MIS201 Saudi Electronic University Management Information System Presentation i want the presentation to be short less than 10 wordsintroduction question a

MIS201 Saudi Electronic University Management Information System Presentation i want the presentation to be short less than 10 wordsintroduction question and answer , points Management Information System MIS 201
Assignment – 2
Course: MIS 201
Student name: alaa obaid
Academic Year: 1441
Students number: 160147049
Semester: 1st
student grade:
Section: crn 10457
Level of the Mark: Level
InstructorName:
Signature Dr.Gokulkumari
Govindasamy
(out of 9)
Management Information System MIS 201
Semester 1 (2019-2020)
Assignment Details
Prepare an in-depth analysis of four case studies during the semester. Here are some guidelines:
•
This is an individual assessment, which is a part of your course score. It requires effort and
critical thinking
•
Answer all the questions listed below the case.
•
The ‘answers’ to the questions are best formulated by reviewing the case and the reading
materials up and including the current week in the course.
•
The questions are worded to help you apply the readings to the case, so don’t limit yourself
to the case’s terminology and perspective. The best analysis will abstract the case content by
applying the reading materials to draw broader lessons about the material
Assignment 2 (Case 3 & 4)
Submission Time
Week12
Case Study 3: Driving Ari Fleet Management with Real-Time Analytics
Automotive Resources International®, better known as simply ARI®, is the world’s largest privately-held
company for vehicle fleet management services. ARI is headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and has
2,500 employees and offices throughout North America, Europe, the UK, and Hong Kong. The company
manages more than 1,000,000 vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe.
Businesses that need vehicles for shipments (trucks, vans, cars, ships, and rail cars) may choose to manage
their own fleet of vehicles or they may outsource fleet management to companies such as ARI which
specialize in these services. ARI manages the entire life cycle and operation of a fleet of vehicles for its
customers, from up-front specification and acquisition to resale, including financing, maintenance, fuel
management, and risk management services such as driver safety training and accident management. ARI
also maintains six call centers in North America that operate 24/7, 365 days a year to support customers’
fleet operations by providing assistance regarding repairs, breakdowns, accident response, preventive
maintenance, and other driver needs. These call centers handle about 3.5 million calls per year from
customers, drivers, and suppliers who expect access to real-time actionable information.
Providing this information has become increasingly challenging. Operating a single large commercial
vehicle fleet generates high volumes of complex data, such as data on fuel consumption, maintenance,
licensing, and compliance. A fuel transaction, for example, requires data on state taxes paid, fuel grade,
total sale, amount sold, and time and place of purchase. A simple brake job and preventive maintenance
checkup generates dozens of records for each component that is serviced. Each part and service performed
on a vehicle is tracked using American Trucking Association codes. ARI collects and analyzes over 14,000
pieces of data per vehicle. Then multiply the data by hundreds of fleets, some with up to 10,000 vehicles,
all operating simultaneously throughout the globe, and you’ll have an idea of the enormous volume of data
ARI needs to manage, both for itself and for its customers.
ARI provided its customers with detailed information about their fleet operations, but the type of
information it could deliver was very limited. For example, ARI could generate detailed reports on lineitem expenditures, vehicle purchases, maintenance records, and other operational information presented as
simple spreadsheets, charts, or graphs, but it was not possible to analyze all the data to spot trends and make
recommendations. ARI was able to analyze data customer by customer, but it was not able to aggregate
data across its entire customer base.
For instance, if ARI was managing a pharmaceutical company’s vehicle fleet, its information systems could
not benchmark that fleet’s performance against others in the industry. That type of problem required too
much manual work and time, and still didn’t deliver the level of insight management thought was possible.
What’s more, in order to create reports, ARI had to go through internal subject matter experts in various
aspects of fleet operations, who were called “reporting power users.” Every request for information was
passed to these power users. A request for a report would take 5 days to fill. If the report was unsatisfactory,
it would go back to the report writer to make changes. ARI’s process for analyzing its data was extremely
drawn out.
In mid-2011, ARI implemented SAP BusinessObjects Explorer to give customers the enhanced ability to
access data and run their own reports. SAP BusinessObjects Explorer is a business intelligence tool that
enables business users to view, sort and analyze business intelligence data. Users search through data
sources using an iTunes like interface. They do not have to create queries to search the data and results are
shown with a chart that indicates the best information match. The graphical representation of results
changes as the user asks further questions of the data.
In early 2012, ARI integrated SAP BusinessObjects Explorer with HANA, SAP’s in-memory computing
platform that is deployable as an on-premise appliance (hardware and software) or in the cloud. HANA is
optimized for performing real-time analytics and handling very high volumes of operational and
transactional data in real time. HANA’s in-memory analytics queries data stored in random access memory
(RAM) instead of on a hard disk or flash storage.
Things started happening quickly after that. When ARI’s controller wanted an impact analysis of the
company’s top 10 customers, SAP HANA produced the result in 3 to 3 1/2 seconds. In ARI’s old systems
environment, this task would have been assigned to a power user versed in using reporting tools,
specifications would have to be drawn up and a program designed for that specific query, a process that
would have taken about 36 hours.
Using HANA, ARI is now able to quickly mine its vast data resources and generate predictions based on
the results. For example, the company can produce precise figures on what it costs to operate a fleet of a
certain size over a particular route across specific industries during a certain type of weather and predict
what the impact of changes in any of these variables. And it can do so nearly as easily as providing
customers with a simple history of their expenditures on fuel. With such helpful information ARI provides
more value to its customers.
HANA has also reduced the time required for each transaction handled by ARI’s call centers—from the
time a call center staffer takes a call to retrieving and delivering the requested information—by 5 percent.
Since call center staff account for 40 percent of ARI’s direct overhead, that time reduction translates into
major cost savings.
ARI plans to make some of these real-time reporting and analytic capabilities available on mobile devices,
which will enable customers to instantly approve a variety of operational procedures, such as authorizing
maintenance repairs. Customers will also be able to use the mobile tools for instant insight into their fleet
operations, down to a level of detail such as a specific vehicle’s tire history.
Case Study 3: Driving Ari Fleet Management with Real-Time Analytics
1) Why was data management so problematic at ARI? (1 Mark)
Automotive Resources International ® (ARI) is a firm that specializes in fleet management
services, and it is the most prominent in the world. The company has many clients and manages
more than a million vehicles for them (ARI, n.d). However, earlier on, the company had data
management problems. It was because even though the amount of data they collected and
analyzed for their vast client base was huge, the company lacked the necessary technology to
manage the enormous data effectively.
In the case study, it is stated that the company provides its customers with various services.
Fuel management, licensing, maintenance, and risk management are some of the services that
they provide. While providing the services, much complex data is generated as the company
keeps detailed information on everything they do. For example, for a single vehicle, the company
collects and analyzes approximately 14 000 pieces of information. Now factor in that the
company handles over millions of vehicles for its customers (ARI, n.d.). The data collected and
analyzed by the company at that juncture was vast and complex, and at that time, the company
did not have the technology to deal with it; hence, the data management problem.
2) Describe ARI’s earlier capabilities for data analysis and reporting and their impact on
the business. (1 Mark)
In terms of data analysis, for one, the company was only able to analyze their clients’ data
one at a time. Secondly, the company could not bring together or combine all the data from their
clients and interpret it as a whole.
As for data reporting, the first thing is that the type of information delivered was minimal, as
the company was only able to provide their clients with information about their fleet operations.
It was a significant disadvantage. Secondly, the company could not make operational reports
(ARI, n.d.). They contracted the services of “reporting powers users” who would make the
simple operations reports. The third thing is that it took a long time to come up with simple
operation reports. It would take “reporting powers users” approximately five days to come with a
straightforward fleet operation report.
The constraints mentioned above in both data analysis and reporting had impacts. For one,
the company was not able to make out trends. According to Mosavi and colleagues (2017), the
most successful businesses collect and analyze data to make out with patterns in the market. By
doing this, they decide the business practices they should adopt and the ones they should not. It
is something the ARI could not do hence had numerous adverse effects. The second impact is
that since the company could not spot the trends; they could not make any recommendations.
There was no way of knowing the potholes in their operations for them to come up with
strategies to fix them (ARI, n.d.).
3) Was SAP HANA a good solution for ARI? Why or why not? (1 Mark)
The company, with time, took notice of the above problems and decided to something about
it. It is where SAP HANA comes in. I can comfortably say that the company was wise to adopt
SAP HANA as it was the right solution. It is a good solution as there were various
improvements. For one, the company could now comfortably collect and store vast volumes of
complex data. Before, the company had a problem saving its massive size of information.
However, SAP HANA is designed to hold large amounts of data (Platform et al., 2016). It is a
reason why it is the best.
Secondly, data analysis now was faster than ever. One of the things the inventors of SAP
HANA had in mind is that they wanted a system that could perform real-time analytics using a
large volume of data in the shortest time possible (Platform et al., 2016). It is something the
company desperately needed. After adopting, it was able to cut down the initial five days it took
to analyze data to seconds. It is an apparent reason why it is the right solution.
4) Describe the changes in the business as a result of adopting HANA. (1 Mark)
For one, the company was not only able to cut costs but also was able to analyze and report
data efficiently, which increased its performance level. As stated earlier, the company could not
aggregate and analyze the data from its entire customer base to allow them to spot trends. It also
had to contract the services of “reporting powers users” to make the reports (ARI, n.d.).However,
the good news is that HANA was designed to not only hold extensive volume complex data but
also to analyze the same data in second. The company was able to take advantage of these two
advantages.
Secondly, the company could now spot trends using its past data; consequently, it can make
predictions and recommendations on the same hence increased its performance levels. As stated
above, data analyses of the large volumes is fast (ARI, n.d.). The analyzed enables the company
to spot the trends and consequently make projections and recommendations based on them.
Conclusion
ARI, like any other business, faced some problems earlier on. Data management and,
more specifically, data reporting and analyses were its major predicaments, and they had severe
repercussions on the company. However, the good news is that the company acknowledged the
problems and adopted new technology. SAP HANA has undoubtedly aided in dealing with its
predicaments, and the fact that the company is still aiming to incorporate new technological
ideas in its operations will ensure that it remains on the top when it comes to fleet management.
References
Automotive resources international (ARI), (n.d). Case Study 3: Driving Ari Fleet Management
with Real-Time Analytics.
Mosavi, A., Bathla, Y., & Varkonyi-Koczy, A. (2017, September). Predicting the future using
web knowledge: State of the art survey. In International conference on global research
and education (pp. 341-349). Springer, Cham.
The platform, S. H. C., Jam, S. A. P., & Build, S. C. P. (2016). SAP HANA Cloud Platform.
Case Study 4: Zappos
Tony Hsieh’s first entrepreneurial effort began at the age of 12 when he started his own custom button
business. Realizing the importance of advertising, Hsieh began marketing his business to other kids
through directories, and soon his profits soared to a few hundred dollars a month. Throughout his
adolescence, Hsieh started several businesses, and by the time he was in college he was making money
selling pizzas out of his Harvard dorm room. Another entrepreneurial student, Alfred Lin,bought pizzas
from Hsieh and resold them by the slice, making a nice profit. Hsieh and Lin quickly became friends.
After Harvard, Hsieh founded Link Exchange in 1996, a company that helped small businesses exchange
banner ads. A mere two years later, Hsieh sold Link Exchange to Microsoft for $265 million. Using the
profits from the sale, Hsieh and Lin formed a venture capital company that invested in start-up businesses.
One investment that caught their attention was Zappos, an online retailer of shoes. Both entrepreneurs
viewed the $40 billion shoe market as an opportunity they could not miss, and in 2000 Hsieh took over as
Zappos’ CEO with Lin as his chief financial officer.
Today, Zappos is leading its market and offering an enormous selection of more than 90,000 styles of
handbags, clothing, and accessories for more than 500 brands. One reason for Zappos’ incredible success
was Hsieh’s decision to use the advertising and marketing budget for customer service, a tactic that would
not have worked before the Internet. Zappos’ passionate customer service strategy encourages customers
to order as many sizes and styles of products as they want, ships them for free, and offers free return
shipping. Zappos encourages customer communication, and its call center receives more than 5,000 calls
a day with the longest call to date lasting more than four hours. Zappos’ extensive inventory is stored in a
warehouse in Kentucky right next to a UPS shipping center. Only available stock is listed on the website,
and orders as late as 11 p.m. are still guaranteed next-day delivery. To facilitate supplier and partner
relationships, Zappos built an extranet that provides its vendors with all kinds of product information,
such as items sold, times sold, price, customer, and so on. Armed with these kinds of details, suppliers
can quickly change manufacturing schedules to meet demand.
Zappos Culture
Along with valuing its partners and suppliers, Zappos also places a great deal of value on its employee
relationships. Zappos employees have fun, and walking through the offices you will see all kinds of
things not normally seen in business environments—bottle-cap pyramids, cotton-candy machines, and
bouncing balls. Building loyal employee relationships is a critical success factor at Zappos, and to
facilitate this relationship the corporate headquarters are located in the same building as the call center
(where most employees work) in Las Vegas. All employees receive 100 percent company-paid health
insurance along with a daily free lunch.
Of course, the Zappos culture does not work for everyone, and the company pays to find the right
employees through “The Offer,” which extends to new employees the option of quitting and receiving
payment for time worked plus an additional $1,000 bonus. Why the $1,000 bonus for quitting? Zappos
management believes that is a small price to pay to find those employees who do not have the sense of
commitment Zappos requires. Less than 10 percent of new hires take The Offer.
Zappos’ unique culture stresses the following:
1. Delivering WOW through service
2. Embracing and driving change
3. Creating fun and a little weirdness
4. Being adventurous, creative, and open-minded
5. Pursuing growth and learning
6. Building open and honest relationships with communication
7. Building a positive team and family spirit
8. Doing more with less
9. Being passionate and determined
10. Being humble
Zappos’ Sale to Amazon
Amazon.com purchased Zappos for $880 million. Zappos employees shared $40 million in cash and
stock, and the Zappos management team remained in place. Having access to Amazon’s world-class
warehouses and supply chain is sure to catapult Zappos’ revenues, though many wonder whether the
Zappos culture will remain. It’ll be interesting to watch!19
Case Study 4: Zappos
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SCM Definition and how it will help Zappos. (1 Mark)
Michael Hugos (2018), in his book, defines supply chain management (SCM) as the
coordination, organization, and planning of processes, activities, people, and technology that are
primarily used to create value for a specific company. Over the past few years, most companies
have adopted SCM. It because of the many benefits associated with it. Zappos can enjoy some of
these benefits if it adopts SCM. The first one is that it will allow the company to be even more
effective and timely in delivering its products to its customers worldwide. Secondly, SCM will
enable Zappos to increase its performance as it requires a high level of commitment from all the
members of the firms. Kurbel (2016), states that SCM advocates for close collaborative linkages
among the firm members, although the supply chain. It not only leads to a reduction in the costs
but also enables revenue-enhancing behaviors, which consequently increase performance levels.
Lastly, SCM will enable Zappos to attain and maintain a competitive advantage over other
firms in the market. There are currently a couple of firms in the market that provide the same
services as Zappos, and more are still cropping up (Hugo, 2018). To ensure that Zappos gets and
remains at the top, it must adopt an effective supply chain management
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CRM definition and benefits (1 Mark)
Rahimi and Kozak (2017), define customer relationship management (CRM) as the
combination of guidelines, processes, practices, principles, technology, people, and strategies a
particular firm uses not only in managing its customers but also in analyzing them. Zappos
would benefit from CRM. For one, CRM will help Zappos to create and enhance the
relationship with its potential and existing customers. Secondly, it will help the company not
only to anticipate but also to understand the needs of both its existing and potential customers.
Lastly, by anticipating and understanding their customers, th…
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