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Chapter 7 Exercises

Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Principles of MIS

© 2005 by Jerry Post
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
  1. Find a balance sheet and income statement for a company (Try the EDGAR system at www.sec.gov). Enter the major sections of each into two worksheets that link on the appropriate cells.
  2. Research the rules and equations for computing payroll taxes in your locality. When were the rules or percentages changed last?
  3. DeptStor.mdb Using a DBMS, spreadsheet, and word processor, create the four reports shown in the introduction: daily sales report, returned merchandise log, commissions report, and weekly sales analysis. If possible, use tools that support dynamic integration.
  4. Using current business publications, find an example of a company that is experiencing problems with integrating data. Alternatively, find an example of a company that has an excellent system for integrating information. Identify data that is shared dynamically and data that is shared through static copies. (Hint: Companies are more likely to report successes than problems, and be sure to check the MIS publications.)
  5. If you have access to an ERP system, take a specific role (salesperson, production manager, customer, supplier, etc.) and use the system to enter data and check on the current status variables for your role.
  6. Choose a manufacturing industry for consumer goods (for example, automobiles, bicycles, or refrigerators). Research the industry and identify what aspects follow mass production versus what operations follow mass customization strategies.
  7. Choose a firm or industry that sells to other businesses (for example, air conditioners for retail stores). Research the industry and identify what aspects follow mass production versus what operations follow mass customization strategies.

    8. Technology Toolbox

  8. Find information on at least two accounting or ERP packages that could be used for a business with 100 to150 employees. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each package. Are the packages tailored to specific industries?
  9. You need to select an accounting or ERP package for a small service business, such as a law firm or accounting firm. Identify the major features that you want to see in the accounting system.
  10. You have been hired as a consultant to a small graphics design firm with 20 employees. Design a digital dashboard for the owner/manager to monitor the important variables of the company.
  11. Make a list of the top five ERP vendors (if fewer than five exist, add some accounting system vendors). Identify their revenue, primary market, and major strengths.
  12. Find an organization that uses a digital dashboard/executive information system. Identify the major components on the main screen, and briefly explain how the system is used to drill down to additional information.

    13. Teamwork

  13. Each team member should find an example of a company that implemented an ERP system. Briefly outline any problems encountered. Combine the papers and discuss why some companies had more problems than others.
  14. Each team member should research one ERP system. Identify the internationalization features available. Assume you are running a midsize company with offices and operations in several European nations. Describe the benefits provided by these international features? Make a recommendation on which product to buy.
  15. Choose an industry and have each team member find income and balance sheet data for a firm in that industry. Chart the revenue, net income, earnings per share, and assets for each of the firms for the last three years.
  16. Interview or tour a local company as a team. Assign each person to a functional area (accounting, HRM, marketing, and so on). Write a report on how an ERP system could be used by the company to improve or changes its operations.
  17. You have been hired as a consultant to a mid-sized agricultural company that packs fruit and ships it to retail outlets. The fruit is grown under contract at regional farms. About 65 percent is sold to grocery and chains and fruit stores in the United States, while the rest is shipped overseas to high-end stores and restaurants. Design an ERP system with a digital dashboard for this company. Assign individual components to each team member. Be sure to identify potential problems and risks that might arise.

    18. Rolling Thunder Database

  18. Extract sales and cost data by model type and create a spreadsheet to analyze it. (Hint: Use the Extract Data form.) Write a short report discussing profitability and any trends. Include graphs to illustrate your comments. Your spreadsheet should look at monthly sales by model and monthly material costs by model. Be sure to compute profit margins and examine percentages.
  19. Assume that Rolling Thunder is experiencing problems with quality control. Suddenly there are several complaints about the components. Write a report describing all of the data and reports we would need to help us resolve these problems.
  20. Top management needs an analysis of purchases and deliveries from vendors. Begin by using queries to extract the appropriate data to create a basic spreadsheet. Write a report analyzing the data; include graphs to illustrate your points.

    21.  
    Vendor

    Purchases
    Order total $

    Percent of
    vendor total

     
    Received $

    Receipts %
    of purchase

    Avg. # days
    to deliver
               
               
               
  21. Describe how an ERP solution could improve operations at Rolling Thunder. What operations would you implement first?
  22. Find an accounting or ERP system that would be appropriate for Rolling Thunder Bicycles. Identify the main features and approximate cost of the system.
  23. Describe how Rolling Thunder Bicycles might use a supply chain management system. In particular, how would it integrate with its suppliers?
  24. Describe or create a subsystem that could be used by the head of sales management to monitor and improve customer relationships and sales.