Strategic Information System Analysis: BHP Billiton Case Study Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the strategic information system employed by BHP Billiton, a multinational corporation in the mining, metal, and petroleum sector. It begins with an introduction to globalization and its impact on business organizations, emphasizing the role of strategic information systems in adapting to contemporary trends. The report then delves into BHP Billiton's organizational structure, highlighting its functional structure and the use of various contemporary means and mechanisms. It identifies operational problems, such as flaws in business operations, inefficiency, and team issues. The report explores system acquisition methods, including business software, customized systems, and ERP systems, and presents a system flowchart illustrating BHP Billiton's business process. Control issues like application complexity, client experience, and potential frauds are discussed, followed by an examination of the development and adoption of accounting software packages. The report concludes with an overview of BHP Billiton's market size and financial performance, emphasizing the significance of strategic information systems in its operations.

Running Header: Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
Authors Name:
Authors ID:

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
Introduction
Globalization has been considered as one of the revolutionary concepts of the modern era that
has forced the business organizations to make alterations and changes in the organizational
structure for coping up with the ever-changing trends and business environment. Globalization
will enable the business organization to make easy adoption and implementation of required
contemporary means and mechanisms within the organizational structure. This will enable the
business organizations to bring a boost to the productivity and profitability. The strategic
information system has been considered as one of the greatest examples of the platforms offered
by globalization for making the most up-dated advancements and developments for the
betterment of the business (Alamri, Almutiri, Ballahmar and Zafar, 2016). The mechanism will
aid and assist the business organizations on various grounds for attaining and accomplishing the
desired goals and determined targets. The below-executed analysis has been presented to the
strategic information system that has been adopted by BHP Billiton in Australia. The business
corporation is one of the multinational brand names in the mining, metal and petroleum sector in
Australia and is also well-recognized brand that offers quality services to its customers by
making use of the adopted contemporary means and mechanisms.
Part 1
The current organizational structure
BHP Billiton is a multinational brand name in the mining, metal and petroleum sector and is well
known for providing the best quality services to the customers in Australia and other regions of
the world. The business organization is making use of various contemporary means and
mechanisms for offering the required services to the customers and the customers (Kecmanovic
et al., 2014). The business entity is making use of strategic information system in all of the
accounting operations and also in managing and maintaining the data of the clients and the
customers and the customers. This system is also used to maintaining the other operating systems
for executing the functions within the organizational structure. For instance, the entity is making
use of cloud computing system for storing and analyzing the data and all the confidential details
of the clients. This system aid the business corporation in storing the huge data in the systems
and that is made accessible to all the staff and workforce in any corner of the world. This is one
of the biggest advantages of making use of this system. The business corporation is a
multinational brand name and is having the diverse range of functions and operations and this is
the reason that the business firm is operating under a functional organizational structure (Chofreh
et al., 2014). The business corporation is executing various operations and functionalities by
making use of strategic information system. These systems and mechanisms will be aiding the
business enterprise in bringing an increase in efficiency and productivity.
Operational Problems

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
As the business firm is a multinational brand and is having the huge scope of tasks and
functionalities there is the number of issues looked on the everyday schedule. The standard
activities are executed by making utilization of the different key data frameworks and issues in
which make the business firm to confront challenges (Costa, Ferreira, Bento and Aparicio,
2016). It is of fundamental for the business element to make an upper hand in the market and
subsequently answer for the issues confronted is required to be produced. The framework ought
to be effortlessly available to every one of the clients for accomplishing better profitability.
Some of them are examined underneath
Flaws in business operations: This is because of workload, organizations commit errors in certain
estimation and that is considered as a mistake. It is simply the misfortune of the business (Eden,
Sedera and Tan, 2014). The out-dated rendition of the bookkeeping programming framework
makes a greater number of blunders than the modified one. BHP Billiton must utilize a
framework which is adjusted and is equipped for taking care of a lot of data as the information is
moved all the more frequently in a day to various associations.
Inefficiency: In the instances of the representative clashes wastefulness happens in viability and
conveyance of administrations and this prompts the loss of efficiency and financial estimation of
BHP Billiton. What's more, to resolve this issue, the business enterprise is required to make
arrangements for instructional meetings for the representatives and into various divisions and
give them preparing.
Group issues: Conflicts between colleagues prompts the intrusion in accomplishing business
objectives (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). It is essential for the colleagues to work with precise
coordination and joint effort. Colleagues ought to be committed towards their work and focus on
meeting business objectives and destinations.
System Acquisition Method
There are different techniques which can be utilized by business associations to play out their
consistent business tasks. It is essential to utilize a compelling programming framework to
dissect the present business status and to enhance it. A powerful programming framework can be
utilized to improve business techniques for a business development (Gelinas and Dull, 2008).
The underneath introduced are the three programming frameworks that can be utilized by BHP
Billiton for conveying a climb to the efficiency and conveyance of administrations:
Business programming: One of the greatest cases of business programming is Microsoft
Windows working framework and MS office and this framework is utilized usually by all the
business associations for executing different tasks and capacities. The business programming is
utilized by BHP Billiton to keep up the records (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). Microsoft working
framework is utilized by the organization to introduce helpful application programs like work
area applications to perform business activities. The advantage of the business programming is

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
that these can be refreshed at whatever point required. There is likewise usefulness in such
framework for programmed refreshes.
Customized systems: These systems are created and keep running on a particular equipment as it
were. These product frameworks are created for an organization for a particular reason. BHP
Billiton is likewise making utilization of some custom programming applications which that are
outlined by the prerequisites of clients. The element needs to oversee records of the customers
and the visitors and they require a custom programming framework for executing these activities
basically.
ERP-This kind of framework is utilized for the business organizations to perform computerized
business tasks (Hall and James, 2014). These are solid to utilize and gives better business
highlights to the clients. It empowers clients to get to various sorts of programming applications
essential for their business. These frameworks give information mix to BHP Billiton as a lot of
data is exchanged every day. It gives the two-level structure to deal with the front-end and back-
end forms for a business association like BHP Billiton. Because of these highlights, The firm
uses undertaking asset arranging frameworks for the better mix of their business forms.
System Flowchart
This kind of flowchart depicts the procedures an organization uses to pitch their items or
administrations to the clients. Advantages of a framework flowchart are that it investigates the
business forms, preparing for new workers and overseeing deals through the product application.
It is a piece of offers system which is utilized by the organization. The business association
manages customers and the visitors and makes the arrangement of best administrations for them
by making utilization of these frameworks. The flowchart for BHP Billiton is as per the
following:

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
This flowchart portrays the business procedure of BHP Billiton when the client applies and
endeavors for encountering the administration (Jirava and Toseafa, 2017). A client can give a
request for the administration and can move to finish the request points of interest. Next process
is to pick a conveyance choice and when the request is affirmed the same is conveyed to the
client.
Control issues
Executing ERP frameworks have a few dangers to the business which should be distinguished.
Overseeing programming related dangers is a vital assignment for an association. From the
innovative perspective, dangers are associated with the product framework while giving
fulfillment to the clients. The business associations confront the issue of incompetent workers in
getting too few of the product and furthermore the absence of value in the product frameworks.
Application intricacy
This control issue is related to getting to the application programs by the client. A client ought to
be the ability in ERP framework to get the product to viably play out the business tasks. It is on
account of the ERP framework comprises of complex application issues which can even prompt
loss of essential data if got to in a wrong way (Hill, Jones and Schilling, 2014). To limit this

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
hazard, staff preparing is critical for the workers. Another alternative is to procure the talented
applicants who can deal with the complexities of use programs. Decentralization is likewise an
issue with regards to getting to the product framework.
Client encounter
At the point when a client gets to the product framework, a client needs lucidity of the
application programs. The product framework ought to be easy to use and it ought to be fit for
introducing refreshes at whatever point required (Hunton, McEwen and Wier, 2015). A
framework that is operational aides in dealing with the information which settles the issue of
client encounter.
Possible cheats
For the most part, cheats are recognized with a specific end goal to give productivity in work to
the clients. The workers of BHP Billiton depend on the ERP framework to perform day to day
business tasks. Accordingly, it is fundamental to investigate the fakes that may happen in the
framework. To decide the misrepresentation exercises, there is a wide range of structures
accessible for the ERP frameworks (Liebowitz and Frank, 2016). The login subtle elements of a
client need to confirm to guarantee that the framework is protected from any sort of cheats.
Part 2
Development and adaption of the accounting software packages
BHP Billiton is the business association has the vision to give best quality services to the
customers and the visitors in order to achieve their fulfillment level. And furthermore dealing
with the information of the customers and the executed activities is one of the core operations
and functionalities in which the business firm is making utilization of the said frameworks and
programming. ERP is the bookkeeping programming that has been embraced by the business
association for executing the related capacities (IES 2016). This system can be utilized to deal
with a wide range of accounting exchanges and overseeing responsibility factors. To build up a
successful business methodology, the business company required a system framework and
executed ERP frameworks to deal with their business tasks. The bookkeeping programming
bundles are utilized by the business associations to win benefits with their present business tasks.
The advancement of ERP frameworks is advantageous for the associations to get benefits from
their field of business (Maduqne 2013). There is a necessity for an arranging model to assess the
viability of business procedures.
These software frameworks are popular because of increment in the level of increase of focused
condition. The organization is all around situated in the commercial center with the guidelines
they incorporate into their services. Organization proprietors trust that there are numerous
chances to fortify their situation in the market and they play out their business exercises

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
exceptionally well (Islam et al., 2010). The organization is ascending in the market with the
conviction of making advancement for their clients.
The current market size
BHP Billiton is having the turnover of around 207,556,649 dollars. Aside from this, it has a
market capitalization of around 87936 dollars (Fleisher and Bensoussan, 2015). The organization
income is around 60 billion US dollars. Its size can be comprehended by the way that it is the
second biggest mining firm in the entire world. It has made a benefit of around 6.2billion US
dollars. It is the biggest firm inside Australia as far as market capitalization. It has an essential
posting in that London Stock Exchange and it's likewise the constituent of FTSE 100 record.
This organization is operational in around 25 nations all around the globe. It is utilizing around
41000 individuals.
Pioneers in the market and what gives them the upper hand
BHP Billiton has an expansive pool of skilled staff including a CEO who deals with the
development and overseeing execution of the organization. The financial officer who is in charge
of overseeing operational assignments and concentrating on increasing revenues and profits for
the organization and furthermore the information officer that covers the item activities and item
advancement for the clients (Premkumar and King, 1994). Boss accomplice officer who is in
charge of the outline, improvement, and promoting of the item and the other related pioneers of
BHP Billiton. These pioneers influence constant research to discover which answer for will be
best for their clients. At the point when every one of the subtle elements like fund, general costs,
assets required et cetera is known to the organization authorities, it helps in building up the better
technique for the organization. Advancement of a business procedure includes a social affair of
data with respect to each factor talked about above. Pioneers of the business corporation are
focused on enhancing their present business forms by investigating every one of the results of the
business. In addition, the other staff at the business corporation is professionally prepared and
knowledgeable with relational abilities and capacities for treating and conveying the best quality
administrations to the customers.
Issues and challenges
The bookkeeping programming is utilized by BHP Billiton since it makes the work simpler as
contrasted and the manual work. In any case, the association faces a few difficulties when they
execute any bookkeeping programming for their business forms.
An absence of security-Since the organization likewise manages the data of the clients and the
customers from all over the globe, it is more inclined to obscure clients. Record related data is
exceptionally touchy when it is moved to another person's hand. Hence, these sorts of
programming should be secured (Richardson, Chang and Smith 2014). Utilizing firewalls is the
advantageous answer to such an issue.

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
Powerless announcing administration the motivation behind executing bookkeeping
programming is to recover the data at whatever point required. Yet, as a rule, programming does
not enable clients to get significant yields which are bothering the vast majority of the clients.
Clients need such a framework which can store and oversee data successfully.
An absence of proficiency a portion of the bookkeeping programming frameworks has poor
highlights which are the test for the clients to get to it. The equipment gadgets and application
projects should work appropriately. To put it plainly, the product framework ought to be easy to
use. The framework ought to be perfect and fit to acknowledge refreshes.
An absence of precision the greater part of the bookkeeping programming framework has turned
out to be more seasoned as far as inclining innovation. Such out-dated frameworks make
incorrectness of data. A client requires a framework which can introduce refreshes with no
dangers.
Specialized help clients require the great reaction when they request an issue (Romero, Usart and
Ott, 2015). A portion of the advisors are not accessible 24 hours per day which makes it
troublesome for the clients to determine their issues.
Provisions and solutions
An organization can execute a cloud-based bookkeeping programming framework. This will
store a lot of data in one place. It is additionally simple to get to the record points of interest and
associated with different clients.
Programming framework performs hard computations in a less time which is the answer for the
greater part of the bookkeepers (Romney and Steinbart, 2009). Since there is a considerable
measure of work to achieve each day, the framework that could perform quick counts is required
by the greater part of the associations.
Multi-work ERP can be utilized by BHP Billiton to make the business activities unstable for its
clients. This will enable an organization to perform business activities all the more viable and
give unwavering quality to the clients.
Recommendations
Customized and easy to update ERP systems should be used by BHP Billiton for the execution of
the functions and operations. Moreover, cloud-based computing systems can also be
implemented for storing and analyzing the data. The business entity should make provision for
training sessions for developing the professional set of skills for increasing efficiency and
effectiveness of delivery of services.
Conclusion

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
In the limelight of the above-executed analysis, it has been concluded that BHP Billiton can
make use of the strategic information system for developing a professional organizational
structure. This type of organizational structure will deliver the best quality of services to the
clients and customers by making use of the above-mentioned systems.

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
References
Alamri, S., Almutiri, N., Ballahmar, H. and Zafar, A. (2016) Strategic information system
planning: A case study of a service delivery company. Learjet 3(5), pp.78-84.
Cecez-Kecmanovic, D., Galliers, R.D., Henfridsson, O., Newell, S. and Vidgen, R. (2014) The
socio-materiality of information systems: current status, future directions. Mis Quarterly, 38(3),
pp.809-830.
Chofreh, A.G., Goni, F.A., Shaharoun, A.M., Ismail, S. and Klemeš, J.J. (2014) Sustainable
enterprise resource planning: imperatives and research directions. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 71, pp.139-147.
Costa, C.J., Ferreira, E., Bento, F. and Aparicio, M. (2016) Enterprise resource planning
adoption and satisfaction determinants. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, pp.659-671.
Eden, R., Sedera, D. and Tan, F.B. (2014) Sustaining the Momentum: Archival Analysis of
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (2006-2012). CAIS, 35, p.3.
Fleisher, C. S., and Bensoussan, B. E. (2015) Business and competitive analysis: effective
application of new and classic methods. FT Press.
Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E. eds. (2014) Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. New York: Routledge.
Gelinas, U.J and Dull, R.B. (2008). Accounting Information Systems, 8th edition, South-western.
Boston: Cengage Learning.
Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B. (2014) Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Hall, & James, A. (2014) Accounting Information Systems, 9th edition. South-western Boston:
Cengage Learning.
Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A. (2014) Strategic management: theory: an integrated
approach. Boston: Cengage Learning.

Strategic Information System for Business and Enterprise
Hunton, J.E., McEwen, R.A. and Wier, B. (2015) Retraction: The Reaction of Financial Analysts
to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation Plans. Journal of Information
Systems, 29(2), pp.241-241.
IES, (2016) Top Three Software Accounting Problems And Solutions for your Business.
[Online] Iesgp. Available at: https://www.iesgp.com/blog/accounting-problems-and-solutions
[Accessed: 26 April 2018]
Islam, A.K., Corney, M., Mohay, G., Clark, A., Bracher, S., Raub, T. and Flegel, U. (2010)
September. Fraud detection in ERP systems using scenario matching. In IFIP International
Information Security Conference (pp. 112-123). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Jirava, P. and Toseafa, E. (2017) An Illustrative Case Study of the Integration of Enterprise
Resource Planning System. Journal of Enterprise Resource Planning Studies, vol, 2017, pp.1-9.
Liebowitz, J. and Frank, M. eds. (2016) Knowledge management and e-learning. Florida: CRC
press.
Maduqne, (2013) Problems faced by Companies that are using accounting software for their
business. [Online] Qneaccountingsoftware. Available at:
https://qneaccountingsoftware.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/problems-faced-by-companies-that-
are-using-accounting-software-for-their-businesses/ [Accessed: 26 April 2018]
Premkumar, G. and King, W.R. (1994) The evaluation of strategic information system
planning. Information & Management, 26(6), pp.327-340.
Richardson, V.J., Chang C.J., and Smith R. (2014) Accounting Information Systems. United
States: McGraw Hill
Romero, M., Usart, M. and Ott, M. (2015) Can serious games contribute to developing and
sustaining 21st century skills?. Games and Culture, 10(2), pp.148-177.
Romney, M.B. & Steinbart, P.J. (2009) Accounting Information Systems, 11th edition. United
States: Prentice Hall.