Introduction to Business Information Systems Business Report
Introduction to Business Information Systems Business Report
Assessment overview
This assessment follows on from Assessment 1. In this task you will take on a more strategic role for Balogne Pty. Ltd. The purpose is for you to demonstrate skills in analysing and forecasting future sales trends utilising an Excel spreadsheet. You will also be expected to demonstrate research and written skills in responding to specific queries raised by the General Manager and finally, you will be asked to make recommendations combining an analysis of your spreadsheet and your research.
Assessment details
This assessment is based on the following case study:
Balogne Pty. Ltd.
Recap: Balogne Pty. Ltd. was founded in 1965 in Mackay, Queensland by Louis Hape, a former Cane Sugar farmer. He moved away from farming when he started a mill and refinery to process the sugar from local cane sugar farmers. His business flourished over the years and has grown into a multi-million dollar company with a strong penetration in the Australian market, and a developing export business. Not only does Balogne produce a large range of sugar products such as raw sugar, white sugar, brown sugar, icing sugar etc, but also golden syrup and treacle.
The operational information required to run the company, such as sales trends, distributor information, promotional information and so on, are not always documented well with some key information known only to a few senior employees. Although the company has a website it only includes basic information such as contact details and product types so it is unclear whether this website generates any new business. In fact, Balogne uses very little marketing and the new General Manager, Erica Norris, believes more can be done in this area.
Business report and structure
In order to maintain a competitive edge and see Balogne flourish, Ms Norris needs to make strategic decisions based on future projections. She has asked you to provide the following information in the form of a business report (with academic references):
An executive summary [not included in word count].
A table of contents [not included in word count].
Introduction.
Body comprising of:
three (3) different forecast graphs created in Microsoft Excel that show future projections and growth/loss from 2015 to 2016 and 2017 (refer to part B)
one (1) pivot table created in Microsoft Excel that depicts the earning from 2015 to 2017 by product (refer to part B)
responses to queries which investigates contemporary issues in technology and business (refer to part A)
Conclusions and overall recommendations.
Reference list, using Swinburne Harvard style [not included in word count].
Part A: Questions
Using the case study and the Excel spreadsheet you create in Part B produce a business report which responds to the following queries in the main discussion section.
Note: You must use in-text referencing throughout your responses. All responses must relate to Balogne with appropriate examples.
1. Knowledge management and business intelligence (BI)
1.1 Explain the importance of knowledge management. What is currently happening with some senior employees at Balogne?
1.2 In one sentence explain the purpose of BI.
1.3 Copy the two (2) graphs you created in Excel (Task B) and the Pivot Table (Task B) into your business report. Summarise for the General Manager the forecasts represented by the 2 graphs and the Pivot Table e.g. product growth/decline over the 3 years.
1.4 Change the percentages in the Sensitivity Tables (i.e. Inflation/Deflation rates) to see the impact these have on the graphs and the Pivot Table.
Produce one NEW graph of your choice that represent the changes – do not use one of the existing graphs already created for this assessment – be creative!
Copy this new graph into your report and discuss the impact the changes to percentages have had on the forecasts.
All three (3) graphs/charts and pivot table must appear on your excel file and in your business report.
2. Porter’s Five Forces model
2.1 Write an analysis of supplier power for Balogne using Porter’s Five Forces model. How could this impact on Balogne’s future sales?
3. Security
3.1 Balogne uses data relating to employees, customers, farmers, distributors, inventory, sales etc.. Explain with relevant examples, three (3) potential internal or external threats to security that may compromise the safety of data within Balogne?
3.2 Recommend ways to secure this data from the threats you have listed.
