Seeking analysis finds the inputs necessary to achieve a goal such as a desired level of output

a simplified representation or abstraction of reality

Transactional information

encompasses all of the information contained within a single business process or unit of work, and its primary purpose is to support the performing of daily operational tasks.

encompasses all organizational information, and its primary purpose is to support the performing of managerial analysis tasks

Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

The capturing of transaction and event information using technology to (1)Process the information according to defined business rules, (2) store the information, and (3) update existing information to reflect the new information.

Transaction Processing System (TPS)

Basic business system that serves the operational level and assists in making structured decisions

Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)

The manipulation of information to create business intelligence in support of strategic decision making. 

broad general term describing info that people use to support their decision making efforts

decision support systems (DSS)

models information to support managers and business professionals during the decision-making process.

3 quantitative models are typically used by DSS:

  1. sensitivity analysis

  2. what-if analysis

  3. goal-seeking analysis

1.    the study of the impact that changes in one (or more) parts of the model have on other parts of the model

Checks the impact of a change in an assumption on the proposed solution. 

Finds the inputs necessary to achieve a goal such as a desired level of output. 

EIS (Executive Information System)

A specialized DSS that supports senior level executives within the organization

aggregation of data from simple roll-ups to complex groupings of interrelated information

Enables users to get details, and details of details, of information.

the ability to look at information from different perspectives

EIS; integrate informaiton from mulitple components and tailor the info to individual preferences.

examples: include daily sales numbers, market share, and subscriber turnover.

the primary factor that causes a cost

are various commercial applications of artificial intelligence

simulates human intelligence such as the ability to reason and learn

Computer program designed to carry out highly specific functions within a limited domain

(artificial) neural network 

a category of AI that attempts to emulate the way the human brain works

a mathematical method of handling imprecise or subjective information

artificial intelligence system that mimics the evolutionary, survival of the fittest process to generate increasingly better solutions to a problem

A special-purpose knowledge-based information system that accomplishes specific tasks on behalf of its users. 

Software that will search several retailer websites and provide a comparison of each retailer's offerings including price and availability.

standardized set of activities that accomplish a specific task such as processing a customer's order

customer facing processes

(front office processes)
result in a product or service received by an origination's external customer

Business-facing processes

invisible to the external customer but essential to the effective management of the business.

Business process reengineering (BPR)

The analysis and redesign of workflow within and between enterprises.

Business process modeling/mapping

the activity of creating a detailed flow chart or process map of a work process showing its inputs, tasks, and activities, in a structured sequence

graphic description of a process showing the sequence of process tasks which is developed for a specific purpose and from a selected viewpoint

represent the current state of the operation that has been mapped without any specific improvements or changes to existing processes

show the results of applying change improvement opportunities to the current (As-Is) process model

business process management (bpm)

integrates all of an organizations business process to make individual processes more efficient

CHAPTER NINE CASE

Click here to download the WORD version 

Students: Khalid Ben Addi & Nelson Argueta

Professor: Lisa Leff

October 19, 2015

BTC 200

Discussion Questions

1-      Explain the importance of decision making for managers at each of the three primary organization levels along with the associated decision characteristics.

The importance of decision making for manager is high and very valuable, as it helps the business to analyze the large amount of information, apply sophisticated analysis techniques, and come up with a quick decision.

Because decision making occurs at each level in an organization:

• Operational level where employees develop, control, and maintain core business activities required to run the day-to-day operations. The characteristic of this level is structured decisions.
• Managerial level (Middle management), where employees evaluate company operations to identify, adapt to, and leverage change. The characteristic of this level is Semistractured.
• Strategic level (Top management), where managers develop overall strategies, goal, and objectives. The characteristic of this type is Unstructured.

2-      Classify the different operational support systems, managerial support systems, and strategic support systems, and explain how managers can use these systems to make decisions and gain competitive advantages.

• Operational Support Systems: which is divided into these three different types:

-          Transaction processing system: Basic business system that servers the operational level and assists in making structured decision.

-          Online Transaction processing: Capturing of transaction and event information using technology to process, store, and update.

-          Source document: The original transaction record.

• Managerial Support Systems: Includes OLAP and DSS

-          Online analytical processing: Manipulation of information to create business intelligence in support of strategic decision making.

-          Decision Support Systems: models information to support managers and business professionals during the decision making process.(these models are: What if analysis, sensitivity analysis, goal-seeking analysis, and optimization analysis).

• Strategic Support Systems: which has only one system that is:

-          Executive information System: A specialized DSS that supports senior level executives within the business. (Granularity, Visualization, and Digital dashboard).

3-      Describe artificial intelligence and identify its five main types.

Artificial Intelligence is the intelligence that exhibited by Machines or Software. Its five main types are:

-          Expert system: Computerized advisory program that imitate the reasoning processes of experts in solving difficult problems.

-          Neural Network: Attempts to emulate the way the human brain works.

-          Genetic algorithm: An artificial intelligent system that mimics the evolutionary and provide better solutions to a problem.

-          Intelligent agent: Special purpose knowledge based information system that accomplishes specific tasks on behalf of its users.

-          Virtual reality: A computer simulated environment that can be a simulation of the real world or an imaginary world.

4-      Applying this process to a real life type scenario/Business -  Use a sample business to answer questions and follow the 6 steps process(each student is the CEO of one of these company’s struggling with some processes in the business): examples; a coffee shop, a wholesale warehouse, an accounting firm, a gas & oil company, etc.

I choose to be a CEO of the Coffee shop, and the usage of the 6 steps will allow me to understand the systems that will enhance the profitability of the company, so the Artificial Intelligence will analyze all the possible operations that the Coffee shop needs to operate in order to come up with a better service and coffee for customers.

Problem Identification –

• What are the key problems affecting the business?
• What are the customers saying about the service and the product?
• What is the root cause of any decline in revenue, or production time?

Data Collection –

• Why are certain processes falling short?
• And what are the immediate steps the company can take to adjust the current processes to improve them?
• Who are you listening to, are they actual or rumor complaints?
• What departments are struggling?

Solution Generation –

• What are some of the solutions you have for improvement?
• What are some of the solutions your management team has?
• How will you go about collecting all the best solutions?

Solution Test –

• Are these solutions long-term or short-term solutions?
• What are some of the cost factors associated with the solutions?
• Does your team like the solution or are they going to sabotage it because they are unhappy with the decision made?

Solution Selection –

• As the executive leader of the company is you comfortable with the decision you made?
• How are you going to take a strong lead on this decision without alienating yourself?

Solution Implementation -

• Evaluate and track how the solution is working?
• Is it achieving the results that you wanted?
• Is the results are poor, what steps do you need to take to adjust?
• As the leader for the company, how will you appropriately change the solution direction without upsetting the environment or flow of the employees and production?

5-      Have any of you have ever worked with a DSS, EIS, or AI system. What types of models are they using today at their jobs or their personal lives?

When I used to work for a Travel Agency, I think we used the DSS (Decision Support System), because we were obligated to come up with a quick decision based on the type of information we received from our collaborators, as well from the current situation in which the Clients will be landing on time or their flight will be delayed. In that moment we have to take the possible information and make sure it is correct, and concluded a decision of rescheduling the trip and their accommodation. Sometime the errors in the information may lead to a bad and poor decision that affect the customer service, and the main goal of the business if to avoid making poor decisions.

6-      Analysts typically use TPS to perform their daily tasks. What types of TPS are used at your College?

I think at LaGuardia Community College, they use these different Types of TPS:

• Payroll system (Tracking hourly employees)
• Accounts Payable system
• Accounts Receivable system
• Course registration system
• Human resources systems (tracking vacation, sick days)

7-      Why would a manager want to view a TPS in terms of systems thinking?

• Systems thinking provides a holistic view of a system or an overview of a system
• Viewing a system from end-to-end will provide a manager with a better view of opportunities and challenges associated with inputs, processes, and outputs
• Feedback is critical and ensuring the appropriate metrics are associated is a key goal for many managers

8-      What types of TPS are used at your college?

1. Payroll system (Tracking hourly employees)
2. Accounts Payable system
3. Accounts Receivable system
4. Course registration system
5. Human resources systems (tracking vacation, sick days)

9-      Compare sensitivity analysis, what-if analysis, and goal-seeking analysis and to provide a business example of when they use each type?

1. What-if analysis – checks the impact of a change in an assumption on the proposed solution
2. Sensitivity analysis – the study of the impact that changes in one (or more) parts of the model have on other parts of the model
3. Goal-seeking analysis – finds the inputs necessary to achieve a goal such as a desired level of output
4. Optimization analysis - An extension of goal-seeking analysis, finds the optimum value for a target variable by repeatedly changing other variables, subject to specified constraints.

10-  How would you expert systems could be used in the medical field?

I think, the hospitals and all other medical offices are considered to be business, and the usage of the system will help their business to function properly and accurately.

The manager in the medical field will be able to make decisions based on the information they received from the system.

The system can also be used as follow:

1. Payroll system (Tracking hourly employees)
2. Accounts Payable system
3. Accounts Receivable system
4. Course registration system
5. Human resources systems (tracking vacation, sick days)

Every organization is subject to profit from the benefit of using that system, it will help the business to improve their profitability.

What is slice and dice capability quizlet?

What is the ability to look at information from different perspectives?

Which of the following is a quantitative model typically used by DSS?

Which of the following is a type of transaction processing system?