Operations and Information Management for CC Music

This report discusses the principles of operations and information management for CC Music, including business process modeling, strategic analysis, and the significance of a socio-technical approach. It also includes a SWOT and PESTLE analysis for CC Music.

Running Head: OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 0
CC Music
Operations and Information Management
(student name)
6-8-2018

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Operations and information management........................................................................................3
Operations management..............................................................................................................3
Information management.............................................................................................................3
The strategic importance of information management in global organizations..........................3
Principles of information systems...............................................................................................4
The significance of a socio-technical approach...........................................................................5
Business process modelling for CC Music......................................................................................5
Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN)..........................................................................5
I. Collaborative B2B process (public)..................................................................................6
II. Internal Business process (private)................................................................................6
Strategic analysis for CC Music......................................................................................................8
SWOT analysis of CC Music..................................................................................................8
PESTLE analysis for CC Music..............................................................................................9
Open Source Software Comparison Table....................................................................................10
Business software.....................................................................................................................11
Music production software.....................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
Reflection.......................................................................................................................................17
Contribution to the online discussion being a consultant..........................................................17
References......................................................................................................................................18
Appendix A: Reflection Self-Assessment Proforma.....................................................................20

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 2
Introduction
Chris and Clive had recently taken early retirement; they both are former music and music
technology teachers. They have played in many bands and being session musicians. Chris and
Clive always use to manage all aspects of the band that includes studio work, playing at parties,
events, radio programmes, and tv. They use to publicise their band through the website, booking
deals over the phone, and receive contracts and cheque payments through the post. Other
members of band members simply turned up and play. The band always used to play at least gigs
per year, but this is likely to increase substantially. Thus, they require a much more professional
approach.
Chris and Cive were about to start the agency and they are aware that they will be needing a
good business approach for the agency. They will be responsible for keeping business accounts,
marketing, providing an updated calendar of events, and keeping track of the communications,
client lists, and bands connected to CC Music.
Technology plays an important role in business, they both were not sure which kind information
technology support they really need as a small to medium enterprise(SME). They require
professional business information technology advice before final decisions regarding investing in
business software. In order to keep the cost to a minimum, they are also keen on the potential of
Open source software.
In this report, we will discuss Business process models to capture business processes for CC
music. Strategic analysis for CC music will also be discussed. A suitable software solution will
be required by CC Music, for which 4-5 alternatives will be mentioned in detail. Among these,
one would be suggested.
Further, critical analysis of theory, concepts, and models of operations and information
management will be discussed. The strategic importance and fundamental principles of
information management in global organizations will be understood. The significance of a socio-
technical approach to CC music will be mentioned. Moreover application of the appropriate
problem-solving and improvement approach for CC music’s information system.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 3
Operations and information management
Operations management
It is concerned with the design and control of a process of redesigning of production of business
operations when goods and services are produced. It ensures business operations to be efficient
while using resources to a minimum and effective in fulfilling customer needs. It involves
managing production system, it is a process of converting raw materials into finish goods.
Operations are concerned with the production of products, manage the quality of goods and
create value-added services. Many sectors are covered under operations management like
hospitals, the banking system, companies that are working with customers, using technology, and
suppliers. Operations are one of the main function along with supply chains, marketing, and
human resource. Both strategic and routine production of goods and services are required in
operation functions (Stevenson, et al., 2007).
Information management
It is an organizational activity cycle, which includes the collection of information among various
sources, collection and distribution of that information when required. Information in this cycle
involves stakeholders, who are responsible for quality assurance, accessing and utilizing
acquired information; those who store the information safely and those who need that
information in making decisions (Choo, 2002).
Information management involves all management functions including planning, organizing,
processing, controlling, evaluating and reporting information, which is required by those with
organizational functions or roles that depend on relevant information.
The strategic importance of information management in global organizations.
New organizational strategies are to be considered to encourage globalization initiatives.
Globalization leads to a change in the management process, leveraging new technologies,
coordination and control system, and organization structures.
For an organization, to coordinate and control their activities across the world markets. It is
essential to compete effectively at the home or globally. A clearly stated strategy in evolving

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 4
business strategy and the evolution of information technology and is important for global firms
(Judith & Steven, 2002).
Information is needed for the endurance of organization in the global competitive market.
Organization leadership and top management use stored information, which must be a recall and
distributed. If relevant information is not available with the management, it could lead to
inappropriate decision-making, poor organization planning, and defective programming.
Middle-level managers use the information to make strategic long-term decisions and tactical
short-term decisions. Management information system provides appropriate information based
on internal and external data (Whitaker, et al., 2017).
Principles of information systems
 Trust: There are many attackers to harm information system. In order to maintain security
in the system, it requires a number of safeguards for system components.
 Isolation: highly restricted information must be isolated from public systems. It can
reduce attack chances and can manage information flow in the independent system.
 Compliance: in the development of an information system, in the planning phase, itself
requirement for the compliance should be identified. Some of the examples of
compliance are, “FDA(The Food and Drug Administration)”; “FISMA(The Federal
Information Security Management Act)” in the USA; “FIPPA(The Freedom
of Information and Protection of Privacy Act).
 Accountability: proper controlling must be done in order to secure information system.
The system should authenticate users and to conduct an audit, recording of the system
must be appropriate.
 Data management: for managing data need for data classification, minimization and
protection is essential.
 Change: unplanned and untested changes if not properly managed, can make a negative
impact on integrity, availability, and confidentiality of information (Stair & Reynolds,
2017).
The significance of a socio-technical approach
Fred Emery and Eric Trist gave this term in the 1960s. As per this approach, joint or overall
optimization of a system is important rather than optimization in a single dimension. It considers

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 5
people and technical aspects of the organization and focuses on both, technical performance and
people’s quality work.
One of the significance of this approach is ‘People transformation’, this increases the trust level
among teams and team members constantly try to improve performance through goal setting,
monitoring and analyze the process, and identify and solve problems regularly.
Another significance is ‘process transformation’, it uses process transformation methodologies to
empower team and their capabilities to initiate innovation and gain a competitive advantage for
the organization (Mumford, 2000).
Business process modelling for CC Music
Business process modelling is an analytical or graphical representation of organizational
processes. It is one of the critical components in process management. It helps to create a
baseline for improving the process of a business and help business managers and IT members to
understand these models and make a decision regarding improvements accordingly (techtarget,
2018).
Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN)
It is a method of describing the business process in a graphical model similar to flowcharts.
Object management group is currently maintaining BPMN (Dijkman, et al., 2008).
Depictions of shapes in models are:
Circles describe events; rounded corner rectangle represents activity; solid line with an arrow
represents sequence flow; dashed line with an arrow describes message flow; a participant in a
graphical container is ‘pool’; sub-partition within a pool is a ’lane’.
Models, which describe CC Music business process, are:
I. Collaborative B2B process (public)
It defines connecting between two or more parties. This model simply shows the interaction
between the two parties. Here, one party is clients for which CC music is playing in the event.
This business model will depict the current business process of CC music.

CC Music
OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 6
Here, this model explains the transactions and interactions among CC Music and the clients. This
model has depicted their previous business where Chris and Clive use to play in events and
parties and use to handle studio and receive payment through cash or cheque through the post.
II. Internal Business process (private)
The internal business process generally describes interactions held within an
organization and with external participants but not shown to the public. This
considers private activities of the single business. With reference to the CC Music
case study, this process model will elaborate proposed business process of CC Music
of forming into an agency that includes signing and promoting other artists (Stephen,
2004).
Send
contract
Receive
approval
Send
require
ments
Receive
service
Send
cash by
post
Receive
contract
Send
approval
Receive
require
ments
Play
in
event
Receive
cash by
post
Clients
CC Music
Receive
contract from
agent (CC
Music)
Booking agent
Request
Receive
signing
request
Playing
in events
Receiving service
Receiving
requirements
Bands

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 7
Here, this model showed the proposed business process of CC Music to act as agents as well. It
depicts the interaction within CC Music agency and the bands, which were linked with CC
music. CC Music business will be bifurcated into three departments, back office, artist manager,
and booking agency. The back office manager will handle marketing, accounting, and calendar
of events updating tasks; artist manager will handle other artists promotion, and managing things
with bands; booking agent will be directly in contacts with bands, signing bands with CC Music,
booking them for events will be handled.
Back office
manager

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 8
Strategic analysis for CC Music
SWOT analysis of CC Music
Strengths
 Experienced members
 Strong management
 Large market
 Democratic style partnership
Opportunities
 More often promotions
 More time for networking
 Good business approach
 Promote other artists
Weakness
 Technology upgradation
 High-risk industry
 Piracy
 Lack of discovery
Threats
 Music value to the consumer
 Government regulations
 Competition
 Volatile costs
Experienced members: For many years, Chris and Clive played in bands and were session
musicians.
Strong management: Chris and Clive always use to manage all aspects of the band like playing at
events, parties, studio work, radio programmes, and T.V. They use to publicize the band online
via a website, book deals over the phone, and receive contracts and cheque payments through the
post.
Large market: the music industry is large and the market is extended across domestic boundaries.
Democratic style partnership: business decision power is equal with both the partners; this would
lead to not only quick but also the right decision for the company.
Technology upgradation: Chris and Clive need updated technology in order to start an agency.
Technology plays an important role in their business.
High-risk industry: the music industry is very risky in nature due to the problem of copying
Piracy: piracy is copies of a piece of music, which is distributed for which a company haven’t
given any consent.
More often Promotions: Chris and Clive need to make more efforts in the promotion of their
agency.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 9
More time for networking: to run a music agency, Chris and Clive need to do networking and
make more contacts in the industry.
Good business approach: They will be responsible for keeping business accounts, social media
marketing, keeping track of the communications between themselves, the clients who want to
book bands and the bands who are signed to CC Music, and providing an updated calendar of
events.
Promote other artists: for an agency, it includes another duty for CC to promote other artists
linked with CC Music agency
Music value to consumers: since music is copied and distributed, the value of music for
consumers decreases.
Government regulations: rules and regulations of the country in which the agency is serving need
to be understood and followed accordingly.
Competition: national as well as international competition is a lot in the music industry like in
Afghanistan Kabul music agency is one of the competition.
PESTLE analysis for CC Music
1. Political
 The tax system: the countries tax system must be followed and it also affects the
working of the organization
 Trade barriers affecting the business
 Global industry: since music is served globally, many political environments
affect CC Music workings.
 Intellectual property: for protecting intellectual property across the world, there
must be a legal development.
 Piracy of music: Employment in the music industry is decreasing due to piracy of
music.
2. Economical
 High costs: the Economical environment of the country affects the cost of the
company.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 10
 Economic growth: economic growth of the country in which CC Music is
working affects a company’s decisions.
 Globalization: it can be beneficial but on contrary, it can also bring competitors.
3. Social
 Cultural values: cultural values where the company is working need to be studied
 Social media
 Controlling market
 Change in consumer habits
4. Technological
 Access to globe
 Technological development
 Piracy system
5. Legal
Industry’s laws and policy: CC Music need to study and apply music industries laws and
policy in its working.
6. Environmental
 Environmental issues
 Trade regulations
 Safety issues
Open Source Software Comparison Table
Open source products, projects, or initiatives celebrate collaborative participation, transparency,
community-oriented development, open exchange principles, rapid prototyping, and meritocracy.
Open source software is which is publicly accessible. Software with source code, anyone can
modify, enhance and inspect is open source software. Since early inventors usually built the
internet itself and on open source, the Linux operating system is benefited from open source
software.
People usually prefer using such software because they have more control in such kind of
software; since it is easily accessible by students, it helps them to learn more and improve their
programming; it is considered to be more secure (Feller & Fitzgerald, 2002).

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 11
Business software Usage / features Benefits
Customer relationship
management software
(freshworks, 2018)
 Prioritizing leads
 Managing sales team
 Contact management
 Making calls
 Sales processes are
establish
 Email management
 Creating reports
 Tracking client activity
 Tools customization
 Cross-selling
 After sales activities
 Data access can be
controlled
 Increase business
opportunities
 Communication
clarity
 Utility after sales as
well
 No more data entries
 Happy customers
Enterprise resource
planning software
 Financial management
 Customization
 Human resource
management
 Customer relationship
management
 Integration (financesonline,
2018)
 Improve planning
and reporting
 Improve visibility
 Improve satisfaction
level in customers
 Reduce costs
 Data unification
 Improve the quality
of data and its
accessibility
 Improve
collaboration
 Better supply chain
management
 Reduce efforts as
well as time

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 12
 Standardized
business
 More simplified
business
Enterprise
performance
management software
 Budgeting
 Forecasting
 Planning
 Modelling
 Reporting
 Consolidating
 Performance analysis
 Aligning strategic goals
(hostanalytics, 2018)
 Improve speed of
accounting
 Improve recording
speed
 Capturing process
speed will increase
 Increase organization
efficiency
 Process control
 Improving the
planning process
Content management
system software
 Format management
 Publishing functionality, to
create and modify content
 Intuitive indexing
 Revision features
 Multiple language support
(TechTarget, 2018)
 SEO friendly
 Customizable
templates
 One to one
marketing
 Full template support
 Easy installation
 Integrated audit log
 Integrated file
managers
As per CC Music requirements, recommended business software is “Enterprise resource
planning software,” since this is best-suited software for small-scale business. ERP software is

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 13
easily available and benefited with open source in order to keep the cost minimum. Therefore,
CC Music for their current and proposed business, this software is recommended.
Music
producti
on
software
Operating
system
Usage Suitable user Features
Audacity
(Audacit
yteam,
2018)
 Linux
 Mac OS
X
 Windows
 Audio
recording
 Audio
editing
 Music
record
ers
 Export and
import files in
different sound
formats
 Easy editing
available
 Keyboards
shortcuts are of
large range
 Sound effects
can be added
 Live audio can
be recorded
through a
microphone
 Various plug-ins
can be extended
Cecilia
(ajaxsoun
dstudio,
2018)
 Linux
 Windows
 Mac OS
X
 Sound
exploration
 Music
compositio
n
 Sound
design
er
 Add sound
effects through
inbuilt modules
 With simple
syntax, a
customized GUI
can be created
Mixxx  Windows  Mixing of  Sound  Sound effects are

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 14
(mixxx,
2018)  Mac OS
X
 Linux
audio files produc
er
 Profes
sional
DJ
in-built
 Designer skins
 Record and
broadcast
 Four decks are
with advanced
controls
 Quad sampler
decks
 Hardware
support for DJ
Ardour
(Ardour,
2018)
 Linux
 Mac OS
X
 Record
 Edit
 Mix
 MIDI
projects
 Master
audio
 Musici
ans
 Soundt
rack
editors
 compo
sers
 Multichannel
tracks are
unlimited
 Audio files can
be export and
import in
different formats
 In-line plug-in
controls and
plug-ins can be
extensible
 Automation
 Flexible
recording
Rosegarde
n
(rosegard
enmusic,
2018)
 Linux  Composing
music
 Editing
 Small-
scale
Musici
ans
 Music
compo
 Digital audio
support
 Understanding
music notations

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 15
sers
Here, from the above table, there are five alternatives for open source software, which are best
suited for CC Music. Most suited among these five, which is recommended to CC Music in its,
proposed business is “Ardour.” Reason for choosing Ardour among these is, ardour can be used
in a various task like a recording of music that CC Music do in their studio, editing, mixing and
master audio of music that will be used once it will become agency (Tecmint, 2018).

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 16
Conclusion
To summarize CC Music case study, Chris and Clive were former music and music technology
teachers, they wanted to become a full-time small business of music agency that is CC Music, for
which they will be requiring a professional consultant who can advise business process models
for their recent and proposed business activities. They also need technical support and require
professional business information technology advice before making any final decisions about investing
funds in business software. Since they are starting an agency, now, the company will be responsible for,
providing an updated calendar of events, keeping business accounts, social media marketing and keeping
track of the communications between themselves, the clients who want to book bands and the bands who
are signed to CC Music. For this, the new business approach is needed. And effective strategic
implementation is to be done for CC Music.
Business process models following BPMN notation were created using MS Word, those were
collaborative business process models and internal business process models. The first model
describes the interaction between clients and CC Music and another model shows interaction
with participating bands and departments within CC Music business.
Strategic analysis of CC Music was done using the two-analysis technique. Firstly, SWOT, that
explains the strengths, Opportunities, Weakness, and threats to the company. Secondly,
PESTLE, that explores the external environment and since a company exists in its environment
and a particular industry, it is important to study those factors in order to take the right decisions
for the company.
For CC Music, the software was recommended, for that open source software comparison table
was created. For handling business, business software that is “Enterprise Resource Planning
software” was recommended due to its benefits of handling work with ease, it would not only
help in improving collaboration, integrity, and viability in business but also reduce supply
chains, efforts, and cost to the company. For handling studio, music production software that is
“Ardour software” was recommended.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 17
Reflection
Contribution to the online discussion being a consultant
Before initiating an online discussion for my consultancy work for CC Music, I had to
understand their current situation and their proposed situation of becoming full-time small
business and starting agency. They needed a new business approach and successful
implementation of the strategic changes. Being an organization and information management
consultant, I was responsible for researching this business and providing consultancy report. I
was not sure I would be able to make the best recommendations for CC Music. Since their
success depends on my decision, the pressure for accuracy was on high in my mind.
When this discussion initiated, I realize that Chris and Clive need business process models for
their proposed business process. I created two business process following BPMN notation. The
collaborative business process, showing clients and CC Music interactions; and internal business
process model, showing propose a business process that is signing with bands and activities
within the business. For strategic analysis for CC Music, I was using SWOT and PESTLE
analysis technique. PESTLE analysis was quite challenging because the Music industry is
globalized and where CC Music is serving, that country environment is to be studied. Moreover,
I was conducting research for a suitable software solution for CC Music. For this, I studied
business software and music production software. Out of 4-5 suitable software, I recommend one
business software and one music production software for CC Music.
After the online discussion was over, it feels good to complete my job task for CC Music and
implementation was successful. They accept what I recommend to them. They finally decide to
initiate their business.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 18
References
ajaxsoundstudio, 2018. Cecilia 5. [Online]
Available at: http://ajaxsoundstudio.com/software/cecilia/
Ardour, 2018. Ardour. [Online]
Available at: https://ardour.org/
Audacityteam, 2018. Features. [Online]
Available at: https://www.audacityteam.org/about/features/
Choo, C., 2002. Information management for the intelligent organization: the art of scanning the
environment. s.l.: Information Today, Inc...
Dijkman, R., Dumas, M. & Ouyang, C., 2008. Semantics and analysis of business process
models in BPMN. Information and Software technology, 50(12), pp. 1281-1294.
Feller, J. & Fitzgerald, B., 2002. Understanding open source software development. london:
Addison-Wesley.
financesonline, 2018. Top 15 ERP Software Systems: Comparison of Top Solutions on the
Market. [Online]
Available at: https://financesonline.com/top-15-erp-software-systems-comparison-top-solutions-
market/
freshworks, 2018. Introduction CRM software. [Online]
Available at: https://www.freshworks.com/freshsales-crm/crm-software/
hostanalytics, 2018. What is Enterprise Performance Management (EPM)?. [Online]
Available at: https://hostanalytics.com/blog/what-is-enterprise-performance-management-epm/
Judith, R. & Steven, R., 2002. Information Technology Service Delivery: an International
Comparison. Information Systems Management, 19(1), pp. 62-70.
mixxx, 2018. mixxx. [Online]
Available at: https://www.mixxx.org/features/

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 19
Mumford, E., 2000. A socio-technical approach to systems design. Requirements Engineering,
5(2), pp. 125-133.
rosegardenmusic, 2018. rosegardenmusic. [Online]
Available at: https://www.rosegardenmusic.com/
Stair, R. & Reynolds, G., 2017. Principles of information systems. 13th ed. s.l.:cengage learning.
Stephen, A., 2004. introduction to BPMN. [Online]
Available at: https://www.omg.org/bpmn/Documents/Introduction_to_BPMN.pdf
Stevenson, W., Hojati, M. & Cao, J., 2007. Opertions Management. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw-
Hill.
techtarget, 2018. Business Process Modeling. [Online]
Available at: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/business-process-modeling
TechTarget, 2018. content management. [Online]
Available at: https://searchcontentmanagement.techtarget.com/definition/content-management-
system-CM
Tecmint, 2018. 8 Best Open Source Music Making Softwares for Linux. [Online]
Available at: https://www.tecmint.com/free-music-creation-or-audio-editing-softwares-for-linux/
Whitaker, J., Ekman, P. & Thompson, S., 2017. How Multinational Corporations Use
Information Technology to Manage Global Operations. Journal of Computer Information
Systems, 57(2), pp. 112-122.

OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 20
Appendix A: Reflection Self-Assessment Proforma
80+ 70-79 60-69 50-59 40-49 0-40
Quality of
contributions
Made
several
good
contribution
s and one or
more
outstanding
contribution.
Made
several good
contributions
.
Made a few
good
contribution
s
Made a few
valid
contribution
s
Made 1 or 2
postings, of
poor quality
Did not contribute.
Attribution of
references
Clear
referencing
of well-
chosen and
highly
relevant
sources
Clear
referencing
of all
sources,
some
relevant.
Clear
referencing
of all
sources.
Sources
generally
referenced.
Used ideas/
words of
others
without
attribution.
Cut and paste or
absent
contributions.
Evidence of
collaboration
/ facilitation
skills
Skill shown
in weaving
contribution
s into the
discussions,
and
following up
on
contribution
s of others.
Skill shown
in weaving
contributions
into
discussion,
or following
up on
contributions
of others
Some
evidence of
links to
contribution
s of others.
Basic
recognition
of
contribution
s of others.
Little or no
recognition
of
contribution
s of others.
None
Reflection on
online
contributions
(in reflective
summary)
Deep
reflection
shown, with
clear and
substantial
evidence
from online
discussion
Good
reflection,
with clear
evidence
from online
discussion
Reflection
and
evidence
offered,
limitations in
one of these
Reflection
and
evidence
offered,
limitations in
both of
these
Superficial
reflection,
very limited
evidence
Very little or no
reflection/evidence
.