Decision Support Systems

Decision support systems have become very prevalent in today’s business world.  Decision support systems (DSS) are a specific class of computerized information system that supports business and organizational decision-making activates [1]  When a company faces a major decision, decision support systems are used to attain all relative data.  Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would be:

·      Accessing all of your current information assets, including legacy and relational data sources, cubes, data warehouses and data marts

·      Comparative sales figures between one week and the next

·      Projected revenue figures based on new product sales assumptions

·      The consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in a context that is described [1]

Decision support systems can be used to make many different decisions.  Depending on the type of business the company does, and how big the company is, big decisions can be made frequently.  Another reason a company may use a DSS is that if they make the wrong decision, the result could cripple the company for years, maybe even force it to shut down.  

A company could also use a decision support system is to find ways that they could cut cost, while not loosing quality in their product.  Sometimes they will look for a way to improve the product, while keeping costs the same.  Typically, business planners will build a DSS system according to their needs and use it to evaluate specific operations, including:

1.    A large stock of inventory, where decision support system applications can provide guidance on establishing supply chain movement that works for a business.

2.    A sales process, where decision support systems software is a “crustal ball” that helps managers theorize how changes will affect results.

3.    Other specialized processes related to a field or industry. [2]

One field that decision support systems have become a very important tool in is healthcare.  Healthcare professionals do not always have time to research a patient ailment.  Information systems that bring medical and patient information to physicians to support diagnostic and treatment decisions help improve patient safety and manage costs. [3] 

Healthcare professionals have many scholarly articles and medical books that they have to research medical conditions in.  However, DSS can help reduce the amount of time it takes them. Data mining may be conducted to examine the patient’s medical history in conjunction with relevant clinical research.  Such analysis can help predict potential events, which can range from drug interactions to disease symptoms. [4]  This can help get a patient diagnosed and healed at a quicker pace then before decision support systems were available.

Decision support systems will continue to be beneficial to managers for years to come.  They will continue to provide the companies with plenty of data required making their decisions, in less time then they would have been able to prior to the invention of DSS.   The DSS can continue to help managers cut costs while improving quality and increasing profits for many more years.

[1]   http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss

[2]   http://www.business.com/guides/decision-support-systems-dss-applications-and-uses-34372/

[3]   http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/Features/Decision-support-systems-prove-vital-to-healthcare-19133.aspx

[4]   http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/clinical-decision-support-system-CDSS

E-Commerce

Over the past few decades, e-commerce has become more popular.  None may be more popular than business-to-consumer e-commerce.  Business-to-consumer e-commerce allows for someone to do all their shopping over the Internet. 

Business-to-consumer e-commerce has many benefits for consumers.  Consumers can now shop for products on different Web sites.  They can compare prices on the web sites, and possibly find different brands.  They can also shop whenever they want.  “With business-to-consumer e-commerce, consumers enjoy the convenience of shopping and placing orders around the clock.”  [1]  E-commerce also allows for consumers to save time.  They no longer need to run to a store to shop.  They can simply go online to whichever site they need to, and order what they are looking for.

            There are also many benefits to business-to-consumer e-commerce for businesses.  They no longer need an intermediary to sell their products to consumers.  They also can spend less money on stores if they are a retailer.  They can also expand beyond their target consumer base.  Many Web sites show what else other consumers bought when they purchased the same product.  Some other benefits for businesses are:

·      More reach to customers, there is no theoretical geographic limitations

·      Operational costs and better quality of services

·      No need of physical company set-ups

·      Easy to start and manage a business [2]

            Business-to-consumer e-commerce has grown even faster in the past couple of years because of mobile commerce (M-commerce).  Mobile commerce has become big because of the inventions of smart phones and tablets. “M-commerce has several major advantages over its fixed counterparts because of its specific inbuilt characteristics such as ubiquity, personalization, flexibility, and distribution, mobile commerce promises exceptional business market potential, greater efficiency and higher fruitfulness.” [3]

“Service and Retail sectors are also amount the leading sectors, which have nurtured most from mobile commerce.”  [3] Now a consumer can purchase something on his or her phone/tablet at any time.  Many retailers and producers have created applications for the smart phones and tablets.  The applications make it easier for consumers to purchase things directly from them.  The consumer can also see what some of the most popular things the business is selling are.

Both businesses and consumers are benefiting from e-commerce.  Many people are able to save a lot of time buying something online rather then running out to a mall or store to purchase something.  Businesses can save money and be more productive by putting a stronger emphasis on selling this to their consumers electronically.  In the coming years e-commerce will continue to grow, making it important for businesses to strategize how to use it to their advantage.

[1]    http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-to-consumer-e-commerce.htm

[2]    http://www.esalestrack.com/blog/2008/09/advantages-and-disadvantages-of.html

[3]    http://www.roseindia.net/services/m-commerce/mobile-commerce.shtml

Intranets and Extranets

Intranets and extranets are a popular way of organizing company files and deciding who is allowed to access them.  While the intranet and extranet are available to different people, they are very similar to one another.  Both give a company a competitive advantage over competitors that don’t have them.

            An intranet is an internal computer network that organizes company files and allows employees to access them.  It allows for employees to share and work on the same project at the same time, in their own offices.  An intranet connects to an employee’s computer using the Internet.  Because the files are on the intranet, they remain private, and inaccessible to outsiders. With today’s world-shrinking technology, you are not longer limited to doing business only with local customers.  Your customers can now be anywhere in the world.  So can your competitors.  Fortunately, intranets keep all employees everywhere aware of customers and competition.  [1]

There are many benefits for a company to have an intranet.  One benefit is that it saves time.  [2]  If an employee needs a document that another person has, they no longer need to figure out who has it, and then hunt that person down.  Another benefit is that an intranet can reduce cost.  [2]  If employees can access files from an internal network, a company may not need to print out a copy of their employee handbook.  If an employee has a question he/she can access it off the network.  Finally an intranet can increase collaboration within a company.  [2]  A company can install an internal messaging system, similar to an instant message, onto their network. This will allow employees to talk to one another about their work and continue to work at the same time.

            An extranet is also an internal computer network, however some outsiders are allowed access to part of their internal system.  The most common type of outsiders that would be outside allowed to access a company is either a customer or a supplier.  An extranet allows elements of the supply chain – the disruption channel from suppliers through manufacturing process, to distributors, realtors and consumers to be integrated.  An inventory system, for example, can be liked directly to suppliers, so that it automatically places an order for raw materials or components when the stock on hand falls below a certain level. [3] 

            In conclusion, an intranet and extranet can be very beneficial to a business.  They allow the company to share its files with all employees and a few outsiders (given they are allowed access).  Both an intranet and extranet allow for the company to have a competitive advantage over its competitors that don’t.

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1998/04/20/smallb4.html?page=all

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-intranet-to-business.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_12028071_advantages-extranet.html

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is becoming more popular by the day.  Because of its growing popularity, more and more companies are finding ways to utilize cloud computing.   

There are several types of cloud computing.  One of the most common types of cloud computing is infrastructure as a service (IaaS).  “Customers can buy processing, storage, and network services (typically using a Web-based self-service tool) and then build their own systems on top of this infrastructure.”  [1]  A popular company that uses IaaS is Amazon.

There are many benefits to cloud computing.  An article from salesforce.com listed the following as the top ten benefits to switch your business to cloud computing.

1.    Flexibility-provider can instantly meet the demand of the company

2.    Disaster recovery-cloud computing providers fix most issues, unless it has to do with individual computer.

3.    Automatic software updates-suppliers do server and security maintenance, so company doesn’t need to.

4.    Cap-Ex free-cloud computing services are typically pay as you go, so there’s no need for capital expenditures at all.

5.    Increase collaboration-allows employees to work on the same project, and even document at the same time.

6.    Work from anywhere-if the employee has internet access, they are able to access work through the cloud

7.    Document control-Files are accessed by all employees from the same place, therefore any employee can access.  Employees don’t have to email documents to one another, and are always able to look at same document.

8.    Security-If a laptop is lost; all the files are not lost with it.

9.    Competitiveness-faster disaster recovery gives a competitive edge over competitors.

10. Environmentally friendly-businesses only use server space needed.  [2]

Cloud computing can be used with other technology to make desktop computers a thing of the past.  A tablet, or any mobile device can be used in place of a desktop.  With desktop as a service (Daas) cloud computing, a cloud-based virtual desktop, the tablet could be used like a desktop computer.  Another way a tablet can get rid of a desktop by using the interface to set up company applications (apps).  Mobile device management (MDM) systems can provide important security functions, such as enforcing tablet configuration policies, whitelisting and blacklisting apps, enabling encryption and remotely wiping lost or stolen devices.  [3]  This allows a company to use tablets and cloud computing instead of desktops/laptops as their main office tools.

There are many ways that cloud computing is revolutionizing the workplace.  In the coming years, many new companies will switch to cloud computing.  The CRN predicts that by 2014, small businesses will spend almost $100 billion on cloud computing services.  [2]  Because of the amount of companies switching to cloud computing, it is important that all prospective employees learn how to use cloud computing.

[1]   http://www.technologyreview.com/news/425618/cloud-computing-defined/#comments

[2]   http://www.salesforce.com/uk/socialsuccess/cloud-computing/why-move-to-cloud-10-benefits-cloud-computing.jsp

[3]   http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/tip/How-cloud-computing-tablets-will-reshape-the-desktop

Databases

This past semester I had to do a paper on tax policies for the two presidential candidates.  To get a lot of research I had to use a couple databases.  One that I used most was one on President Obama’s Tax policy.  I was able to find it from Forbes.  Their database had many articles about both candidates tax policies. 

1.     The most common problem with the database was that many of my searches came back with several bad articles.  Many articles that came up had to do with a policy that I was not trying to research.  I know my search was probably not the most common subject, but there were many other subjects, like foreign policy that kept showing up.

2.     The advantages the database had was that the articles I was able to find were very thorough and helpful.  I was able to write a good report with the articles I was able to find. 

3.     I would suggest that Forbes’ improve their filter.  There were to many different subjects that I was not trying to research that kept popping up.

Gleckman, H. (2012, October 29). What Is Obama’s Tax Plan. Forbes. Retrieved on November 4, 2012, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2012/10/29/what-is-barack-obamas-tax-plan/

Bischoff, B. (2012, June 28). What ObamaCare Means for Your Taxes. Forbes. Retrieved on October 30, 2012, from http://www.smartmoney.com/taxes/income/what-obamacare-may-mean-for-taxes-1335896160486/

Pagliery, J.  (2012, September 24). Obama’s 18 small business tax cuts-explained. Forbes. Retrieved on October 29, 2012, from http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/24/smallbusiness/obama-tax-cuts/index.html?iid=EL

Hardware and Software

Businesses today are constantly adapting to the new technology that is created.  They have to update their current systems, and sometimes have to buy completely new systems because of new technology.  In the past couple years; mobile computing has become a major part of the business world. 

Every company has basic hardware components such as a central processing unit (CPU), that allows for the basic functions of a computer.  A CPU is consisted of a collection of digital circuits on a computer chip.

In order to for a business to be mobile, most of the time they are required to have a storage area network.  This allows a high-speed connection between the computers and the data storage devices of the business.  Most networks companies use today are wireless.  As long as a company has access to the Internet with their computers or tablets.  This allows the company the flexibility to have employees work at the office, or out in the field.

Laptop computers and tablet computers have made it easier for companies to become more mobile.  Before their invention, a company’s only option was a desktop computer that was not transportable.  Because of laptops and tablets, employees can work from anywhere.

Many companies also use save information for their businesses on solid state storage devices  (SSD).  The most common form of SSD is the flash drive.  A flash drive is a small memory stick that can hold varying amounts of information.  Many companies use these to pass information from computer to computer if a network is or is not an option.  It allows for an easier option for transferring information from one computer to another.

To be more mobile in the workplace, companies can also use wireless printers.  Wireless printers allow for someone to print something off a computer that is connected to the same wireless system as the printer.

Mobile electronics makes it easier for companies to interact with its employees and consumers.  Companies must keep up to date with the technology, which is constantly evolving.

Value Chain

The value chain for the CD Web site is different for a company that produces the CDs.  The raw materials for the company would be the used CDs.  The inbound logistics for the site is the cost of getting the used CDs to the storage facility.

            The production for the company would be the production of the Web site, and the placement of the CDs online.

            The storage for both the finished product and the CDs that are shipped in are the same place.  You may move them from one spot in the storage facility to another, but being that there is no major difference, there is no need for a separate storage facility.  You might get a separate storage facility for a company producing goods from raw materials.

            The outbound logistics are the cost that it takes to get the CDs to the customer.  If you were delivering it to the person yourself, the only cost would be your time.  However if you are mailing the CDs, then the cost will be the cost of postage.

            The marketing and sales part of the value chain would be the cost of posters on bulletin boards around campus, an advertisement in the school newspaper, or an ad on the campus television/radio station.  Anything that helps get people to know about your service would fall under this category.  It may also include any extra charges for selling the product (sales tax, and credit card fees)

            The final part of the value chain is the customer service.  This could be finding out what customer complaints there are, and doing whatever you can to fix them.  If you are shipping the CDs to the students, then you should have a tracking order option for them.