Operations and Information Management – Final Assignment

 

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CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT

 

Jordon King is a certified dog groomer and has a small dog grooming salon. Her business venue is the hub of her work where she carries out a range of dog grooming services to maintain a dog’s physical appearance. These include: brushing, cutting, clipping, cleaning, bathing, drying and styling. In addition to maintaining beautifully groomed dogs, her salon also provides a number of goods for sale, such as collars, leads, and toys. She also provides introductions to several linked services, such as residential kennels, dog walkers, trainers, behaviourists, pet photographers, etc.

 

Jordon wants to further develop the introduction route through her business to other professional services. Several associated businesses have explained that they are willing to pay introduction fees. So, Jordon wants to find new ways of promoting her own business and ways to act as an agent for other services. At the moment, most of her work arrives via word of mouth and she has a very strong local reputation. Jordon has enough grooming work for her own time.

 

However, she also has space in the salon to rent out to another professional dog groomer. She would like to publicise her talents via a website and, if possible, deal with booking arrangements for other services via the internet. At the moment, this is always done by telephone or face to face. Present clients pay by cash on the day, but Jordon wants to appear much more professional and hopefully open up a wider market by providing information, bookings and payment options online. Promotions and online sales of her products is also an area that Jordon is interested in developing.

 

A business approach/strategy is required. As she is a sole trader, she would be responsible for her own social media marketing, keeping business accounts, providing an updated calendar of events, and keeping track of the communications between herself and all the clients, but a record is also required for introductions to other professional services.

 

Jordon realises that technology will play an important role in the business. She has read about Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise Resource Management, but just does not know what kind of digital business technology support she really needs. Jordon requires professional digital business advice before she can make any final decisions about investing funds in business software. Also, she has heard that she may be able to save money by using Open Source Software, but does not understand if there are any implications, so Jordon   needs your advice about this too.

 

Jordon has no technical experience and therefore requires a report that can be easily read and understood. You are the OIM consultant who is responsible for researching this business and providing a consultancy report.

 

The case study requires you to work with incomplete information, an important skill. You are expected to make assumptions about aspects of Jordon’s situation or operation where these are relevant to your work – any such assumptions should have been clearly stated in your report.

 

Part A: +Analysis – Business Process Models and Strategy Analysis (30 marks) In this section (~1,000 words) you should develop:

  • A series of at least two Business Process Models to capture the existing and your proposed business processes for Jordon’s company. The models should follow the BPMN notation. It is recommended that you use Microsoft Visio, Word, PowerPoint or appropriate alternatives to create the
  • Strategic analysis for Jordon’s You should use at least one recognised analysis technique such as SWOT, PESTLE, etc.

 

Part B: +Open Source Software Comparison Table (20 marks)

In this section, you should conduct research into a suitable software solution for Jordon. You should decide on the set of characteristics which you will use to evaluate the software and your research should consider 4-5 alternatives in detail. This section should be presented as a table (~500 words).

 

Part C: +Report (40 marks)

In this section, you should write a (~1,250 words) report which provides an overview of the current situation for Jordon’s company together with a road map outlining how the proposed changes to the business can be achieved to the benefit of the business. This should draw on your analysis in Part A, include your recommendation for software in Part B, and provide recommendations for ensuring that the strategy is effectively implemented, including consideration of the challenges ahead.

 

This section, should follow a standard report structure:

Title Page – Contents – Introduction – Main Section – Conclusions and Recommendations – References.

You should use appropriate theories, frameworks, models, that we have covered in the module, to inform and justify your recommendations.

 

Part D: + Reflection on your contribution to the online discussion (10 marks)

In this section you should submit a 250 word reflective summary, accompanied by your own self-assessment of your contribution to the online elements throughout the module, using the table labelled Reflection Self-Assessment Pro forma in Appendix A of the assessment question (copy and paste it into your assignment document). The reflective report should include your detailed reflection, supported with evidence (pasted URLs) from the online discussion.

 

EXPECTATIONS

When analysing the case study of Jordon’s business, you could have considered issues such as the following:

  • A coherent assessment using Business Process Models of the activities of the company (both now and where it wants to be) with regard in detail to the existing business processes involved and the changes entailed
  • A strategic analysis using a relevant model (e.g. SWOT, PESTLE, etc) and some thoughtful analysis and conclusions
  • The issues and challenges in a new Changes needed, such as on online diary, bookings, e-payment, social media links, accounting, etc.
  • Summary of functions needed in new system and proposed new software type (i.e. CRM, ERP, something else)
  • A structured exhibit comparing different OSS products (as well as paid-for products if thought appropriate)
  • Suitability of the selected OSS for Jordon
  • Implementation approach (phased or immediate)
  • Likely cost implications
  • Cogent conclusions leading on to clear Recommendations

 

IMPORTANT: As a consultant your paper should be concise and practical, and avoid a theoretical focus, especially given the severe word limits; Jordon is an entrepreneur and will want to hear clear English, and actionable recommendations, not Information Systems “jargon”. Your submission should follow the structure specified in the assignment (Title Page, Contents, Introduction, Main Section, Conclusions and Recommendations, References).

 

The reflective summary should include an honest self evaluation of your online discussion, quality of postings, how you initiated and developed collaboration/facilitation skills (with evidence of the same) and quality of the reflection.