University Business Management Information Assignment: SACB, Boeing

This assignment presents a comprehensive analysis of business management principles through two case studies. The first case study focuses on SACB (South African Cold Drink Beverages), examining its internal communication methods, including newsletters, emails, and meetings, and classifying these mediums based on message transmission channels. It identifies SACB's external stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, and retailers, and explores how information systems support different management levels (top, middle, and lower). The second case study investigates the Boeing Company and the Ethiopian Airlines crash, analyzing the incident's implications and the role of information management in aviation safety. The assignment also includes a journal reflection summarizing the key learnings, the strengths of the unit, and areas for improvement, with references to the relevant literature.

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
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Assignment 1
Question 1
Discuss which mediums are used by SACB for internal communication? Furthermore,
classify each of these mediums in terms of the relevant type of message transmission
channel.
The employees and key stakeholders of SACB participated in the decision making
process and they were informed by newsletters, emails as well as meetings. As mentioned by
Jacobs et al. (2016), for mass communication where large number of internal stakeholders
was involved, newsletters and email are two important mediums of communication. The
email newsletters can reduce email overload while increasing involvement, awareness and
engagement along with the key stakeholders of SACB. When the information to be provided
is important and has some form of urgency, email newsletters are more appropriate as
mentioned by VORA and PATRA (2017). Conducting meetings are also considered to be
effective way to engaging with the teams and the key stakeholders of the organization (Verčič
and Vokić 2017). Meetings are an important ways to keep the employees involved and
engaged while taking into consideration their decisions and opinion. They gets involved in
the decision making process and this to ensure employee engagement and employee
involvement. The teams and other departments of the business organization are major
stakeholders of the business, hence they have the right to get involved in the decision making
process of the management (Verčič and Vokić 2017). In person meetings are essential to
boost understanding and foster team spirit among the departments.
Question 2
Identify and discuss the external stakeholders of SACB.

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The external stakeholders of the organization include the target market including the
environmentally conscious communities, the children and the active people. The customers
are the external stakeholders of the organization (Yoon et al. 2018). The supplies are also the
external stakeholders of the business organization. The suppliers of SACB are the three
farmers known as Bakkies, Tomba and Geelbek. These farmers are external stakeholders of
SACB. They are highly adamant to their processes and practices and their farms are
environment friendly which is in alignment with the core functioning and operations of the
business organization. The other external stakeholders of the business organization are the
creditors, investors, government, society and the local community that they service (Rauwers,
Voorveld, and Neijens 2016). The retailers including Heckers and Click and Pay are also
external stakeholders of the organization. They perform the function of distributing the
products and services (Wonneberger and Jacobs 2016). The business stakeholders of the
business organization receive monthly SACB journal known as ‘Thirst”. This journal holds
specific and relevant information about the products and the business of SACB, which is
shared among the key stakeholders of the business organization.
Question 3
Based on the above case study, complete the following table by providing practical
examples of how information systems could be used to support the business at each of
the management levels.
Management level IS support
Top management The top management of the business
organization deals with strategic type of
information and uses this information to

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develop a strategic planning process such as
general budget framework which is used by
various departments of the business
organization (Marnewick 2017). The senior
executives of the business organization such
as the general management analyze the
environment and identify the long term
trends and determine a certain course of
action (Marnewick 2017). The information
and the data are extracted from both the
external and information data sources. The
data is highly individualized and are
particularly catered for a significant customer
segment (Marnewick 2017). For example, the
store manager might need to take decisions to
expand sales and increase the profits or to
open an outlet. This information is essential
for strategic planning of the business
organization.
Middle management Management information is used by the
middle level managers of the business
organization to ensure smooth flow of
communication. This type of information is
highly structured which enables the managers
of the business organization to evaluate the

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performance of the organization by
comparing the present outcomes with the
previous outputs (Link et al. 2017). This type
of information is used by the finance
department for budgeting systems, the human
resource management systems, Inventory
department for inventory control systems as
well as the sales manager (Link et al. 2017).
This type of information supports structured
decisions. This type of information mainly
deals with the past and the present. For
example, the middle level mangers might
require information on fast and slow moving
goods; they need to take tactical decisions to
stock the items. Information regarding stocks
and inventories are required.
Lower level management The transaction processing system is used by
the lower level employees of the business
organization. This system is essential to track
the day to day records of sales in the business
organization (Lowe 2019). This type of
information is mainly used by the operational
management level of the business
organization. Information such as daily sales
record, inventory in stock and outstanding

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due (Link et al. 2017). This type of
information is used by all the departments of
the business organization (Lowe 2019). This
data is obtained from automated tracking
systems of the low level employees. This
system validates the information, sorts the
information or the data, lists them, updates
them and calculates them for the ease of the
lower level employees of the business
organization. For example; information such
as list of items to be reordered is required.
This type of information is obtained from
clerical processing of information and data.
Assignment 2 - Boeing Company and Ethiopian airlines
As per the incident of the plane crash, the Ethiopian Airlines passenger was found to
be crashed minutes after its take off on Sunday, killing 157 people on board (Davies 2020).
This has rocked the aviation industry raising questions about the safety of the passengers on
board. The Nairobi bound plane, fight 302, also took off from the airport, after minutes of its
take off; they lost contact with the ground as stated by the airlines(Davies 2020). As per the
report of FlightRadar24, the vertical speed of the jet was unstable and uncontrollable soon
after its take off from the airport. There were eight crew members on board along with 149
passengers. However, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Authority are
still under investigation about the crash (Davies 2020). As per the airlines, there had been

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rigorous first check maintenance. However, it is unaccepted that they found no faults in the
plane during the checking when they should have detected if the checking was done properly.
Hence this view of the Airline companies is rejected, as they should have investigated
defective technology. The maintenance process and defective technology is blamed (Davies
2020). However, as per the preliminary report there has been a faulty sensor. There has been
a false reporting and readings which triggered the crash as confirmed as the companies.
Assignment 3 – JOURNAL REFLECTION
The entire unit was very information and has helped me to gain knowledge and
understanding about various managerial aspects including the stakeholders of the
organization, the modes of communication that is being used in the organizations to
communicate. The unit focuses on the external communications relating to the stakeholders.
Different use of case studies and case situations has helped me to understand the actual
situation of a business organization. By analyzing the case studies and the case situations I
have gained dept of understandings on different managerial aspects. I have been able to focus
on the role of the internal and external stakeholders, the information systems used in different
levels of management. However, the information provided in some of the case studies is very
vague and unclear, which leads to confusion. Relevant and specific information for proper
analysis is required; this area could be improved in the unit. The unit has helped me to
understand the interpersonal communication process and the basic elements of
communication. Throughout the unit I have understood the importance of internal and
external communication in the business organization. With the help of case study I have been
able to align the theories and practical situations prevailing in the business organizations. The
presentation of the unit was very interesting and information as the same time interaction
with the peers and tutors have enhanced my knowledge base and understanding over the unit.
I believe interactions and presentations have enhanced the unit in a better way.

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References
Davies, A., 2020. Crashed Ethiopian Air Jet Is Same Model As Lion Air Accident. [online]
Wired. Available at: <https://www.wired.com/story/crashed-ethiopian-air-jet-same-model-
lion-air-accident/> [Accessed 1 April 2020].
Jacobs, M.A., Yu, W. and Chavez, R., 2016. The effect of internal communication and
employee satisfaction on supply chain integration. International Journal of Production
Economics, 171, pp.60-70.
Link, D.F., Cordray, C.G., Chart, R.M. and Ginter, K., SCIENCELOGIC Inc,
2017. Management techniques for non-traditional network and information system
topologies. U.S. Patent 9,537,731.
Lowe, E.A., 2019. On the idea of a management control system: integrating accounting and
management control. Management Control Theory, p.63.
Marnewick, C., 2017. Information system project's sustainability capabality
levels. International Journal of Project Management, 35(6), pp.1151-1166.
Rauwers, F., Voorveld, H.A. and Neijens, P.C., 2016. The effects of the integration of
external and internal communication features in digital magazines on consumers' magazine
attitude. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, pp.454-462.
Verčič, A.T. and Vokić, N.P., 2017. Engaging employees through internal
communication. Public Relations Review, 43(5), pp.885-893.
VORA, N. and PATRA, R.K., 2017. Importance of Internal Communication: Impact on
Employee Engagement in Organizations.
Wonneberger, A. and Jacobs, S., 2016. Mass media orientation and external communication
strategies: Exploring organisational differences. International Journal of Strategic
Communication, 10(5), pp.368-386.

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Yoon, E.S., Kang, H.K. and Lee, J., Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, 2018. External
communication device, display device, display system, and control method therefor. U.S.
Patent Application 15/768,751.