Introduction to Information Systems (COMP 0365) - Summer- 2015- CW1 (CASE STUDY) All QP

InSemesterCourseworkCaseStudyandPresentationSummer2015
IntroductiontoInformationSystems(COMP0365)

Level:1
SubmissionWeek:

13thWeek

SubmissionDateandTime: 03/09/2015before2PM
PresentationDate:6/09/2015and07/09/2015

TotalMarks:50

Objective: This is an individual assignment aimed to give the student an overview of an

Informationsystemenvironment.

Outcome:
1. Demonstrateanunderstandingofthecomponentsofaninformationsystem.
2. Evaluatesimplecomputerhardwareandsoftwareoptionsforasystem.
3. Recognizethestrengthsandweaknessesofalternativedevelopmentmethods.

Task 1: Select any Omani digital firm, which is an example of a supply chain management
system. By doing a thorough study on their information system, discuss the different
componentoftheinformationsystemthatthefirmhas.

(10marks)

ConsidertheFollowingCaseStudy
HaworthOverhaulsSupplyChainManagement:
Haworth Incorporated, headquartered in Holland, Michigan, is the worlds second
largest designer and manufacturer of office furniture and workspaces. The company
offers a full range of furniture known for its innovative design including desks, chairs,

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tables,partitions,andstorageproducts.Haworthoperatesinmorethan120countries,
with9,000employees,40manufacturinglocations,60showrooms,andmorethan600
independentdealersaroundtheworld.
Haworth was particularly successful during the booming economy of the late 1990s,
which stimulated demand for new offices and office space. But the company was hit
hard when many dotcoms went under because these companies glutted the market
withtheirslightlyusedHaworthproducts.
To bring costs back in line with declining revenue, Haworth started an ambitious
overhaulofitssupplychainmanagementsystemsin2002.
Haworths 15 North American manufacturing facilities are located in North Carolina,
Arkansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. These facilities
supply inventory to distribution centers in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and
Arkansas. Haworth needed to coordinate order fulfillment from multiple distribution
centerswithproducts receivedfromallofits manufacturingfacilities.Thedistribution
centers needed to communicate more effectively with the manufacturing facilities to
betterplantheprocessingofcustomerorders.
Haworths existing distribution system was an oldstyle mainframe locator application
that could only handle inventory data for a single building and could not differentiate
betweenfacilities.Eachdistributioncenterusedadifferentversionofthesystembased
onthecomputersystemitinterfacedwith.Thesystemdidnotprovideawaytopreplan
shipments,soHaworthcouldnotcrossdockmaterialdirectlytoanoutboundshipment
asefficientlyasitdesired,raisinglaborandfreightcosts.Crossdockingenablesgoods
earmarked for a specific customer to move directly from the receiving dock to the
shippingdockwithoutbeingcheckedintothesystemandpickedfrominventory.
To solve these problems, Haworth implemented a new Warehouse Management
System (WMS) based on IristaWarehouse software from Irista in Milwaukee. WMS
tracks and controls the flow of finished goods from the receiving dock at any of
Haworthsdistributioncenterstothecustomersite.

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Thesystemhascrossdockingcapabilitiestoreducelaborcostsinthewarehouse.WMS
interfaces with the various enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications running in
the four distribution centers and with Haworths Transportation Management System
(TMS).ActingonshippingplansfromTMS,WMSdirectsthemovementofgoodsbased
onimmediateconditionsforspace,equipment,inventory,andpersonnel.
The Transportation Management System (TMS) uses optimization and carrier
communication software from Manugistics Group in Rockville, Maryland. The system
examinescustomerorders,factoryschedules,carrierratesandavailability,andshipping
coststoproduceoptimallowestcostdeliveryplans.Theseplansaregenerateddailyand
updatedevery15minutes.TMShasanautomatedinterfacethatenablesHaworthto
negotiatedeliverieswithitscarriers.Tofindtheminimalfreightcostfor
deliveries,TMSmapsoutmoreefficientroutesthatminimizelessthantruckload
shipmentsanddamagetogoods.
TMS also electronically sends carriers tenders, which are requests to bid on a
shipment. These tenders are transmitted over a private network or the Web, and
carrierstransmitbidsbackautomatically.Inthepast,thatprocessrequiredtwophone
calls.Ifacarrierdoesntreplywithinaspecifiedtime,thesystemautomaticallycontacts
anothercarrier.
Both TMS and WMS run on server computers from HewlettPackard using the Unix
operatingsystem.Theyinterfacewithtwosetsoforderentry,manufacturingplanning,
and shipping systems that service two different furniture markets. To tie these
applications,HaworthusesspecialmiddlewaresoftwarefromSeeBeyondTechnology
inMonrovia,California.
The middleware passes customer orders, shipping plans, and shipping notifications
among the applications. According to Jim Rohrer, a business applications process
managerandkeyliaisonbetweenHaworthsinformationsystemsandsupplychain
operations, the new systems havent merely optimized business processestheyve
transformed them. Haworth used to have a signpost system where distribution
centersreceivedinformationonlabelsoronscreensandthendecidedwhattodowith
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it. Now the system is more directed. TMS sets up a plan, feeds it to WMS, and WMS
specifiesthetasksthatneedtobeaccomplished.
The payoff from these systems was considerable: Warehouse worker productivity
increased35percent,freightcostswerereduced16percent,andlessthantruckload
shipmentsanddamagedgoodsintransitdeclined50percent.Haworthsinvestmentin
thesesupplychainmanagementsystemspaidforitselfinjustninemonths.
Sources:Source:GaryH.Anthes,RefurnishingtheSupplyChainandHaworthsupply
ChainProject,Computerworld,June7,2004;IristaInc.,Haworth:Synchronizingthe
SupplyChain,www.irista.com,accessedAugust18,2004;andwww.haworth.com,
accessedAugust18,2004.

Tasks:2

1. By referring to the case study, assess the Hardware and Software solutions that are
used by Haworth Incorporated during the implementation of its supply chain
managementsystems.(10marks)

2. Analyze the case study and explain how use of Information system has helped the
companyinachievingitsbusinessobjectives.

(10marks)

3. Considering the case study, detail what system development methodology has been
employedandcompareinwithalternatedevelopmentmethodologieswhichcouldhave
beenadoptedbytheHaworthIncorporated.

(10marks)

4. Discuss the network technology adopted by the Haworth Incorporated to ensure

connectivity across its various suppliers and justify the appropriateness of the
technology used. In the scenario of companys huge expansion, recommend alternate
networktechnologiesthatcanbeimplemented.

(7marks)

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5. DocumentationandReferencing.

(3Marks)

NOTE:Presentation(Yourpresentationshouldnotbemorethan10slides.Youwillbe
given maximum 10 minutes to present after which a Viva will be conducted for 10
minutes)

EvaluationCriteria
1.Originalityofwork:Assignmentshouldreflectyourunderstandingofthereferencedmaterial
writteninyourownwords.
2.OralExamination:YourCaseStudymarkswillbeawardedbasedonthevivawhichwillbe
conducted during presentation. The Viva will be on the tasks given in the assignment. Zero
markswillbeawardedtothestudentifhe/sheisabsentforviva.

Guidelines
Followtheguidelinesmentionedbelowforyourassignment.
AssignmentshouldbetypedinworddocumentandsubmittedthroughMoodle.
Handwrittenassignmentswillnotbeaccepted
AssignmentshouldhaveaTitlePage.TitlePageshouldcontainthefollowing
information.

AssignmentName

Session

Studentname

StudentID

ItshouldhaveTableofContents
Usepagenumbers
AssignmentshouldbetypedinyourownwordsusingTimesNewRomanfont
size12.
HeadingshouldbewithFontSize14,Bold,Underline
Useexamplestoexplainyourtopic.
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CopypastefromtheInternetisstrictlynotacceptable.
Referenceshouldbeincludedinthelastpageasfollows
Authorname(year),BookTitle,Publisher.
Incaseofwebsitereferencestypethefullpathofthewebpagewith
referenceddate
Incaseofmagazines/periodicalstypearticlename,magazinename,
IssueNumberanddate
Yourpresentationshouldnotbemorethan10slides.
Youwillbegivenmaximum10minutestopresent.

Rules&Regulations

Ifanytopicordiagramofanassignmentisfoundcopiedfromtheotherthenmarkswill
bedeductedfrombothassignments.

Assignmentswith3ormoreidenticaltopicswillbeawarded0Marks.

Thepurposeofassignmentistodosomeresearchwork,soyoucanconsultbooksin
Libraryoruseinternetorcomputermagazinesoranyothersource.

MECPlagiarismPolicy
Plagiarizeddocuments,inpartsorwhole,submittedbythestudentswillberejected.
For the first offence of plagiarism, a student enrolled in undergraduate programme is
penalized with a deduction of 25% of the maximum marks on the assessment as per the
plagiarism policy statement and is allowed to resubmit the work once, within a weeks
period. The student has the right to appeal against the decision made, to the respective
ProgrammeCoordinator.FurtherappealondecisiontakenmaybemadetotheHeadofthe
concerned department. If the student is not satisfied by the decisions taken by the
department,s/hecanappealtothePlagiarismAppealsCommittee.

Forthesecondoffenceofplagiarismagainstthestudent,(committedinanysemesterafter
thesemesterofthestudentsfirstoffenceofplagiarisminthetenureofthestudentinthe
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undergraduate programme), the student is awarded zero in the assessment where

plagiarizedcontentwasfound.Thestudentisnotallowedtoresubmittheassessment.The
student has the right to appeal against the decision made to the respective Programme
Coordinator. Furtherappeal on decision takenmay be made to the Head of the concerned
department.Ifthestudentisnotsatisfiedbythedecisionstakenbythedepartment,s/hecan
appealtothePlagiarismAppealsCommittee.

Repeatedoffencesofplagiarismbythestudent(morethantwotimes)aredealtwithasper
thecollegepolicyonAcademicDishonestyasmentionedintheStudentHandbook(6.2).

All decisions on plagiarism related offences will be communicated to the student by the
respective module instructors, using routine channels of communication with students,
currentlyusedbythecollege,preferablyonthesamedaythechargesareconfirmedorthe
verynextworkingday.

Thestudenthastherighttoappealagainstthedecisioninformedbythemoduleinstructorto
the respective Programme Coordinator. Further appeal on decision taken may be made to
theHeadoftheconcerneddepartment.Ifthestudentisnotsatisfiedbythedecisionstaken
bythedepartment,s/hecanappealtothePlagiarismAppealsCommittee.
In certain cases, the student may be required to appear for an interview with the module
instructor,ifdeemednecessary.

Themaximumtimelimitgiventoastudenttoraiseappealagainstthechargesofplagiarism
istwoworkingdaysincludingthedayonwhichthematterisinformedtothestudent.Itis
preferablethattheappealsaremadeonthesamedayofthecollegeonwhichthestudentis
informedoftheissue.Allappealsmustbemadeduringregularworkinghoursofthecollege.

LateSubmission

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Penalty for late submission 5% of the maximum mark specified for the assessment will be
deductedforeachworkingday.
Assessment documents submitted beyond a period of one week after the last date of
submissionwillnotbeacceptedandwillbemarkedaszeroforthatassessment.
Note:Mustfollowassignmentsinstructions.

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Case Study and Presentation Evaluation Grid- Summer 2015

Student ID: ______________
Deliverables

Aspects

Task1
Deliverables

Demonstratean
understandingofthe
componentsofan
informationsystem
Aspects

Task2(1)
Deliverables

Evaluatesimple
computerhardware
andsoftwareoptions
forasystem..
Aspects

UseofInformation
system
Aspects
Recognizethe
strengthsand
weaknessesof
alternative
development
methods.
Aspects

Task2(2)
Deliverables

Task2(3)
Deliverables

Task2(4)

Networktechnology
andalternative
approach

Deliverables

Aspects

Task2(5)

Documentationand
Referencing.

Signatureof
Teacher:

Student Name: _________________________________

03

68
Abletoidentify
allthe
Good
components
poor/inaccu understanding
anddiscusswith
ofthe
rate
clarity
discussion components
03
45
68
Satisfactory
Incomplete GoodAttempt Attemptof
identificatio ofidentifying identifyingthe
theh/wand h/wands/w
nwith
s/woptions options
less/no
justification justification
justification
03
45
68

Incomplete
discussion
03

45

910

Marks

Excellentclarityin
thediscussionof
individual
components
910

Marks

Excellentdelivery
ofthevarioush/w
ands/woptions
withaccurate
justification
910

Marks

Excellentattempt
Satisfactory
withproper
attemptwith
evidence
GoodAttempt properevidence
45
68
910

Marks

Incomplete
orpoor
attempt
02

GoodAttempt Satisfactory
34
56
Satisfactory
Correctly
explanationfor
identifiedand
Poor/Vague
thechosen
abletofind
attempt
technologyand
alternate
alternate
approach
approach
0
1
2
Incomplete

GoodAttempt Satisfactory

Excellent

Marks

67
Excellentand
accuratechoice
withclarityin
descriptionand
clarityinalternate
choice.
3
Excellent
TotalMarks
Penalty
FinalMarks

Marks

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