Information Systems for Small Businesses

This assignment analyzes the information technology (IT) requirements of BMT, a small business. It identifies crucial areas like transaction processing, decision support systems, and knowledge management. The analysis highlights the current limitations of BMT's IT infrastructure and provides specific recommendations for enhancing its information system capabilities, including adopting cloud storage solutions, utilizing software-as-a-service (SaaS) options, and prioritizing periodic maintenance.

Running head: INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Information system for business professionals
(Brisbane Multi-faith Temple)
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author Note

1INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Executive summary
The report is based on the case of Brisbane Multi-Faith Temple or BMT. It is a charitable company
been managed by a group volunteers. However, the information systems and their importance for
future activities at BMT are raising concerns that are demonstrated here. It also includes rising
specific business and system problems arising. The critical information requirements have also been
analyzed here along with a summary learnt with recommendations.

2INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Brisbane Multi-Faith Temple or BMT is a charitable company run by some group of
volunteers. The following report discusses information systems and their significance for future
operations at BMT. Particular business and various system problems arising are analyzed here.
Lastly, the key information requirements are demonstrated.
1. Problems faced by BMT:
There have been various problems faced by BMT.
Rising complexity:
First of all, there has been rising complexity. They there has been lack of sufficient IT setup.
Moreover, appropriate information system has been absent for gathering details of payrolls and
employee details.
Lack of effective interaction:
Further, there has been lack of effective interaction between employees who help them
manage BMT (Stair and Reynolds 2013).
Devoid of smart Internet connection:
There has been devoid of any smart Internet connection on a large scale. Efficient intranet
setup is also found to be absent at BMT (Laudon and Laudon 2016).
Lack of making systems shareable around sites:
There has been serious concern about how to make systems shareable around sites instead of
any unnecessary duplication.

3INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Lack of security and safety of data:
Security and safety of data around sites is also a subject to worry.
Logistical issues:
Additionally, there have been logistical issues like patron donations, staff timesheets, payroll
processing, staff files and conducting of staff meetings on a daily basis.
No proper website of the organization:
Besides, there has been no proper website of the organization where the patrols can donate
money online, create scholarships and sponsor particular events (Peppard and Ward 2016). Patrons
are needed to meet contributions through receiving email and thanking of their contribution.
No process to order food products:
Moreover, there has been no process to order food products from the temple. As the temple
gets busy and lack supplies, an account of BMT has no way of rushing to a staff member of other
temples regarding supplies.
2. Key information requirements of BMT:
It is illustrated in the following table.
Key information
requirements
Methods in which the information improves competitive
position
Customer Relationship
Management Systems
It is helpful in accumulating and tracking customer activities,
purchasing trends and customer inquiries (Al-Mamary, Shamsuddin
and Abdul Hamid 2014).

4INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Business Intelligence
Systems
It analyses patterns of future sales, summarizing present costs and
forecasting revenue of sales.
Knowledge Management
Systems
It can bring innovation, improving performance, bringing integration
and retaining knowledge in BMT.
Accounting systems It is must to properly maintain track of BMT’s finances till they
depend completely on consultant to control their accounts (Wang and
Li 2017).
Inventory management
system and security
Like the previous one, it is also important to manage inventory. They
are useful to track shipments and assure security of stored goods.
Executive support system It has been containing prior reports helping small-businesses to
recognize longer trends supporting non-routine decision making and
strategic planning. It also briefs business owners and managers on
challenges like buyer preferences and market trends (Stair and
Reynolds 2013).
3. Specific helpful information systems for the current scenario:
Necessities of information system in present scenario:
Information systems for BMT are needed to control the payroll management system,
accounting system and attendance of workers. Regarding future operations there requires a
communication method for the employees of the company. An appropriate information system is

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needed to collect payroll and employee details. Moreover, information regarding various venues
inventory is required to be controlled by a unified database for BMT (Stair and Reynolds 2013).
Active transaction process system:
To best leverage data as an asset to the company, small business like BMT should adopt an
effective information strategy. For instance, an active transaction process system is highly needed
here. The user enters different transaction data through any terminal. Then the system stored data
within database immediately and generated required output (Pearlson, Saunders and Galletta 2016).
Due to consistent updates of systems, users can access present transaction processing data like
account balance at any instance.
Decision-support system:
Next, a decision-support system would be beneficial for BMT as it permits owners and
managers to utilize ad hoc or predefined reports. This supports operations, resolutions and planning
decisions. With this, users can find answers to particular queries because it evaluates possible effects
of decision making prior its implementation (Moussa 2016). Responses to those questions might take
the format of a report of data summary like product revenue through the report of quarter sales.
4. Summary and recommendations:
Summary:
The report shows that decision-support, transaction support and decision support is beneficial
for BMT. The key information requirements include knowledge management, business intelligence
and customer relationship management system. It is seen from the study BMT has been depending

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on their information system regarding database and internet setup. They are devoid of any luxury to
employ IT staff, helping with the current issues.
Recommendations:
Besides, the essential recommendations are highlighted below.
 Create a comprehensive technology plan
 Consult with one of the many firms who provide off-site storage for your key documents
 Consider "software as a service" options for functions such as word processing, email
 Utilize free software to free up your technology budget to upgrade machines faster.
 Schedule periodic maintenance downtime.

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5. References:
Al-Mamary, Y.H., Shamsuddin, A. and Abdul Hamid, N.A., 2014. The role of different types of
information systems in business organizations: a review. International Journal of Research
(IJR), 1(7).
Hammer, M. (2015) the management of information from archives. available from:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-45100-3_1
Kasemsap, K., 2015. The role of information system within enterprise architecture and their impact
on business performance. Technology, innovation, and enterprise transformation, pp.262-284.
Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education India.
Moussa, M., 2016. Internet, Intranets and Extranets in Organizations: An Integrative Literature
Review. SIU Journal of Management, 6(1), pp.1-39.
Pearlson, K.E., Saunders, C.S. and Galletta, D.F., 2016. Managing and Using Information Systems,
Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Peppard, J. and Ward, J., 2016. The strategic management of information systems: Building a digital
strategy. John Wiley & Sons.
Stair, R. and Reynolds, G., 2013. Principles of information systems. Cengage Learning.
Wang, B. and Li, X., 2017. Big data, platform economy and market competition: a preliminary
construction of plan-oriented market economy system in the information era.