeline
Projects Due Date Progress Deadline
Company Analyses 3/7 3/5
Simple System 4/4 4/2
Complex System 4/18 4/15
Comparison & Recommendations 4/25 4/20
RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 30

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Compare-and-Recommendation

  • 1. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 1 Compare and Recommendation Business Information Technology Shauna Beaudin Roland Kleiner, Grace Sargent, Miguel Marreiros, Kent Keeler
  • 2. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 2 Critique Simple System 1- How does the information system make the partners more competitive? The information within the simple system can be shared between each partner. By doing this the customers data is shared allowing partners to know what type of service they should be providing and what they should not be providing. 2- What is the cost involved with implementing the system (one-time and on-going)? The payments for this system will be an ongoing payment. The payments could be anywhere from ten dollars a month to fifty dollars a month. 3- Is the data shared or dependent on specific partner (Silos or Integrated Data)? With this simple system the data can be shared between employees and partners. But it can also be kept dependent to one person. 4- How easy is it to find a specific desired piece of information? Data can be very easy to find with the different features offered. There is the search bar that allows you to search for emails. There is also different folders you can make and you can even flag important emails or star them. 5- How easy it is to modify the system to upcoming needs (upgrades)? The system is very easy to upgrade as they use automatic upgrades. A remind will be sent out of when the update will be and then the software will automatically update, usually in the night. 6- How quickly can decisions be made using this system (reporting/dashboards)? E-mail is primarily used in organizations as a resource, a form of communication that facilitates the process of notifying large groups of people and increasing efficiency of productivity. Decisions can be made almost immediately due to the fact that email is instant communication 7- How does the system control data accuracy (avoid missing & wrong information)? Although using email would be the easiest option for the communication between the three property-owners, they face some issues associated with the use of the e-mail. Many companies deal with confidential information such as customers names, credit card numbers, social security numbers and phone numbers. Everyone knows that is really difficult to organize and locate the files. However, this problem would be solved if they would create and develop an organizational system that would required a constant maintenance. Another problem is that e-mails can be lost in transit and
  • 3. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 3 therefore easily stolen if not encrypted correctly. Normally, this is an organizational problem. This problem can be overcome by using email encryption. However, it is clear that this safety measure will be costly for the business. 8- How easy is it for a partner to understand how to use the system (training)? E-mail is easy to deal with. There are a lot of ways to learn how to use e-mail properly. Business Training Works offers an E-mail Etiquette Training that is designed to help employees know the proper use of the Internet while at work as well as behaviors they must vigorously avoid. 9- How much energy does a partner need to use to produce a desired result (process)? There is no better way than use email when you need to send information as soon as you can. This process does not take much effort from the three property owners. 10- How well does the system support solving the problem of the partners? Every problem has a solution. However, the safety measures can be inconvenient and costly for the business. E-mail encryption is one of possible solutions to keep information organized and not misplaced. By creating and developing an organizational system, would solve the problem of how hard is to organize and locate the files. However, this process requires a constant maintenance. Complex System 1. How does the information system make the partners more competitive? The information system in a complex system could create a competitiveness in terms of hierarchy. 2. What is the cost involved with implementing the system (one-time and on- going)? The costs in an intricate system such as a complex system is annually on- going 3. Is the data shared or dependent on specific partner (Silos or Integrated Data)? The data is dependent in a complex system and only shared to a degree 4. How easy is it to find a specific desired piece of information? Information about an organization that operates a complex system is usually private or hybrid.
  • 4. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 4 5. How easy it is to modify the system to upcoming needs (upgrades)? Difficult. Complex systems tend to remain consistent. 6. How quickly can decisions be made using this system (reporting/dashboards)? Very quickly. Google drive, and Google mail are very effective systems for many reasons. Decisions can be made fast in both because any sent mail, or changes made on a document can be seen by anyone that is concerns immediately. This is very important in an organization because it allows for efficiency. It will also enable a chat for people currently working on a document or on their email to communicate through. 7. How does the system control data accuracy (avoid missing & wrong information)? The system has an auto correct feature, which is very good to enable people to not send incorrect information, or confusion due to errors in spelling or grammar. This is very important throughout the process because it ensures that information is trustworthy. If there were small errors they can often make a big difference and cause a lot of confusion when communicating. Having an auto correct feature will prevent this from happening. 8. How easy is it for a partner to understand how to use the system (training)? Very easy. Google drive and Google mail is a very straightforward system for anyone to work with. Training would include a walkthrough of all of the features that would be needed for anyone's specific job, and a walkthrough of the communication tools. It would be very easy to train new employees, and most people would be able to adjust very easily seeing as most people have used cell phones or smart devices. This is good for new hired employees and the organization because it allows for the easy adjustment for new employees, and makes it less of a investment to train them. They can shadow for a little while and learn this way. 9. How much energy does a partner need to use to produce a desired result (process)? Not a lot. This system is always running in the background of the computer, if Google chrome is used. This web browser will allow notifications to be seen immediately by all partners, when data is shared, or a message is sent. This is important because it also allows for efficiency. When a partner gets an email or a chat directly to their web browser, they can instantly reply which is the best way to transfer data or information rapidly. Notifications can also be set so that when information is shared that is crucial all partners can see it immediately. 10.How well does the system support solving the problem of the partners? The system is very good in solving the problems of the partners. It allows not only for them to communicate, but to share data and information. This is very good because things such as Income Statements can be seen by
  • 5. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 5 all partners to ensure that the business is going well and running smoothly. These statements would also always be up to date which is another huge benefit. If partners had information to share quickly they could also do this with chat or with email to solve problems, which is the most effective way to communicate. Industry Analysis Five Force Analysis Baker Santa Fe Rivalry There is a large amount of rivalry in Santa Fe for Barker. This means that in order for Barker to be able to open a successful business, the price would have to be a bargain, or customers can easily go elsewhere. This puts a lot of pressure on Barker in a motivated, competitive market. Threat Of New Entry This is a very weak threat to the resort. The land is very mountainous, and is not easily navigated. Adding another resort would not be easy, or profitable for a new entrant. The biggest threat is the already existing market, and pricing which can affect this market. Bargaining Power Of Suppliers There is a good amount of bargaining power for the supplier in this specific area. There are other resorts, but not an extreme amount to where the bargaining power for the supplier is weakened. Being so mountainous it is limited in where a customer can go in the area, allowing for a good amount of bargaining power for Barker in this market. Threat of Substitutions
  • 6. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 6 There is a low threat for any substitution to occur due to the fact that the area around the resort is mountainous, and not easily uninhabitable. The resorts are also not as common, many people wanting another option go to rent condos, or other options rather than going to a resort. Bargaining Power Of Customer There is only a moderate amount of bargaining power for a customer in this area. This is because there are not too many places available, so there is a good amount of demand. This demand means that the customers bargaining power goes down a little bit, customers are however left with a medium amount of bargaining power because there are some other options around for resorts or rentals. Chris Bickle: Leighton Realty As Leighton Realty in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, supplier power is considerably weak due to a large number of competitors. A competitive environment weakens the power that any supplier of a service has over the buyer or consumer. In real estate, the supplier is not the real estate agent. Real estate is an industry that provides a service, not a product. The seller sets the price and the buyer determines the value based on supply and demand in the market -- much like the stock market! As a buyer in the Cape Cod area, you have an abundance of power due to numerous options of real estate companies. However, if Leighton Reality had a
  • 7. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 7 large market share, the buyer would not have the power to drive the pricing of the service down due to the company's dominance in the market. In a real estate, it is difficult to advertise your service differently than competitors that provide a similar service. However, companies that have been in business for an extended period of time and have a presence in the market not only locally but also regionally and nationally would have a competitive advantage over a smaller firm that may have a few offices. A threat of substitution towards a real estate company such as Leighton Realty for example could be a consumer choosing to sell their own house. A service such a real estate is not vital to complete the task at hand, which in this case is selling a house. The tradeoff is the consumer is not able to bring the same amount of professionalism provided within the service that Leighton Realty gives versus the consumer's own expertise. If consumers choose to sell their own property, there is less market exposure because they don't have access to the resources such as the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), which all real estate agents use to sell properties. As a company that has been established for an extended period of time, Leighton Realty would not be largely threatened by a new entry in the market. Providing a reliable service that people are satisfied with creates a "regular" customer base that have a developed trust and loyalty to you and your business. The quality of service provided has an impact on a repeat customer base, which is imperative to the success of a business that supplies a service such as real estate.
  • 8. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 8 Jerry Barker: Whistler Luxury Condos Jerry Barker lives in Whistler Village, British Columbia and works for the company Whistler Luxury Condos. As a supplier they have a lot to offer in the condos. They are available year around and offer condos from anywhere from one bedroom to five bedrooms. The offer special ski and snowboarding packages for the winter months, and hiking and various outdoor activities in the summer months. Jerry is not the only one is Whistler offering a luxury condo, as there are about 36 other real estate agencies in the area, creating a tight. As a buyer you have many different options within Whistler. The rates at Barkers condo average at about 895 dollars a night; while at another place they are about a hundred dollars cheaper. So as a buyer you have to look at the different packages and amenities offered. Barker has learned that if you offer more to the customer they are more likely to stay there. Which is probably why it is such an exclusive place to get into. To separate from the rest of the competition Barker needs to be able to set his condos out from any other in the area. He has done this by making them luxury condos, open in summer and winter months, and offering special packages. With the competition in the area being so much he needs to make his company stand out. For threat of substitution towards Barkers Company the other real estate around the area could be a threat. It could be a private homeowner renting out their own house to visitors, or the hotel and motels in the area.
  • 9. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 9 Whistler Luxury Condos is a company that has been around for a while and as even makes a pervious condo company close in the area. As for competition there is a lot around them, but none that are much of a threat because they do not supply the same quality as Whistler Luxury Condos. Competitive Strategies Each company has their own competitive strategy, which provides them to maximize their generation of revenue. Since Baker has a summer and winter resort, her company attempts for a better product and service throughout the industry. She can use as a competitive strategy buying opulent products for the resorts and increasing the times of operation throughout the year. Barker owns a resort that operates only in the winter season, he also strives for a better product and service within an industry segment. Barker will increase his generation of revenue by providing the best experience to clients compared to other winter resorts in British Columbia. Bickel owns and operates a summer resort in Cape Cod. He operates under the same competitive strategy as Jerry and Wilma, planning to reach a better service within his industry segment. For achieve this objective, he needs to buy advanced quality items and supplies and remain focus on providing the best possible involvement to his customers. Problem Statement Every company has a specific problem. They plan to solve their specific problems through their intended merger of information. The problem that the business owners are facing is difficulty in attracting new customers. The
  • 10. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 10 companies would benefit from this union of information by gaining an advantage over their rival businesses. By working together, the three owners would decrease the rate of vacancy in rental properties, thus maximizing their revenue. Customers might not value the change because they may feel pressured into paying for something they do not desire. There is also a risk that each business owner will not be as hardworking as his colleagues in promoting another business owner’s properties. Sharing data will rise the risk of hacking. The three owners should only share certain data between themselves to accomplish the goals of the intended business collaboration. They should share the price, location, specifications and availability of properties. The companies will avoid the appropriation of ideas and customer information if they keep the information that will be shared simple. Simple System Problem Although using email would be the easiest option for this process, the three property-owners face some dangerous issues associated with the use of email. A common problem when using email as a form of communication that everyone knows is the difficulty organizing and locating files. However, this problem would be solved if they would create and develop an organizational system that would required a constant maintenance. Another common email problem that they face is the easiness with which files and attachments can be misplaced. Normally, this is an organizational problem. There are a lot of concerns related to security gaps that the three property-owners should be
  • 11. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 11 aware. Before they email reach their recipient, the email normally passes from server to server. During this time of transit, the emails can be easily intercepted and read. By using email encryption, these couple security concerns can be overcome. However, it is clear that this safety measure will become inconvenient and costly for the business owners. Being aware of the security issues is always important, even though when the business owners do not intend to share very sensitive data through email. Email and its Uses E-mail is primarily used in organizations as a resource, a form of communication that facilitates the process of notifying large groups of people and increasing efficiency of productivity. While e-mail is a useful tool that is widely spread across virtually every large business in the world, it does come with some risks. Security can be a very real issue. Many companies deal with confidential information such as customer names, credit card numbers, social security numbers and phone numbers. E-mails can be lost in transit and therefore easily stolen if not encrypted correctly. Having a personal domain helps create a professional image that also promotes the credibility of your business. The flexibility that a domain provides is custom email aliases designated for particular departments such as customer service or general information. When it comes to customers attempting to contact your business with questions that they might have, having a domain that delegates certain departments to answer certain questions aids to organization and clarity. When having the privilege of having your own email address, you also have full control over categories that pertain to
  • 12. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 12 you or your department and removing inactive emails that you don't necessarily need. Providing an email domain for your customers also helps create a brand name. A representative whose email ends or starts with the name of the company not only personalizes the customer's experience and creates a one-on- one feel, but it also helps to make the business name more memorable. When it comes to a domain name, the cost breakdown is considerably low and very affordable. Averagely, it costs a business ten dollars a year to keep a single domain name up and running, though the cost varies from registrar to registrar. Hardware Baker, Bickel and Barker decided to use a simple system focused on email communication to share property information. This selected simple system commands to a specific hardware, software, procedures and people to accomplish its goal. In this procedure, the hardware and software must function together to work successfully. Since they are using email communication to share property information, the main hardware is a computer for each person with a role in the data sharing process. An external hard drive may become necessary in this process since storing excess data may steal a lot of space in the computer’s internal hard drive. This external hard drive is an additional hardware. Software For this organization Bickle, Baker, and Barker are going to use Gmail. Other popular options are Yahoo Mail, iCloud mail, and Outlook.com. For GMail it can be accessed by using any Internet access point or for mobile use you can
  • 13. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 13 download the Gmail app. With Gmail it gives you 15 GB for free and then if more is needed after that the company can buy 100 GB for $1.99 a month or 1 TB for $9.99 a month. This is not a big business expense, when we look at how much information 1 TB can store. It is also extremely useful, and safer than storing the information locally. This assurance of safety is something that Bickel, Baker, and Barker will want to have so that their customer’s information, and their reservations are safely stowed away. Data For Gmail the data is stored on Google Drive. This does not only store you emails but also your photos and documents. On Gmail you can connect with different people and put them in your circles. So Bickle, Barker and Baker could all add each other to a circle and keep a closed knit group to share there private information with each other. They could also create a shared folder on Drive and share different customer information through there. On Drive you can also upload Microsoft Word documents if they use Word instead of Drive. To track and manage emails you can “star” certain emails to go into a special folder or “mark as important” to put them in a separate folder. Also emails can be moved into specific folders you assigns. Gmail also allows you to search for all your emails with the search bar. With all these features that Gmail offers it makes it very easy for a components to track and manage emails. Procedures Proper Communication Any and all data that is transferred should be work related
  • 14. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 14 Data should be beneficial towards a work related project Planning Rules will be discussed Plans will be made to implement the system Flaws will be discussed, and addressed Analysis The effectiveness will be analyzed Changes will be made accordingly going forward Analyze the system one more time detecting flaws Design Take information from the analysis Use it to finalize the system Structure the system effectively for the organization Implementation Implement the designed system Use it on a sample, do not fully implement it Monitor it very closely Record any flaws Analyze the risks of these flaws Testing and Integration Test the system entirely Slowly train employees for the new system Integrate the system in the organization
  • 15. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 15 Help the employees adjust to the system and make sure everyone knows it inside and out Maintenance Maintain the system Make sure new employees are familiar with the system when they get hired Improve the system Keep and eye on error and flaws to make sure that the system runs smoothly People The system will be the whole Google Drive system. The system will need to be set up by the main person in the company. So if Barker is the owner he will have to set it up for his employees under him. Bickle and Baker will have to do the same. Once the owners have set up there base system all the employees as individuals will have to get google accounts and set up their circles and share their drive accounts. Once Bickle, Baker, and Barker have all set up their companies they will now need to share there system with each other. Once this is all complete they will all be connected. Training should not be necessary for the simple system of Gmail and Google drive. The system itself shows you instructions on how to use it when it is first set up, and the rest is self explanatory. If training is required the owners can provide their employees with this URL “https://apps.google.com/learning-center/products/gmail/get-started/ “ which will show the employees exactly what they need to know. If there are further questions, technical support will also be offered, as well as training
  • 16. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 16 sessions. This will ensure that the staff and customers have all of the knowledge they need to operate the simple system, and use it effectively. Visio
  • 17. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 17 Complex System Overview Complex system provides lots of alternatives, depending on the software choice of the property owners. The owners must choose between internal systems which are database, ERP and CRM; and external systems which are websites and social media alternatives. They have to reflect the strengths and weaknesses of each of these alternatives prior to making a decision about which to use for their business collaboration. A database is no more than a collection of integrated data, and it is often used to describe a database management system (DBMS), which is used to “create, process, and administer a database”. When purchased a database management system, it comes in several forms, covering a broad spectrum of price and structure variations. Databases management systems are normally purchased from IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle. The products produced by these companies are DB2, Access and SQL Server, and Oracle Database, respectively. These products come with technical support and they can be purchased at some cost. MySQL is an open source software program that could be used to reduce costs. However, users frequently face operational setbacks when using open source software. Cloud-based software has become
  • 18. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 18 popular for database management. There are couple benefits of using cloud storage which are a decreased cost, a convenient collaboration, and an effective data recovery. Hardware There are other internal systems besides database management systems which are CRM and ERP systems. CRM is an acronym for customer relationship management and it is a type of software useful in customer-business relations. A CRM would be very useful for the property owners because it would allow them to use their shared database to gain insight into the interests of their customers. By doing this, they would increase the likelihood of generating increased revenue from them. There is no shortage of CRM options available to businesses. ERP means enterprise resource planning software. ERP systems have the capacity to accomplish all of the functions of a CRM system, and also are used in additional business applications, such as accounting, manufacturing and human resources. SMIS is an acronym for social media information system. Another options for the property owners to achieve their goals is the use of an external systems such as websites and social media alternatives. An option for them is to create a website that would make their shared database viewable to their customer. However, this option is going to be expensive and would require daily maintenance. In the recent past, social media channels and social media monitoring tools have been increasing in terms of popularity. Baker, Barker and
  • 19. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 19 Bickel could create a shared business listing on social media boards such as Facebook or Google+. These shared business listings would keep customers alert of the day-to-day activities of the businesses, increasing the likelihood of their future patronage. Social media monitoring software is also a practical option for the businesses and can be used by businesses to gain insight into the actions and interests of social media users. Many software options exist to businesses, including Social Studio, Brandwatch and Synthesio. Software Cloud based systems are systems that provided by a vendor as a service, and is maintained by the vendor themselves. Locally used systems are systems that are installed and then maintained by the IT staff of the company. CRM systems can be installed locally and cloud based. Depending on what system the company chooses will determine whether or not the CRM system is downloaded on-premise or on the cloud. For SMIS systems they are installed cloud based. For ERP systems they are again systems that can be installed locally or cloud based. The benefits of cloud based systems is that the vendor will fix any problems themselves, but that also means you may have to wait a while for the company to get the problem fixed. The benefits for locally based systems is that the problem can be fixed by the companies professional IT personal, but that also might mean the problem could require lots help if the problem is over IT’s head. For mobile use the company for each system will have to download an app that the system provides. The mobile app may cost money to download but in the end it will be worth it to have the mobile use.
  • 20. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 20 Data Data is raw and unprocessed facts that can appear un-meaningful and useless unless organized. Information is data that is organized or structured in such a context that makes it useful and paints a whole picture. The data is structured in a cloud platform that would most likely be on a hybrid-cloud system which combines a private cloud shared among the partners exclusively and a public cloud storage system that allows anyone to access the infrastructure. With the technology of cloud storage, tracking and managing data is easy. Uploading the organization's data storage to a third party service provider and locating it onsite or offsite is as easy as clicking a button. Procedure It’s important to have a DMP or a Data Management Plan when you’re a part of an organization. When sharing data, funders seek to maximize the impact of the research they fund by encouraging or requiring data sharing. Describing how the data will be shared is an important process whether it’s via a disciplinary data center or repository. Include a description of file format and conditions for reuse of the data among others by describing licenses that will be applied to the data along with any other terms of use. Upon managing the data that is shared, identify any departmental, institutional, or programmatic policies on data retention, how they influence your plan, and how you will adhere to the policies. People For each system they will need to be installed by an IT professional to get the system running. Each person in the company will have to download the app
  • 21. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 21 and getting it running on the computer or mobile device. Partners may need training if they have not worked with any of these systems before. IT professionals should be around to help if needed. Visio
  • 22. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 22 Comparing Alternatives The three business owners have broad alternatives to consider in determining the best system to employ in their business collaboration. In order to make a software decision, the businesses need to consider what they intend to accomplish with their chosen software and who will be using the software. The simple system based on email is the easiest to establish. Most of the business proprietors already use email in their business interactions on a daily basis. They would first need to begin communicating with each other by sharing important information about their own properties. Although the process employed in this email alternative sounds simple, it could quickly become confusing and as a result be disorganized. As earlier stated, email systems are not easy to organize or very secure. This is because email does not utilize a shared database, so the process for customers to learn about prospective properties, express interest in booking them, and ultimately reserve them requires lots of back and forth communication among many different people. This abundance communication between many different people could result in double-bookings of properties, lost
  • 23. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 23 reservations, and data storage problems. Although the email system would be low-cost and easy to establish, the disadvantages involved in solely using email communication seem to outweigh the benefits. The business owners also have many options for determining the complex web-based collaboration system. The first required component for this system to function properly is a precise and complete shared database of properties. DBMS, CRM and ERP provide the creation of a database as well as several other functions. DBMS is the simplest option with an incorporated database. The business owners are able to access and to update the data in the database to reflect reservations and other changes to the properties, but the system provides few other structures. CRM is better in making more information available to users about the actions of customers. The use of CRM allows the business owners to target the needs and wants of certain clients, likely increasing the proportion of contacts resulting in reservations. However, given the wish of each business owner to protect their own customer base, a CRM system may prove to provide more information about customers that are not needed. ERP systems provide all of the functions of CRM, in addition to information about accounting, manufacturing, human resources, and other subjects. The use of an ERP system, by the three business owners, provide more information than is necessary to accomplish their goals. The business owners were very clear that they were not attracted in a merger of companies. Full use of an ERP system would pool much of the information that is combined in a merger.
  • 24. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 24 The business owners also have the external systems to reflect for their complex system. The creation of a website would be a very good choice for the three property owners. The problem related to the website is that it would require lots of time, money, and expertise. Due to the fact that they just met each other, it would be wise that before creating a website, they would test first the success of their proposed collaboration using an easier alternative such as social media. Social media outlets are growing rapidly, and should not be forgotten as a frontier for business operations. The creation of a shared business page on Google+ or Facebook would be an inexpensive way for the businesses to upload information and updates about the properties to keep customers attracted and aware. Social media monitoring software could work well by combining it with CRM software to keep the business owners up to date on alterations in the interests and desires of their customers. However, it could also compromise the business owners stated goal, which is the protection of their customers. Recommendation The business owners wanted to firmly share information about their properties, without sharing any personal information about the customer bases. Although this goal could be reached using either the simple system or the complex alternative, the simple system shows many disadvantages, which could hold the companies back from effectively sharing desired information. Baker, Barker and Bickel should choose to use the complex system instead. The alternative that would work best for the three business owners at this time is a database management system. By using a database management system, the
  • 25. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 25 owner could completely maximize the software and effectively create a shared database of properties. Their database management system does not include any information about customers. By the time they will work together, if the three business owners work well together, they could reconsider their goals and opt for other alternatives such as CRM, ERP or even a shared website. The three property owners could also think on purchasing social media monitoring software or create a shared social media business listing to increase their relationships with customers. References Account settings: Your browser is not supported. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from https://www.google.com/settings/storage?hl=en Apps Learning Center. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from https://apps.google.com/learning-center/products/gmail/get-started/ Cost of a Domain Name (n.d.) Retrieved April 03, 2016 fromHow Cloud ERP Compares to On-premise ERP. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.netsuite.com/portal/uk/resource/articles/on-premise-cloud-erp.shtml How Cloud ERP Compares to On-premise ERP. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.netsuite.com/portal/uk/resource/articles/on-premise-cloud-erp.shtml http://searchcloudstorage.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-storage http://www.diffen.com/difference/Data_vs_Information http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/cost-setting-up-website.shtml https://www.yola.com/blog/why-your-small-business-needs-its-own-email-address/ Salesforce CRM Consultant and Partner. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.crmculture.com/knowledge-base/cloud-or-on-premise-crm.html SIMS in a MultiPlatform world…efficiency, productivity and cost savings for Schools. (2015). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
  • 26. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 26 https://thescarfedone.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/sims-in-a-multiplatform-world- efficiency-productivity-and-cost-savings-for-schools/ Symantec Endpoint Encryption | Symantec. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from https://www.symantec.com/pages.jsp?id=symantec-endpoint-encryption Top 11 Free Email Services 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://email.about.com/od/freeemailreviews/tp/free_email.htm What is System Development Life Cycle? (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from https://airbrake.io/blog/insight/what-is-system-development-life-cycle Why it is important to have a Domain Name (n.d.) Retrieved April 03, 2016 from Appendix: Collaboration Report Part 1: Contact Information Kent Keeler: 603-545-1112 --- itskeeler21@me.com Grace Sargent-603-860-8982-sargentgrace15@gmail.com Miguel Marreiros: +(351) 962058330- m.corredoura.m@gmail.com Roland Kleiner: 802-424-6416 Part 2: Individual Answers • What is the purpose of the team? • What is expected from each team member in terms of participation (share schedules? • What is the communication plan & expectations of each member? • What collaboration tools will the team use to complete this case? • How does the team plan to deal with conflict?
  • 27. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 27 Grace: The purpose of this team is to learn how to work together as a team in a new technology world. I usually work on the weekends and am free during the week. All my classes are in the morning so afternoons work well. The communication plan is we all have a group chat on facebook because that works for everyone. I would expect everyone to answer in the chat so it is known that everyone has seen what is going on. We plan on dealing with conflict in the best way we can, by working together to get everything done on time. Kent: The purpose of the team is to learn how to collaborate with others to reach the same common goal. Often times in the business world, tasks assigned in the business are far too large for one person. Splitting the task into multiple tasks and assigning multiple people to each one is more efficient and sometimes it even saves time. Communication is a huge part when it comes to completing a shared task. A common goal is important to establish so nothing contrasting arises. Each member of the team should contribute the same amount of work whist working toward the goal, however it is not frowned upon for any individual to go the extra mile so long as the extra effort is communicated and negotiated with the team. Nobody wants to feel left out or have any surprises on the presentation/due date! A communication plan using GroupMe or Facebook would be ideal. Both are easy to use and many people already have one or the other. With that being said, upon being notified with a message of any kind, I would expect my team members to get into contact with me as soon as possible. Conflicts are best handled through an on-hands approach. During times of disagreement, I would say it’s fair that the group should meet up at the library or
  • 28. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 28 other public place to resolve any issues. Communication is your best friend in group work! Miguel: The purpose of each team is always to work together in order to accomplish a common goal. Collaboration is really important when working as a team. I am on the tennis team and this semester is the season so I will be playing almost every weekend. My free time is during the week. I cannot be specific about my schedule because my coach is always changing the practice schedule. Since I do not have a phone plan, we as a group, created a facebook chat where we can talk with each other. I expect every member of the group to collaborate and talk using this facebook group to get the work done. When dealing with conflicts, I believe there is nothing better then meet with the group at any place and try to solve it. Communication is the key to succeed as a group. Roland: What is the purpose of the team? The purpose of the team is to complete the case study in an effective manner. Using teamwork and collaboration we will have a diverse thought process and many different viewpoints allowing us to get the best final product on the case study. • What is expected from each team member in terms of participation (share schedules? Each team member is expected to participate in every group activity and meeting. There can be exceptions but effort will have to be shown on every team member's part to make a positive contribution to the group. It is expected that
  • 29. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 29 class is attended, due to this being the best, and most productive time to meet as a group on a regularly scheduled basis. • What is the communication plan & expectations of each member? Communication will be on a facebook messenger group. Here the whole group can go to ask questions, and schedule meetings. It is expected to check this group, and to be available on it at least once a day, sometimes more if there is a need for information or collaboration between more than one group member. • What collaboration tools will the team use to complete this case? The team will use google drive, and icyte to complete this project. These two collaboration tools allow us to keep an eye on each other's work and also to share it at the click of a button, working together with the same information to complete the task at hand. • How does the team plan to deal with conflict? The team plans to deal with conflict in a controlled manner. Isolating the situation, and deciding as a group on how to solve the problem. This will done by a majority rules vote, and there will be no arguing to the outcome of such a vote. Part 3: Timeline Projects Due Date Progress Deadline Company Analyses 3/7 3/5 Simple System 4/4 4/2 Complex System 4/18 4/15 Comparison & Recommendations 4/25 4/20
  • 30. RUNNING HEAD:COMPARISON & RECOMENDATION 30