An example of this is the use of business intelligence on the part of iTunes to deliver only the new releases I am interested in, and the selective use of e-mail blasts on only the new cars I am interested in. A third advantage is the fact that when I walk into a hotel to register they know what my room preferences are, if I like my room next to the elevator or not, on a high floor or not, and what my satisfaction level was during my last stay. All of these factors lead to greater convenience and a better customer experience as well. The three problems include the lack of privacy when so much data is known about my preferences and my purchasing habits (Qiu, Li, Wu, 103, 104). The second major problem is when corporations sell this information to other companies and a flood of unsolicited information is sent. A third problem is the incorrect use of the business intelligence on me, somehow corporations get me confused with someone else, and I get tons of e-mail and junk mail on products and services that are completely irrelevant.
5. Many companies select to use both function and cross-functional integrated systems. If it were your company, which business functions would you consider the most important for cross-functional integration and what are three (3) problems that you would expect if they are integrated. Identify the industry in which your company operates, i.e. manufacturing, banking, insurance, etc.
In my manufacturing company, the most critical business functions for cross-functional integration would be accounting and finance, manufacturing and product systems, and sales or the CRM system. The three biggest problems that I would expect from choosing this integration would be keeping pricing current between CRM, manufacturing...
The second problem would be the area of CRM and manufacturing integration to make sure the customized orders placed by customers were accurately built and delivered. The third problem area would be correctly determining the lifetime value of customers and choosing which of them were too unprofitable to keep selling to. All of these problems however could be major opportunities if solved in my manufacturing company.
6. Collaboration and teamwork is being used to enhance and even replace the traditional command and control approach to working together in business. Identify three (3) ways that information systems support business collaboration.
There are many, many ways information systems support business collaboration. The first is the ability to share files across broad geographic distances through online portals and Intranet sites. The second is with interactive communication online, like Facebook and Twitter support today for example. The third is through real-time video conferences and teleconferencing, including telepresence technology from Cisco Systems (Grotticelli, 299).
7. If your corporation were the primary end-retailer in a large supply chain network, explain how and where value is created for that supply chain and how your margins are calculated. (Hint: a value chain is not the same as a supply chain.)
For purposes of this example, I will assume I am the CEO of WalMart, as they are one of the world's leading primary end-retailers and have exceptional influence and impact on the supply chains that stock their stores with inventory. Value is created by interpreting and forecasting product demand in my stores, and
