BUS4002 : Business Project

RUNNING HEAD: MIS for Book Nation 1
Management Information System for Book Nation
Course unit title
Institution

RUNNING HEAD: MIS for Book Nation 2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................3
Book nation’s functional business units and the types of data related to them...................3
Difference between operational, tactical and strategic data for Book Nation......................8
Suitable technological solutions that Book Nation may implement....................................10
Professional, ethical, legal and social considerations of using MIS platforms...................13
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................14

RUNNING HEAD: MIS for Book Nation 3
Executive Summary
Book nation is looking to incorporate an information management system that will help
them in organizing their data, plus applying it to boost their revenue. The management of the
business also looks to operate an information management system that will secure their data from
any data leaks and that will serve them in advanced data analysis without breaking the law. As an
MIS consultant, the organization has asked me to help them develop a system that will best suit
their needs. After going through their case study, I was able to identify the areas within their
operations that need accurate data management for their business to be successful. The following
is a report that highlights Book nation’s Management Information system with regard to their
functional areas of business.
Book nation’s functional business units and the types of data related to them
Most organizations have different functional units that control the different parts of the
business. The reason for dividing the business activities into different functional areas is that it
implements expertise in all operations for each functional unit[CITATION OBr06 \l 1033 ]. The
organization thus develops effectiveness and efficiency for the entire business. Book Nation has
different operations within its business. From delivering books to their stores to purchasing and
acquiring books for stocking up their warehouses. Having many stores set up in different parts of
the country plus hiring several employees to manage their operations means that the company
has to have well defined functional units for their business. Several business units could be
implemented by the management of Book Nation including; Management, Operations,
Marketing, Accounting, Research and development and finance.

RUNNING HEAD: MIS for Book Nation 4
Management involves supervising the performance of others in the business[CITATION McL07 \l
1033 ]. The management activities are grouped into categories including; planning by coming up
with long-term objectives for the business and short term goals necessary for the execution
against the long term goals. Book Nation’s objective is to offer quality books to their consumers
at an affordable price. They do so while observing the accessibility of their books to their
customers. Setting up pop-up stores and mobile stores assists in boosting the accessibility of their
products while acquiring books for free or at a very cheap price ensures their prices are fair to
their customers. The type of data that will assist in planning for the managers to boost their goals
includes inventory records, customer preference to certain books and product seasonality, in that
particular books may shift on demand depending on the period of the year. Another category
involved in management is organizing. Managers are charged with the responsibility to
efficiently organize the activities of a business ensuring resources are used effectively.
Controlling is also a role in management. It is the function of monitoring the business activities
and ensuring they are on track to meet the objectives of the organization. Managers will need
data on deliveries, staff duties plus sales and purchases that will help them in organizing and
controlling.
Operations as a functional unit refers to converting inputs into outputs[CITATION OBr06 \l 1033 ].
Inputs are defined as the factors of production while an output is the final good and service. For
Book Nation, the factors of production are acquiring books at a cheap price and ensuring the
books are easily accessible to their customers. The output is selling the books cheaply and
distributing them to multiple stores countrywide. The operations unit forms the main part of the
business by regulating the daily business operations hence ensure the services of the organization
meet the customer needs in the best quantity and quality.