system implementation - computer science

A. Tybee-Savannah Kayaks Case

Tybee-Savannah Kayaks offers Eco tours and kayak rentals around Tybee Island, near Savannah, GA.

Background

Dave and Susan Weston are avid kayakers and amateur naturalists who spent many weekends exploring the Coastal Georgia’s numerous creeks and tributaries. Dave was a sales representative and Susan worked as a freelance Web designer. Two years ago, Dave’s division was purchased by a rival company, which announced plans to move operations to another state.

Rather than relocate, the Westons decided to launch TSK. They reasoned that Susan could continue her work, which would provide some income while Dave tried to build TSK into a profit- able business. Dave and Susan are convinced that the ecotourism market will expand greatly, and they look forward to sharing their experience and knowledge with others who enjoy nature and kayaking.

Tybee-Savannah Kayaks advertises in regional magazines and maintains a website, which Susan designed. At this time, four other kayak rental firms operate within 10 miles of TSK’s location. Customers say that the TSK site is attractive and informative, but the Westons are not sure it is attracting new business.

So far, the Westons’ plan is working out well. TSK rents space at a nearby marina, where Susan runs the office and operates her Web design business. She also handles rentals when Dave is giving lessons or busy with a tour group. On summer weekends and holidays, Jill Herndon, a local college student, handles telephone inquiries and reservations.

TSK’s inventory includes 16 rental kayaks of various types, lengths, and capacities, eight car-top carriers, and a large assortment of accessories and safety equipment. Based on customer requests, Susan is considering adding a selection of books and videos about kayaking and ecotourism.

TSK has three main business segments: rentals, instruction, and guided tours. Most customers make advance reservations for scheduled tours and instruction sessions, but sometimes space is available for last-minute customers. Rentals are split evenly between reservations and walk-in customers.

Reservations are entered in a loose-leaf binder, with separate tabs for each business activity. Susan also created a Microsoft Access database to record reservations. When she has time, she enters the reservation date, the reservation details and kayak type, and the customer information into a table, which is sorted by reservation date. Each day, she prints a reservation list. For quick reference, Susan also displays kayak availability on a wall-mounted board with color- coded magnets that show the available or reserved status of each rental kayak. In addition to the database, Susan uses an inexpensive accounting package to keep TSK’s books.

Although the TSK database handles the basic information, the Westons have noticed some drawbacks. For example, reservations for guided tours or instruction sessions sometimes conflict with Dave’s or Susan’s availability. The Westons also would like to get more information about rental patterns, customer profiles, advertising effectiveness, and future business opportunities. Dave and Susan have talked about updating the system, but they have been too busy to do so.

Task 1.

Given what you have learned, develop a business profile for Tybee-Savannah Kayaks. This should include their overall functions, processes, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction. Each answer is worth 4% of the assignment, making this task’s overall value 40% of the assignment.

Enter your answers in the table provided below. If you need to expand your answer, just keep typing within the cell of the table, and it will expand. Do NOT use bullet points in your answers inside the cells. Each answer must be no less than ten and no more than 60 words in length. Shorter or longer answers will have one percentage point deducted.

Item	Answer
Business Activities
Processes
Organization
Products
Services
Customers
Suppliers
Competitors
Constraints
Future Direction

Task 2.

SWOT Analysis. Perform a SWOT Analysis of Tybee-Savannah Kayaks business. Enter your answers in the table provided. You must provide an answer for each of element of the SWOT Analysis.

Enter your answers in the table provided below. If you need to expand your answer, just keep typing within the cell of the table, and it will expand. Do NOT use bullet points in your answers inside the cells.

Each answer is worth 2.5 percent of the assignment, making this task worth 10 percent of the assignment. Each answer should be no less than 10 words and no greater than 60 words. Shorter or longer answers will have 0.5% deducted.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

B Super Tech Solutions

The IT director opened the department staff meeting today (August 1st) by saying "I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that management approved the payroll system project this morning. The new system will reduce clerical time and errors, improve morale in the payroll department, and avoid possible fines and penalties for noncompliance. The bad news is that the system must be installed by January 1st in order to meet new federal reporting rules, all expenses from now on must be approved in advance, the system should have a modular design if possible, and the vice president of finance would like to announce the new system in a year-end report if it is ready by mid-December.”

Task 1

Why is it important to define project scope? How would you define the scope of the payroll project in this case? This question is worth 10 percentage points, 4 for the first answer, 6 for the second answer. Your overall answer must be no more than 100 words long. Longer answers will have 2 percentage points deducted.

Task 2

What questions would you ask to determine the feasibility of this project? Each answer is worth 2 points. This question is worth 8 percentage points, so you are giving four questions you would ask. Some of your questions may be general in nature, but, as a minimum, two have to specifically refer to this project.

Feasibility study means is performed in the initial design stage of any project, which brings together the elements of knowledge that indicate if a project is possible or not.

C Cost-Benefit Analysis

See the Excel workbook provided to you for the structure of your answer to this question.

Assume the following facts:

· A project will cost $60,000 to develop

· When the system becomes operational after a one-year development period (no benefits in Year 0), operational costs will be $12,000 during each year of the system’s five-year useful life.

· The system will produce benefits of as given:

· Year 1 – given as $33,000.

· Year 2 – given as $34,000

· Year 3 – given as $35,000

· Year 4 – given as $38,000

· Year 5 – given as $41,000

· You will use the values in the Discount Rate table below for a Discount Rate of 6% (outlined in the table below)

Task 1 – Payback

What is the payback period for this project? You cannot just write down your answer here. You MUST show your work and write your answer in the Excel workbook. This answer is worth 16% of the assignment: correct table data & calculations = 6%; correct chart = 8%; correct answer = 2%

CREATE AN EXCEL CHART AS IN THE LECTURE 5 COST-BENEFIT POWERPOINT in your Excel workbook. DO NOT PASTE THAT CHART INTO THIS DOCUMENT.

Task 2

Using the same facts as above, what is the ROI for this project? This question is worth 6% of the assignment. You will calculate the answer in your Excel Workbook, and enter the answer in your Excel Workbook, in the space provided. Do NOT enter your answer in this document.

Task 3

Using the same facts as above, what is the NPV for this project? This question is worth 10% of the assignment. You will calculate the answer in your Excel Workbook, and enter the answer in your Excel Workbook, in the space provided. Do NOT enter your answer in this document.

8 point Extra Credit Question

What types of information systems does TSK use? Do these systems support its current and future business objectives? Why or why not? What would you recommend?

Your answer as to whether the current systems support their business objectives, and why or why not, is worth 4%. Your recommendation is worth 4%, making this task worth 8% of the assignment. Your overall answer must be no more than 120 words long. Longer answers will have 2 percentage points deducted.

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