Information Systems and Operations Management
Please read the article: Zara: Fast fashion from savvy systems available for free at http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/pub/gallaugher/41128#pdf-7 This article makes up Chapter 1 of the free, open access book titled, Information Systems: A Manager's Guide to Harnessing Technology, by John Gallaugher. Please ensure that you read the entire Chapter 1 of the book consisting of 3 parts (Part 1 Introduction; Part 2 Don’t Guess, Gather Data; and Part 3 Moving Forward).
Now answer the questions below:
Question 1:
The Zara case shows how information systems can impact every single management discipline. Which management disciplines were mentioned in this case and how does technology impact each? (50% of the total mark)
The case study mentioned management disciplines including information gathering, processing, storing, distributing and use of information.
Gather market information
One of the successful factors in Zara is they know the market trends.
Zara deploys the latest information technology tools to facilitate the information exchange and collect market data through both formal and informal channels – the PDA and POS systems.
The Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) system
Zara’s store managers were given personal digital assistants (PDAs) so they could gather customer input outside an office setting. The staff in Zara would regularly gather information from customers, such as the trend of fashion customers preferred and feedbacks of garment that they would like to see more in the shop. The range of information collected included colours, length and even small detail of the clothes were collected from customers through front line shop staff.
Besides getting information directly from customers, they staff have another channel to gather customers’ preferences. The staff will investigate the unsold items that customers tried on but didn’t buy, to find out their preferences in cloth, color, or styles offered among the products in stock.
The
Now answer the questions below:
Question 1:
The Zara case shows how information systems can impact every single management discipline. Which management disciplines were mentioned in this case and how does technology impact each? (50% of the total mark)
The case study mentioned management disciplines including information gathering, processing, storing, distributing and use of information.
Gather market information
One of the successful factors in Zara is they know the market trends.
Zara deploys the latest information technology tools to facilitate the information exchange and collect market data through both formal and informal channels – the PDA and POS systems.
The Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) system
Zara’s store managers were given personal digital assistants (PDAs) so they could gather customer input outside an office setting. The staff in Zara would regularly gather information from customers, such as the trend of fashion customers preferred and feedbacks of garment that they would like to see more in the shop. The range of information collected included colours, length and even small detail of the clothes were collected from customers through front line shop staff.
Besides getting information directly from customers, they staff have another channel to gather customers’ preferences. The staff will investigate the unsold items that customers tried on but didn’t buy, to find out their preferences in cloth, color, or styles offered among the products in stock.
The