Thinking About the Case 1. What were the main deficiencies of the paper system?

What was wrong with the fact that a human remembered where a record could be found? - Information is lost as years gone by since employees who hold the vital information about the nursery eventually retires. - The use of index cards as a storage of information for each species of different kinds of seedlings is inefficient and ineffective since we are talking about a large amount of data here. - Manually storing each data for each seedling of a specific specie is time consuming. These index cards can be easily worn out which in return can result to loss of data. 2. List and explain the benefits of the RIMS system. - Through the use of RIMS system, records tracking data can now be easily transmitted to the database in the office and update the seedling records. - The record of each seedling is well kept and secured on a database. Making it protected from various ways of data loss. - Data access are only open to managers and specific employees who are given the authority. - Information is much less error prone since the nursery can be assured that it sells seedlings that can survive where they are planted and fulfill their specific purpose of reforestation. - Sales can now be easily tracked by species and to forecast future revenues. 3. What can be the benefits of analyzing performance by the system? - Organizations Benefits: in analyzing the performance of each employee, the organization will be the first one to be directly affected. As each employee performance and quality of work improves, the rate of their productivity increases making the organizational performance increase. Employee retention and loyalty can also be tracked. Overcoming the barriers to communication, and cost advantages. - Managers Benefits: Saving time and reduces conflicts since communication with the employees are smooth. Thus efficiency and consistency in performance is ensured. - Employees Benefits: Expectation on each employee is clarified. Opportunity on self assessment clarifies job accountability and contributes to improved performance. This clearly defines each employees career path and encourages job satisfaction. - increased employee responsibility: Realistic communication but challenging job expectations and making employees accountable for their decision and actions result in noticeable improvements in terms of employee tardiness, absences and organizational commitment. - Equitable treatment of employees: implementing standardized procedures that promote consistency throughout an organization in lieu of fair treatment on all employees. 4. Consider the types of information systems discussed in the chapter. Which type of system could probably help both the nursery and the Department of Natural Resources?

Combination of a supply chain management system and transaction processing system can probably help both the nursery and the Department of Natural Resources. The supply chain management system handles the producing and selling part, packing, shipping, billing, collection and after sale services of each seedling in the nursery, while the transaction processing system will handle each transaction made with the nurserys customer/clients.