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Swinburne University of Technology
INF10003 – Introduction to Business Information Systems (IBIS)
Study Period 3, 2015
Assignment Two – Individual
Due: No later than midnight on Monday 16th November, 2015
Assessment Value = 25%
If you have any questions about this assessment please contact your online tutors, Halina Sykes via email [email protected] or Rob Baxendale on [email protected]
Also refer to the Blackboard discussion board for this unit.
Aim:
In the first assignment you created a SwimLane diagram to show the As-Is business processes for Zucchero Pty. Ltd and an Excel spreadsheet with graphs to show their statistics for 2014. Your role was to gather information, analyse the information and portray this information in a business report for the General Manager (Ms Franka Spencer) to help her understand the company’s current processes and recent statistics.
In this assignment (assignment two), you will take on a more strategic role for Zucchero. You are expected to demonstrate skills in analysing and forecasting growth or decline in an Excel spreadsheet created by you for this purpose. 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.
NOTE: you do not need to have successfully completed assignment one in order to undertake assignment two.
Like all units you study, incomplete assessments often result in a steeper learning curve for later assessments.
Therefore any requests for a solution to assignment one is not necessary and will not be granted.
ZUCCHERO PTY LTD – Fictitious case study scenario
Background
Recap: Zucchero Pty. Ltd. was founded in 1959 in Grafton, New South Wales by Luigi Dolce, 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 Zucchero 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, Zucchero uses very little marketing and the new General Manager, Franka Spencer, believes more can be done in this area.
In order to maintain a competitive edge and see Zucchero flourish, Franka 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):
– responses to queries which investigates contemporary issues in technology and business (refer Task B)
– three (3) forecast graphs created in Microsoft Excel (one must be a Pivot chart/graph) that show future projections and growth/loss for 2015 and 2016 (refer Task A)
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Task A Requirements: Zucchero Forecast Data:
Recreate the Zucchero Excel spreadsheet (shown below and on the next page). In summary, you are required to write relevant formulas for the sections highlighted in yellow; produce three graphs from the projections (two that match the examples given and one of your choice – refer Task B 1.2); then analyse the results and graphs as part of your responses to the queries listed in Task B.
NOTE: Spreadsheet must demonstrate proficiency in using Formulas: SUM, VLOOKUP, MIN, AVERAGE, MAX, INDEX/MATCH, PIVOT TABLE & CHART
The spreadsheet must look professional in layout and include appropriate headings. It should be designed so that a non-technical user can understand it easily without needing verbal explanations.
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Task A Requirements: Zucchero 2015-2016 Growth/Loss to Volume Sold
On the same Excel Spreadsheet file create a separate sheet for the Pivot Table and Pivot Chart.
Create the following Pivot Chart from the Pivot Table above
Create the following Pivot Table showing the 2015-2016 Variation on % of Growth/Loss to Volume Sold
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Task B Requirements:
Using the above case study and the Excel spreadsheet you created for Task A, produce a business report as outlined in the submission and report structure requirements (page 5) which responds to the following queries:
NOTE: All responses must relate to Zucchero with appropriate examples
You should include a minimum of three (3) in–text references from credible sources
(i.e., books, journal papers, conference papers).
1. Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence (BI):
1.1 Explain the importance of knowledge management and the purpose of BI. What is currently happening with some senior employees at Zucchero?
1.2 In your Excel spreadsheet change the percentages in the two sensitivity tables to show the impact these have on the rest of the spreadsheet. Produce a graph of your choice that represents the changes.
1.3 Explain how the different forecasts in your Excel spreadsheet can assist the General Manager with BI. Provide examples and refer to the three graphs created.
HINT: Ensure you copy the three (3) forecast graphs into your report.
2 Porter’s Five Forces Model :
2.1 Write an analysis of supplier power for Zucchero using Porter’s Five Forces Model. How could this impact on Zucchero’s future sales?
2.2 Make recommendations on strategies that can be adopted by Zucchero to improve their competitive advantage. Describe the role information systems can play in achieving these strategies.
HINT: Ensure you provide examples from the Excel spreadsheet you created.
3 Social Media :.
The General Manager of Zucchero wants to explore the use of social media to market and generate sales of their products.
3.1 Explain to Franka two (2) important questions that should be answered before getting started on using social media for marketing and selling Zucchero products direct to the public.
4. Privacy :
4.1 Explain two (2) potential concerns to the public if Zucchero collects personal data for the purpose of targeting potential customers.
5. Security :
5.1 Zucchero uses data relating to employees, customers, farmers, distributors, inventory, sales etc. Explain with relevant examples, two (2) potential internal or external threats to security that may compromise the safety of data within Zucchero?
5.2 Recommend ways to secure this data from the threats you have listed.
6. Supply Chain Management :
6.1 A consideration for Zucchero is to implement a Supply Chain Management (SCM) system. Explain to the General Manager how supply chain management is less about managing the physical movement of products and more about managing information.
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Submission Requirements and Report Structure
You must submit online via Blackboard a maximum of three (3) files:
1. A completed FBL cover page: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/business-enterprise/current-students/studentadmin.
html#forms (please type your name for the signature and tick/cross box)
2. One (1) Excel Spreadsheet file created for Tasks A containing your pivot table, graphs and all formulas
3. Microsoft Word file containing your business report (with academic references) of 2000 words (plus or
minus 10%) in the following report structure:
? An executive summary (not included in word count)
? A Table of contents (not included in word count)
? Introduction
? Body of the report must include:
? Responses to the queries in Task B with in-text references
? Two (2) forecast graphs and One (1) Pivot chart/graph representing the requirements in Task A
? Conclusions and overall recommendations
? Reference List (not included in word count) – Minimum of three (3) references
? You must ensure this is not a Bibliography and that you use the Swinburne Harvard Referencing
style throughout your report. You can access the correct style from the library:
(http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lib/studyhelp/harvard_style.html)
? Appendix (if needed) (not included in word count)
? Pages of the report should have appropriate headers and footers and should include printed page
numbers. Your name and student ID should be visible on every page e.g. in the footer.
NOTE: File name format should be your ‘Lastname_Firstname_Assign2’ e.g. Smith_John_Assign2)
Please refer to the last page of this document for the marking criteria for this assessment.
Late assignments may result in a lower grade for the assignment in terms of the University’s Extensions and
Late Penalties policies.
Late Submissions – Unless an extension has been approved, a submission after the due date will be penalised 10% of
the assessments worth for each calendar day the task is late up to a maximum of 5 days. After 5 days a zero result will
be recorded.
Any request for extension must be directed to the convener via email and must include appropriate supporting
documentation such as a doctor’s certificate or a letter from your employer.
Warnings!
1. You will not pass if you do not comply with the assignment requirements.
2. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in informal or formal disciplinary action in accordance with Swinburne
Policies and Regulations. Discuss the problem with your peers certainly, but don’t copy or share your potential
and final solutions that relate directly with this case study with any other students (Collaborative discussion with
your peers around concepts and additional examples is highly recommended).
3. Don’t forget to keep back ups of your assignments. If your assignment goes astray, whether your fault or
ours, you will be required to re-produce it.
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