C ASE ON C OMFORT D IAGNOSTIC C ENTER

Find the insufficiency of information (if Any) in the case in

order to develop the system.

Introduction
Information system is an integrated part of any organization. A system is a group

of interrelated components working together toward a common goal by accepting

inputs and producing outputs in an organized transformation process. The

importance of any of these components cannot be disregarded as each of them

contributes to the outcome and plays a significant role in the total process. To

optimize the total performance of any organization, the developed information

system should be able to recognize and therefore integrate each of the functions

and processes that constitute the whole operation of the business. Information

System is not anymore a separate entity within the organization rather it acts as

the brain, working behind every process and activity of the organization, leading

it to its desired goals and objectives.

Escalating competition, the rapidly evolving global economy, and the drive to

continually increase customer satisfaction are all realities that paint today's

business landscape. How well an organization adapts in this climate will depend

on the health of its internal digital processes—its "digital nervous system." A

digital nervous system is an approach to applying technology to business issues

in order to allow an organization to build on existing technology and create

highly efficient, integrated systems that collect, manage, organize, and

disseminate information throughout an enterprise. If the development of this

system is not carefully planned, the system will not only be inefficient in

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executing its core functions but also be acting as a barrier to other operations of

the organization.

The development of an effective information system requires a lot of information,

each of which are critical to the success of the system. We cannot undertake the

task of developing an information system without adequate information. With

regard to this knowledge, we can outline few of the much information that are

essential in the development of an information system but have not been

mentioned in the case (Comfort Diagnostic Center).

Business Mission And Objectives:

Business mission and objectives are the guidelines in developing an information

system. Any information system is an integral part of any organization and it

must be compatible with the other functions of the organizations, without which

it loses its worth. The goals and objectives will define which way the information

system will aid the organization and if at all it is essential or be incorporated in

few functional areas. The case failed to mention the mission and objectives of

CDC, without which the information system cannot even be planned, let alone

developing it.
Figure 1: Information System Planning Approach

Business Mission and

Objectives

Business Business
Processe Applicati
Top-Down s ons Bottom-Up
Planning Implementatio
n
IT IT
Architect Architect
ure ure

IT Architecture
Hardware/ Software/ Networks
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 Customer Details:
The formulation of an information system depends upon certain factors, and the

customers are the most important of all of them. The information system should

be focused to facilitate customer service and hence promote the total viewpoint of

the organization. That is why we need to have a detail understanding about the

customer base. The case on CDC, apart from mentioning the various types of tests

customers (patients) obtain, fails to mention the status and various attributes of

the customers as well as the present market.

Financial Information:
Information system is a costly advancement to any organization. Its installation

affects various activities of the organization. Though, in most of the cases the cost

justifies the adaptation, the organizations should critically analyze the benefits

that they can reap from the system and ask themselves if the financial expense

justifies the benefits. Answering these questions would be difficult, if not

impossible for us if we do not know detail of the financial information, which are

not included in the case.

Operations of Different Departments:

The case described the various services and departments that are actively

involved in the daily operations but it did not explain the operation of various

departments. As each department is unique and their operations require different

types technology adaptation details; of every activities is required to develop an

effective IS.

Human Resources:
Comfort Diagnostic Center is a type of organization that requires skilled and

specialized manpower, for which detailed human resource planning is essential.

The information system will have to be capable of integrating the HR functions of

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 the organizations for effectively utilizing the personnel. To develop an effective

human resource information system the strategic, tactical, and operating use of

the human resources of an organization should be specifically defined.

Figure 2: Information system supporting Human resource usage

Training and Compensation

Staffing Development Administration

Manpower Succession
Strategic planning planning Contract
Systems Labor force costing
tracking Performance Salary
appraisal forecasting

Labor cost Training Compensation

Tactical analysis & effectiveness effectiveness
Systems Budgeting Career and equity
Labor force matching analysis
tracking Benefit

Recruiting Skill
assessment Payroll control
Operational Workforce
Benefits
Systems planning/
Performance administration
Scheduling
evaluations

The above figure describes the various functions and implication of information

system supporting human resource usage. As we can see IS must be incorporated

to the very details of every function, we cannot simply infer and develop our own

system without collecting proper information. From the case we can only get

information regarding the personnel who are in charge of various activities,

leaving the details of their subordinates and various HR function prevailing in the

organization at present.

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 Management Style:
The information system is not fully technology oriented rather it is a human-

machine interactive process. So the development of any information system

without considering the human factor would not achieve its full potential. Each

organization is unique and its management style is different from others. Hence

adaptation of any system; though may incorporate same technology or

equipments will significantly differ from each other. In this regard, IS

development process should concentrate on the culture that upholds the moral of

the employees and distinguish the management style from that of others. The case

did not mention any attribute of management or their attitudes apart from their

strong willingness to adopt IT in their organization.

Present System:
Before we attempt to design a new system, it is important to study the system that

will be improved or replaced (if there is any). We need to analyze how this system

uses hardware, software, network, and people resources to convert data

resources, such as transactions data, into information products, such as reports

and displays. Then we need to document the information system activities of

input, processing, output, storage, and control that would be accomplished. The

case on CDC fails to include the present status of their information system.

Information Flow:
Information is perhaps the most important asset of any organization. The

information flow for that reason is regarded to be very important and information

system primarily focuses on efficient flow of information within the organization.

The case on CDC didn’t fully disclose the information flow and different channels

that contributes to the transformation of information within the organization,

which would certainly hinder the development of the information system.

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