MIS201 SEU MIS: Apple Merging Technology, Business and Entertainment Read the file and answer all questions. No plagiarism please. Management Information S

MIS201 SEU MIS: Apple Merging Technology, Business and Entertainment Read the file and answer all questions. No plagiarism please. Management Information System MIS 201
Semester 2 (2018-2019)
Assignment Details
Prepare an in-depth analysis of four case studies during the semester. Here are some guidelines:
•
This is an individual assessment, which is a part from your course score. It requires effort and
critical thinking
•
This assignment will worth 25 mark (Case Study Questions 15 Marks/ Presentation 10
Marks)
•
Answer all the questions listed below for each case.
•
The ‘answers’ to the questions are best formulated by reviewing the case and the reading
materials up and including the current week in the course.
•
The questions are worded to help you apply the readings to the case, so don’t limit yourself
to the case’s terminology and perspective. The best analysis will abstract the case content by
applying the reading materials to draw broader lessons about the material
•
As for the Presentation you should summarize your analysis of only one case study in a set
of PowerPoint slides
Case Study 1: Apple Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment
1) Why are data, information, business intelligence, and knowledge important to Apple? Give
an example of each type in relation to the iPad. (1 Mark)
2) Explain how Apple achieved business success through the use of information, information
technology, and people. (1 Mark)
3) Evaluate how Apple can gain business intelligence through the implementation of a
customer relationship management system. (1 Mark)
Case Study 2: Vail Ski Resorts Goes High-Tech for High Touch
1) List and describe the types of systems described in this case study. (1 Mark)
2) How do these systems improve the operation of the business? (1 Mark)
3) How do these systems support decision-making? Identify 3 different decisions that can be
supported by these systems. (1 Mark)
Case Study 3 : Walmart
1) How IT and IS may be used to help the company operate and achieve its objectives. (1
Mark)
2) Discuss the challenges faced by the CIO – which are the most important and why? (1 Mark)
3) What role does information technology play in the business? How is it helping Walmart
refine its business strategies? (1 Mark)
4) Summarize the main purposes of information systems in organizations (1 Mark)
Case Study 4: Zappos
1) Define SCM and how it can benefit Zappos. (1 Mark)
2) Explain CRM and why Zappos would benefit from the implementation of a CRM system.
(1 Mark)
3) Demonstrate why Zappos would need to implement SCM, CRM, and ERP for a connected
corporation. (1 Mark)
4) Analyze the merger between Zappos and Amazon and assess potential issues for Zappos
customers. (1 Mark)
5) Propose a plan for how Zappos can use Amazon’s supply chain to increase sales and
customer satisfaction. (1 Mark)
Case Study 1: Apple Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment
This might sound hard to believe, but a bit more than a decade ago, Apple was on the brink of
bankruptcy. Apple Computer Inc., now back from near oblivion, is blazing a trail through the
digital world with innovation and creativity that has been missing from the company for the past
20 years. The unique feature of Apple’s competitive advantages
is that they come from
customers and users, not Apple employees. That’s right; the company welcomes products created
by consumers to sell to consumers, a trend new to business.
Capitalizing on the iPod
With millions of iPods in the hands of consumers, many people are finding ways to capitalize on
the product. John Lin created a prototype of a remote control for the iPod and took his prototype
to Macworld, where he found success. A few months later, Lin’s company had Apple’s blessing
and a commitment for shelf space in its retail stores. “This is how Apple supports the iPod
economy,” Lin said. In the iPod-dominated market, hundreds of companies have been inspired to
develop more than 500 accessories—everything from rechargers for the car to $1,500 Fendi
bags. Eric Tong, vice president at Belkin, a cable and peripheral manufacturer, believes that 75
percent of all iPod owners purchase at least one accessory—selling over 30 million accessories
to date. With most of the products priced between $10 and $200, that puts the iPod economy
well over $300 million and perhaps as high as $6 billion. Popular iPod accessories include:
■ Altec Lansing Technologies—iPod speakers and recharger dock ($150).
■ Belkin—TuneCast mobile FM transmitter ($40).
■ Etymotic Research—high-end earphones ($150).
■ Griffin Technology—iTrip FM transmitter ($35).
■ Kate Spade—Geneva faux-croc mini iPod holder ($55).
■ Apple—socks set in six colors: green, purple, blue, orange, pink, and gray ($29).
■ Apple—digital camera connector ($29).
Capitalizing on the iPhone
Looking at someone using an iPhone is an interesting experience because there is a good chance
they are not making a phone call. They could be doing a number of things from playing a game
to trading stocks, watching a TV show, or even conducting business with a mobile version of
salesforce.com ’s customer-management software. In a brilliant strategic move, Apple let
outsiders offer software for the iPhone and in less than six months, more than 10,000
applications had been created. In fact, more than 15,000 applications are available at its app store
section of iTunes, and they have been downloaded a total of 500 million times. Now, many of
the iPhone apps are available for the iPad. The iPhone and iPad app store market is getting so
huge relative to other smartphone markets that some developers argue there is little point
adapting applications for Google’s Android or any other iPhone competitor. According to Jeff
Holden, CEO of Pelago Inc., when he created his social networking company he fully intended
to follow the conventional wisdom for how to build a sizable, fast-growing software company:
Get your programs on as many platforms and devices as possible. But when he crunched the
numbers he came to an interesting business conclusion: The 13 million iPhone owners had
already downloaded more applications than the 1.1 billion other cell phone owners! To
entrepreneurs, developing a program for the iPhone automatically provides a significantly larger
market—almost 94 times larger than its competitors. “Why would I ever build for anything but
the iPhone?” Holden asked
Capitalizing on the iPad
Apple’s latest release, the iPad, is a lightweight, portable, tablet computer, similar to the iPhone,
that allows customers to download applications, check email, and play music all at the touch of a
button. Both the iPhone and the iPad can multitask, allowing customers to read a web page while
downloading email in the background over wireless networks. The arrival of the iPad brought a
simultaneous expansion of the network of accessories. Because the iPad was designed with an
exposed screen and without a camera, separate keyboard, memory card slots, or expansion ports,
one might say it was specifically built for accessories. Many owners will modify it in some way,
whether for mere decoration or hard-core protection. A few of the new accessories include:
■ iPad Clear Armor screen protector—$35.
■ iPad Antique book case cover—$40.
■ iPad wireless keyboard—$99.
■ iPad overcoat sleeve—$35.
■ iPad Joule luxury stand—$130.
Apple has consistently outperformed its key rivals through the development of its MP3 player,
the iPod, and continues to make its products smaller and less expensive, while providing
complementary features such as games and applications. For the iPhone, Apple developed a
unique application called Siri, a voice-activation system that is capable of recognizing voice
commands. Siri can perform all kinds of functions from dialing a contact and creating an email
to location services such as “Find my Phone,” ensuring lost phones are found quickly.
Apple’s latest offering is a new service called the iCloud. The iCloud has the ability to collect all
of the content, including videos, photos, songs, books, etc., from customer devices such as iPods,
iPads, and iPhones in one secure location in “the cloud.” Apple customers no longer have to
worry about backing up their applications or data because everything is automatically uploaded
and stored in the iCloud when using an Apple device. In a fast-paced, technology-driven sector,
with competitors quickly following suit, Apple is constantly pressured to develop new products
and product extensions. Luckily Apple stays ahead of the pack by focusing on the following key
competitive advantages:
■ Customer focus: Apple is driven by customer satisfaction and ensures customers are deeply
involved in product development and application development.
■ Resources and capabilities: Apple continues to invest heavily in research and development to
take advantage of new technologies, improved facilities, and cloud infrastructures.
■ Strategic vision: Apple has a clear alignment of its vision, mission, and business leadership
and goals.
■ Branding: Apple is the leader in brand loyalty as it has achieved cult status with its authentic
product image.
■ Quality focus: Apple has an outstanding commitment to quality.24
Case Study 2: Vail Ski Resorts Goes High-Tech for High Touch
Vail Ski Resort is the largest single mountain ski resort in the United States, with 5,289 acres of
the most diverse and expansive skiing in the world. To its world-class skiing, Vail is also trying
to offer world-class customer care—fine dining; spas and ski valets ready to haul, stow, and
retrieve your equipment; heated boots; and hand-warming packets. Vail’s season pass is a top
value industry-wide; its free PEAKS Rewards membership program further inculcates customer
loyalty. Members can the most economical lift tickets online, link the PEAKS card to a credit
card, and accumulate points that can be redeemed free lift tickets, ski school lessons, and various
discounts.
In 2012, Vail Ski Resort installed the fastest, highest capacity gondola in the United States.
Seating ten people per cabin, and with an uphill speed of 1200 feet per minute, the state-of-theart gondola carries 3600 skiers per hour while decreasing ride time from 9 to 7.5 minutes. Heated
seats and Wi-Fi access make it one of the world’s most customer-friendly ski lifts as well.
Long lift lines have always created a big headache for skiers. In the past, the only way to gauge
the flow of the crowd was to ask lift operators or check on bulletin boards at the bottom of the
lifts. Now Vail skiers are able to obtain accurate up-to-the minute lift line information by using
social networking, streaming alerts, and the resort’s own Witter account. Slope congestion can be
alleviated by offering special pins or prizes to coax guests to move to a different slope. Guests
can be directed to on-mountain dining locations at lunch time.
Vail now uses radio frequency identification (RFID) lift tickets and ski passes. Part of the
EpicMix social media program, the tickets and passes are scanned at the base of each lift so that
skiers and snowboarders can track how many lifts they ride and the vertical feet ascended each
day. The scanned data are automatically transferred to an EpicMix application which can be
accessed from either a smartphone or a computer. The basic program is free and confers various
pins and virtual awards based on user statistics. For example, you earn the “Connoisseur” pin
after 75 lifts and the “Over the Moon” pin when you surpass 350,000 vertical feet skied. After
you create your EpicMix account, you can view and share stats by linking to your Facebook and
Twitter accounts.
The EpicMix Racing program provides additional fun. At one of six race courses, you can
compete against friends and family, all skiers, and even 2010 Olympic women’s downhill gold
medalist Lindsey Vonn. At the beginning of each season, the four-time overall World Cup
champion establishes a course time for race courses at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge,
Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar. Race pros then ski the courses to establish their “seconds
behind Lindsey.” ‘lb factor in changing course conditions, every day one of the race pros skis
each course and uses his or her “seconds behin Lindsey” to determine a course time for Vonn on
that particular day. When you ski a course, your actual time is automatically recorded and then
adjusted for gender, age, and discipline. Snowboarders, telemark skiers, and adaptive skiers with
disabilities and special needs can also participate. Scores are computed based on each skier’s
“seconds behind Lindsey,” and gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top three daily.
Race results and leaderboards are accessed on EpicMix.com or the EpicM mobile app, available
for Apple and Android smartphones. Your dashboard tallies your Lindsey
Vonn Race Series points, EpicMix Racing medals, total number of resort check-ins, total days on
a mountain, vertical feet, pins earned, and number of EpicMix photos taken.
The six race course mountains are staffed by 140 professional photographers. Photos are
automatically identified and uploaded by scanning the intelligent chip embedded in the skier’s lift
ticket. Photos can be captioned and shared free on Facebook and Twitter, or you can purchase
prints at a number of locations, including, of course, the Children’s Ski Schools. You can also
purchase a $30.00 season package for unlimited downloads of all images taken at all locations
and print them out later. All of these amenities turn a ski vacation into an “experience” that can
be shared with family and friends, increasing emotional attachment and promoting customer
retention.
Still, to ensure that it is fully leveraging the wealth of customer data it collects, Vail Ski Resorts’
parent company Vail Resorts implemented SAS Customer Intelligence software. Customer data
were previously collected and stored in a number of unrelated systems. Now, the data are
compiled in a single database that includes all customer points of contact, allowing a complete
picture of customer habits and preferences to emerge. Rather than one or two versions of a
marketing campaign, Vail Resorts now runs 30 to 50, targeted to specific groups. In the future,
the company expects to expand to hundreds or even thousands of personalized, individual
communications.
SAS predictive analytics will help Vail Resorts to identify guest motivations and anticipate
customer desires, while customer segmentation models identify profitable segments to which
they might be steered. Vail Resorts plans to further personalize its engagement with its guests
and enrich their mountain experiences before they have even begun.
Case Study 3 : Walmart
With the advent of science and technology, technological innovations have become a prerequisite to achieve operational and strategic excellence. Organizations by using state-of-the-art
systems, are striving for their best to achieve sustainable and long-term competitive advantage. It
has become sine qua non to use modern tools for the effective achievement of goals and
objectives. Its importance can also be observed from the increased spending on Research &
Development in order to pace up with the todays dynamic business environment.
Wal-Mart, founded by Sam Walton in 1962, is the world’s largest retailer that employs about 2.1
million associates worldwide, in more than 8,400 stores, including 8, discount stores, 3,100
combination discount and grocery stores. Wal-Mart is serving its customers and members more
than 200 million times per week at more than 8,613 retail units under 55 different banners in 15
countries. Wal-Mart has ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2010 Most Admired
Companies survey with fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion. Sam Walton’s belief was to build
an empire by providing value to its customers and empowering employees, also known as
associates. The way the Wal-Mart operates is so fascinating and impressive that Jack Welch,
CEO of General Electric once said: “Many of our management teams spent time there observing
the speed, the bias for action, the utter customer fixation that drives Wal-Mart.”
The use of high-tech Information technology has always been an essential ingredient for WalMart’s growth. Since its inception, it has used the IT systems well enough for the Inventory,
administrative, customers and suppliers management.
Wal-Mart’s investment in technology started with the computerized accounting systems and
since then the continuous adoption of latest technologies has made Wal-Mart a market leader in
the whole retail industry.
Wal-Mart developed a well-equipped computerized Point of Sale (POS) system capable of
identifying each unit sold, creation of accurate sales receipt and storing all the information itemby-item for sales analysis and inventory reordering purposes. It helped company to avoid
overstocking of merchandize through effective information usage and also assisted them in
investing in only those merchandize that were profitable. It has also helped them figure out best
selling products and prospective products that customers want. Analysts say that it is Wal-Mart’s
Point of Sale system that has helped them achieve the world’s largest market share and revenues
in retail industry.
Wal-Mart, in 2004, was the first in retail industry to adopt electronic radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags for inventory distribution management. RFID technology, which is
still being used, helps them keep track of inventory movement across its supply chain. Wal-Mart
was trailing K-Mart in 1980’s but with the adoption of latest technologies, it has now become the
trend setter in retail industry all over the world.
Wal-Mart is currently working on a project to make best out of wireless technology. In near
future, they have plans to develop a remote system that would allow customers to just walk into
their store and use their own devices (Phones or PDA’s) to get whatever they want. i.e. they
might go online to their website, while at the store, and find things for themselves or just
compare the products’ prices etc.
Customer service, best shopping environment and experience, one-stop shopping, best value
products, customer convenience of online shopping, good customer relations are the blessings
that Wal-Mart provides using cutting-edge technology. Latest wireless system at their stores,
online web-retailing, vast width and hierarchy of product items, and stores at multiple remote
sites are the benefits customers of Wal-Mart cherish.
Wal-Mart is considered to be a trend setter in retail industry and it’s all due to its inclination
towards achieving impossible through modern technology. For example, Wal-Mart once tried to
develop three experimental stores in McKinney, Aurora and Las Vegas that were equipped with
latest technologies or concepts like wind turbines, photovoltaic solar panels, bio-fuel-capable
boilers and water-cooled refrigerators. Irrespective of the criticism it had on environmental
issues, Wal-Mart’s initiative was considered to be a positive step towards change and innovation
and it provided them with an opportunity to become the biggest seller of organic milk and the
biggest buyer of organic cotton in the world, as well as reducing packaging and energy costs. It
has been quoted in 2006’s annual report of Wal-Mart that in order to compete against upscale and
appealing store, such as ‘Target’, they have launched a new Supercenter concept in Plano, Texas.
The new store had wood floors, wider aisles, a sushi bar, a coffee shop with free Wi-Fi Internet
access, and more expensive beers, wines and other electronics goods.
By using advance forecasting techniques and integrating different technologies, Wal-Mart is
planning to deploy simulation software that would help them simulate business events that are
yet to happen.
Wal-Mart has got a strategic plan of introducing a con…
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