Examining The IS System Of KFC

Examining The IS System Of KFC Purpose of the report: The Management of KFC Parramatta has requested an investigation regarding the use of their Information System in relation to their business decision making for competitive advantage and to make recommendations for changes and/or improvements as required. KFC Parramatta is one of the branches of a huge franchise that is famous worldwide. Being a fast food restaurant it faces competition from many other similar restaurants for instance Hungry Jacks, McDonalds, Dominos and every single restaurant be it small or big. Therefore their information system plays a big role in their decision making process and their competitive advantage over their rivals. Knowing how to make improvements in their business using information systems is a major advantage and it is what a the profitability of a business relies on (J.A Senn 1996). Many retail businesses lack an information system making it quite difficult for them to make critical decisions therefore their competitors have a complete advantage over them and in most cases the retail business loses many customers due to the lack of correct information. According to Tutor2u (2010) competitive advantage is an advantage over competitors gained by offering consumers greater value, either by means of low er prices or by providing greater benefits and service that justifies higher prices. Information systems help achieve this because they help the business know what is required and when it is required (Barney 1995) and by using this the business can make decisions such as how many staff to employ during a specific day for instance on Christmas; how much stock is required; what product to stock most; the average business profit during a certain period and its trend i.e. whether the business is going at a profit or lost and such information. The decision making process usually relies on the higher level management not the manager of the branch itself, however without information from the smaller branches it is almost impossible for the top level management to make a decision and thats why a good information system has to exist. Methodology: Taking the above information in mind a research was conducted on KFC Parramatta. A weekly interview was organised with one of the managers, Vinod Patel, mostly on Fridays and Saturdays just outside the restaurant. The information collected was carefully analysed and organised and some of it is presented in this report in the form of graphs and diagrams. Research site: KFC Parramatta is a local restaurant located at Westfield Shopping centre in Parramatta, New South Wales. Being a fast food restaurant, all they sale is food products such as chicken burgers, chicken nuggets, fries and other related products. It is very close to other food courts in the same area and faces a lot of competition from nearby fast food restaurants hance the need for a good IS system. Findings: From the interviews it was found that KFC Parramatta has an information system in place. The information system was used almost in all instances of the business. The following are the key areas where their information system is used: Recording sales data (the product sold, time it was sold , cost of the product, number of products sold and amount sold) Calculating the daily pay for staff members depending on their number of hours. Analysing the performances of the shift supervisor and other staff members ( this is done automatically in the computer where it calculates the total sales and divides it by the number of hours giving a sales per hour figure) Generating the daily, weekly and monthly reports on the performance of the business. It was found that the decisions are made in three levels and as follows: Operational level (store managers): they make the decision on how many staff to employ, assigning jobs to employees, responsible for the daily management of the business and they handle customer complaints. Middle level of management (area managers): they overlook the running of the stores and ensure that nothing is going wrong. Top level of management (executive managers): they are the ones that decide what product to remove from the market, what product to add to the market (as an example the manager illustrated the grilled chicken), at what price to sell it and where to locate new restaurants. Analysis of findings: The sales are done on cash or credit card basis but everything is automated. The cash process is simple and less time consuming as a staff member can easily take cash and give back the required change. The credit card sale basis is a little more time consuming but almost similar to the cash system. Additionally the staff member has to wait till the transaction is approved since the credit card has to be checked to see whether the customer has money in it or not. The order data (the product sold, time it was sold, cost of the product, number of products sold and amount sold) all goes into the server once it is approved and it is stored there. The staff members collecting the data from customers can only input data and once an order is placed modifications to the order can only be done by the authorisation from managers. This acts as a security measure and prevents the staff member from editing any data after it is approved. Another security measure was the existence of a safe to keep all the cash and every staff member is supposed to keep the cash in the safe once it reaches a certain amount. Additionally being located in a shopping mall there are security cameras and even security guards around and this helps keep surveillance around the restaurant. The data stored on the web server can only be accessed by managers of that store (operational level management), the executor management and the administrative level management since they are only ones that have a password needed to log in to access the data. Since the data is all being stored directly on the web server there is a rare chance of the data being inaccurate if any. Figure 1: An example of a monthly sales report of KFC Parramatta From the report it can be seen that KFC Parramatta makes more sales on Thursdays. One of the main reasons for this is because of the long hours they are open. This graph is just one of the few generated by their information system. Without the information system, it would be so hard to analyse data and make a sales graph and therefore it is important that an information system exists. Figure 2: An example of the business operation and decision making process Data is automatically recorded on to the main server Graphs Reports are analysed used to make decisionsuntitledj0196400 sales Data is automatically converted into: Daily, weekly and monthly Reports Stock reports Main problems with the system: Although the information system at KFC Parramatta is designed perfectly, there are minor flaws that could prove critical if not addressed. 1) One of them is the manual ordering of stock. Stock at KFC Parramatta is ordered twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday and this is done manually. The store manager counts the stock manually and orders as required. This leads to time consumption as the store manager has to manually count each and every box. Additionally, during the research it was also found out that during one of the busy days they had run out of stock for fries and chicken because the manager had forgotten to count the stock the day before and failed to place an order. This lead to delays with customer orders since they had to wait get stock from another store nearby. How did this affect the business? Many customers left angrily as they could not withstand the waiting delays. A few of the patient ones waited for an hour before they could get what they ordered. Loss of customers meant loss of profits and even a one hour delay in such a big restaurant causes a major crisis and leads to loss of profits. Located next t o many other similar restaurants, some of the customers even bought from nearby restaurants as they could not withstand delays. This meant the other restaurants gained a slight competitive advantage over them during that period. 2) Another key area is the preparation of the daily roster. The daily roster is prepared manually by the store managers. They do this by calling a team member and confirming their shifts for the next day. The problems associated with this? Firstly, every team member has to be called and this means an added expense. Moreover the roster is not available online and as one incident happened two team members may report for a single shift. Recommendations Figure 3: Example of automatic stock ordering systemKFC Parramatta should get there ordering system automated. They should monitor their stock using barcode scanners, how much goes in and how much goes out. When the stock goes below a certain level the system automatically orders stock. This would help them in getting their stock in time and before the need for it, keeping them on the safer side. According to me below is an example of what I would preferably implement something as follows: Estimated required stock (8 boxes) Current stock (8 boxes) System orders more stock (3 boxes) Stock goes below estimated required level (5 boxes) Additionally they should have a system where the rosters are prepared online and this way team members can see what day their shifts are on, plan their timetable from a convenient location, notify everyone of last minute changes and this way they can prevent many problems. This keeps the other team members aware of their duties and who they work with. Finally they should establish a customer relationship management system (CRM). CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, is a company-wide business strategy designed to reduce costs and increase profitability by solidifying customer satisfaction, loyalty, and advocacy (Reynolds, 2010) .In case a delay happens their customers are loyal to them. This can be established by bringing in a point system for instance buying at KFC Parramatta earns you some points and after you have collected enough points you get to select a meal of your choice and use your points to buy it. Conclusion In conclusion, KFC Parramatta has the potential of being the best restaurant in their area if they slightly modify their current information system. Adapting to some new changes in the information system, an automated ordering process and customer relationship management systems they can gain an absolute competitive advantage over their rivals. Using the information system wisely has lead to it being one of the supreme commanders and with a little more changes they can make decisions more quickly and accurately, and this can lead them to having more customers than other local restaurants. The automated ordering system will ensure they get the goods on time and with customers being loyal to them they can maximise their current profits. (2110 words)

Bmw Case

What was BMW’s motivation behind the idea of producing the films? BMW’s motivation behind the idea of producing the films was one to simply communicate, and focus on â€Å"what makes a BMW a BMW†. In fact, there was no product launch to advertise and BMW was able to use this time to shift its strategy from ‘push’ to ‘pull’. The goal of this advertisement was to â€Å"produce the most exciting, fun thing people had ever seen come out of their computer†. In terms of numbers, this campaign was used to maintain growth and sales, which had been growing excessively since 1992: from 60 000 units sold to 180 000 units (exhibit 1). In terms of target, BMW wanted to attract younger generations while still keeping its current target audience. This would enable the brand to increase the already high brand loyalty (44. 7%, Exhibit 8a), by getting customers from a younger age, and therefore following them throughout their lives. In terms of image, the goals of this campaign were to strengthen the company’s brand image in luxury segment, and differentiate it from other competitors. Who was the target market for the BMW Films campaign? With its campaign, BMW was hoping to reach customers between the ages of 25 to 44 who were new to the luxury car market, without affecting their current customer base, being 46 year old male, married with no children with a median income of about $150 000. This target audience was therefore well educated, two thirds were very active males engaged in sports and other activities. BMW wanted to target people who wanted a perfect product, stylish and which offered great driving experience. Last but not least, the target was highly attracted to technology, as the â€Å"Internet was used by 85% of customers before buying a BMW†; the films on the Internet therefore targeted perfectly these people. How successful has the campaign been? Why or why not? There are two ways of defining a successful campaign: the effectiveness and efficiency. In terms of effectiveness, it is important to compare the results according to the initial goals. Overall, the campaign was really successful: BMW sales increase by 12. 5% compared to 2000. Concerning viewers, films were viewed 11 million times in the first four months, and were seen by 1 981 049 people in total. The short films were recommended by 94% of the people who registered on the website, showing how incredible and successful the buzz was. Last but not least, two million people registered on the site after viewing the films and 60% signed up to receive newsletters and other information. In terms of numbers, this campaign was therefore obviously very effective: it was a tremendous buzz and gave the brand a â€Å"cooler† and younger image. Concerning target audience, in comparison with the overall goals, BMW was very successful here again. In fact, the median age of the people who registered on the website was 31, exactly in the target market goal. Moreover, the higher segments of viewers were in the range of 25 to 34 years old (35%) and between 35 to 44 years old (22%). These segments include both young people targeted by BMW and its current target market. 63% of viewers were educated and 68% of profile visitors owned non luxury makes, and were therefore new to the luxury segment. Here we can clearly see that all target objectives were reached by BMW. In terms of strategic goals, the company was also successful: it perfectly produced â€Å"the most exciting, fun thing people had ever seen†, and focused their message on what makes a BMW a BMW. Here is what a viewer said: â€Å"BMW lets the directors do whatever they want and they’re not constantly shoving the BMW logo in your face or anything†. Here again, BMW reached its entire strategic goal. Overall, the campaign was extremely effective in terms of achieving goals and communication to customers. Although effective, it is important to calculate the efficiency of this campaign. In order to do so, it is necessary to calculate the Cost per Thousand (CPM), and compare it to an ad airing during the super bowl. The calculations are detailed in Appendix 1. I have focused my analysis on the movies which aired on the internet, their costs of production and number of viewers, to compare it to the super bowl commercials. Overall, even without considering the costs of publicity (trailers on TV, print advertising) which reached $14 million, the CPM is way higher than for super bowl commercials ($ 7571 against $ 31. 25 respectively). Therefore, the efficiency of the BMW film series was low, as costs were way higher compared to the audience reached. In conclusion, this BMW campaign was very effective but not efficient. BMW should now focus on an â€Å"encore†. I believe that the company should create a DVD to give to dealerships in order to reach potential customers and already existing customers who didn’t view the movies. In addition to that, BMW should produce three to four new films with Clive Owen. This would enable BMW to answer the demands and desires of their customers, without disappointing them. When using A Brand New World, I believe that BMW was really able to create brand strength and not only brand awareness. This campaign really enabled the company to create an emotional attachment with both its customers and potential customers. Appendices Appendix 1: Cost per Thousands comparison |BMW FILMS ON WEBSITE |AD DURING SUPERBOWL | |Cost of production/ ad |$ 15 000 000 |$ 2 500 000 | |Circulation |1 981 049 |80 000 000 | |Cost Per Thousand (CPM) |$ 7571 |$ 31. 25 | Appendix 2: Target effectiveness, Example of non BMW owners reached [pic]

How to Choose Samples of Research Essay Proposals

How to Choose Samples of Research Essay Proposals A systematic approach will definitely assist you to develop a brilliant research paper. With a couple ideas and easy strategy suggestions, you can finish this assignment successfully. The aim of the project research proposal is to showcase the and justify the should conduct a project research and the practical ways the project research should be put into place. There are a lot of tricks you may utilize to aid readability and emphasize crucial ideas. The Importance of Samples of Research Essay Proposals There are lots of financial benefits directly connected to the creation and sale of tobacco in many pieces of the planet. Actually all absolutely free research proposals available on the internet are 100% plagiarized! It's a summary of what the research intends to accomplish. Fourth, you must demonstrate the way your research will fit into the entire subject. Top Samples of Research Essay Proposals Choices You ought to create a proposal that's great if you're likely to accomplish anything in respect to your research, and you will discover that looking at the samples which are available will allow you to manage things in the correct way. When you compose a resume for the very first time, it may take you some time to put everything in order and create your CV appear presentable. Make sure you're familiar enough with your poster that it is possible to chat about it without looking at it. You may have a look or download any sample abstract for a research proposal that fits with your field of research. Often you must summarize a good deal of research into an incredibly brief paragraph. Somebody who has never written a sample research title proposal can come across a great deal of difficulties while writing such type of a paper for the very first time. Qualitative research is a powerful method to comprehend and learn more about the meaning ascribed to a specific issue. A History of Samples of Research Essay Proposals Refuted Writing a proposal essay isn't as difficult as it might sound, it isn't important the way your professor or teacher describes it. Many students don't know how to compose a great research proposal and think that it's close to writing a research paper itself. In school, you're going to be requested to compose a research proposal. Being a real student, you should understand that understanding an essay proposal is essential. It's always important to incorporate a schedule samples and personal budget in order for your project can be well-funded. Proceed to a neighborhood library when required. Self-explanatory portion of the research proposal. If you're searching where to purchase research paper proposals online, you are likely to locate our site. When you make the most of all that is given in Research Proposal Samples, then you're able to complete the information that is related to what it is that you're asking for and you are able to secure the help that's related to you. This site uses cookies to enhance your experience. Picture yourself as a salesperson who must convince the client to make a buy. The usage of technology and the web has had a big influence on society and the modern generation, which makes it the most progressive to date. One of the main issues a research proposal should address is the important agenda supporting the undertaking, reasons for the research and methods to apply to attain your objective. To be able to prepare a great research proposal an individual will have to get to know more about the topic, improve his knowledge about it, realize the definition, types and methods of social network ing. You will need to explain the advantages of your methods and research, in addition to potential limitations. You're able to put down objectives to spell out the effect of your proposed research to the society. Rather, it should explain the worth of your research undertaking. If the essence of the dilemma is understood, it'll be possible to spell out its backbone and to find all the needed sources for the research. Talk about the main problem, the methodology, and the value of the research. The Argument About Samples of Research Essay Proposals At the start of the XVI century, the growth of trade has resulted in the emergence of the stock exchanges. Outlining the sections right at the start of writing research paper can help you to keep up a suitable structure for the whole write up. A prosperous draft will provide the reader a strong comprehension of what the comprehensive paper will look like, and what things to expect after you've finished your research. The best way is downloading a research paper outline template to make the outline.

The Effects of Inclusion on Mainstream Education - 1323 Words

In 1993 a woman by the name of Dee Begg filed a lawsuit against the school district office of Baltimore County, Maryland. She wanted her son Sean, a developmentally challenged eight-year-old boy suffering from Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, to be able to attend a public school with normal children. Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person is born with forty-seven chromosomes instead of the usual forty-six causing both physical and mental handicaps. Children suffering from Down syndrome will often have a smaller than usual and abnormally shaped head. An abnormally large forehead, with their eyes slanting upward, small ears and mouth are just a few of the telltale signs. Children suffering from this disorder†¦show more content†¦They were to ignore him when acted out or became disruptive and praise him when he behaved in an acceptable manner. In a sense, this made every one of the kids in his class one of Sean’s teachers. They were forced to acce pt that Sean could get away with doing things that would have landed them in the principal’s office. Kathy would have to spend significant amounts of extra time working with Sean when teaching him how to do something the other children had learned in five minutes two weeks ago. The academic gap between Sean and the rest of his classmates continued to widen as the school year continued. Sean became more and more aware that he was different than the rest of his classmates. He would get frustrated when he was not able to learn something as fast as the other children. This caused Sean to lack the self-confidence that is a crucial element in getting a good education. Sean would isolate himself from the other children, eating his lunch all alone at a solitary desk off in the corner of the lunchroom. When walking down the hall, Sean would often follow several paces behind the rest of the class sometimes refusing to follow at all. 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