MIS Report: E-commerce and M-commerce Integration at Woolworths

This report delves into the Management Information System (MIS) of Woolworths, examining its e-commerce and m-commerce strategies. It explores the benefits of adopting these technologies, including enhanced convenience for customers and improved business flexibility. The report details the integration of e-commerce and m-commerce within Woolworths, highlighting the shift towards an e-commerce supply chain and its various sub-processes. It also addresses the challenges and security risks associated with online transactions, such as data breaches and website functionality issues, and proposes mitigation strategies, like implementing robust security protocols and skilled personnel. Furthermore, the report recommends aligning financial operations with key performance indicators, investing in skilled employees, enhancing website features, and employing multi-layered security measures to ensure secure online payments and reduce potential risks. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of a well-managed MIS for Woolworths' continued success in the evolving digital marketplace.

Running head: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Management information system
Name of student
Name of University
Author note

1
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Executive summary
The report considers the issue of management information system and its resolution
strategies with the involvement of managers or leaders. The e-commerce and m-commerce have
been adopted by Woolworths to provide convenience to customers as well as deliver better
flexibility to influence the buying behaviors of customers. The e-commerce and m-commerce
have been integrated to the business for converting to the e-commerce supply chain as well. The
various functionalities of the sub-processes e-commerce supply chain management have been
illustrated as well to develop some mitigation strategies. This will further allow the organization
to mitigate the business risks and threats and satisfy the needs and requirements of customers too
while making online purchases.
Table of Content

2
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
s
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Problem description.........................................................................................................................4
Proposed solutions...........................................................................................................................4
Introduction to e-commerce and m-commerce................................................................................5
Organization business benefits in using e-commerce and m-commerce.........................................5
Integration of e-commerce and m-commerce to the organisation...................................................6
E-commerce supply chain management..........................................................................................6
Challenges and protection................................................................................................................7
Conclusions......................................................................................................................................8
Recommendations............................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

3
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Introduction
The management information system or MIS is an effective system used by the business
organisations to maintain a computerised database for storing financial data and information and
produce financial reports based on the business operations and processes at various management
levels. The organisation selected here as the case study is Woolworths supermarket in Australia,
which is a grocery and supermarket chain located in Australia. The management information
system or MIS can help to gain the special financial reports from the database system easily and
ensure that a stable financial condition of the organisation is maintained with the organising and
management of financial assets properly (Flanagin et al., 2014).
Problem description
One of the major problematic situations related to the management information system is
the entire dependence upon the computer science. Though the MIS within Woolworths has
helped in managing the resources properly to ensure growth and envelopments of business, still
it needs proper computer science support for doing so. The businesses are managed based on
judgment, decisions and intuitions made by the leaders or managers of the organisation. They
must need the data and computer science related information to make proper decisions, and this
can often create cultural conflicts (Galegher, Kraut & Egido, 2014).
Proposed solutions
The leaders or managers of the organisation must utilise the data and computer science
related information to guide the decision-making and make sure that the business can be

4
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
successful. It is also important to appoint skilled workers who have proper knowledge about the
technological components that can drive the business goals and objectives and ensure that the
system runs properly and is kept safe from intruders and any unauthorized access is also
prevented (Laudon & Laudon, 2016). It is important to include various server administrators,
network engineers, security professionals and help desk personnel who have proper knowledge
and skills to manage the data base system and bring out positive outcomes using MIS
(Woolworths.com, 2017).
Introduction to e-commerce and m-commerce
The E-commerce is the management of commercial transactions done with the use of the
internet by Woolworths Limited for selling its products and services to the customers. The
mobile commerce or m-commerce is the management of transactions through purchasing and
selling of products and services with the use of wireless handheld devices such as personal
digital assistants or PDA and mobile phones (Laudon et al., 2012). It is a major aspect of the
electronic commerce, where the mobile users can easily purchase goods and services from
Woolworths by using the internet on their mobile phones.
Organization business benefits in using e-commerce and m-commerce.
Few of the major benefits gained by the organisation by using e-commerce include better
convenience, as customers can shop, manage banking activities and get the products delivered at
their doorsteps by making secure payments online. The m-commerce allows the retail company
to address their striking features by managing smooth synchronisation between the responsive
web site and mobile site (Lee & Yu, 2012). The mobile phones are used to gain better

5
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
accessibility to the company web site and manage the purchase of products with much ease and
effectiveness. If a good network signal is obtained, the customers can use their mobile phones to
connect as well as manage commercial transactions from mobile to other devices n an effective
way (Woolworths.com, 2017). The mobile devices are dedicated to individual users, which
creates convenience for purchasing the products and use the mobile payment services quite
comprehensively. Woolworths Limited has utilised the digital content with mobile commerce by
enhancing the functionality of the mobile phones and allow the sellers to deliver the content,
which can be used by the purchasers anytime and anywhere (Peppard & Ward, 2016).
Integration of e-commerce and m-commerce to the organisation
The customers of Australia can buy products online and make payments through cards as
well as cash on delivery based on which the products would be delivered at their doorstep within
very less time. Woolworths has strengthened the e-commerce position by working in partnership
with Australia post for developing parcel lockers to provide convenience to the online buyers
with easy parcel collection and returns (Schwalbe, 2015).
E-commerce supply chain management
Based on the previous networks of distribution, it has been understood that the e-
commerce operations managed by the organisation are dependent upon the supply chain
management infrastructure to handle a large quantity of orders made by the customers while
buying products online. The e-commerce supply chain management is also beneficial for
Woolworths Limited to exploit the latest trends of consumers while making online purchases
without compromising on the quality of products and services delivered (Sousa & Oz, 2014).

6
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Introduction
The growth of the retail supermarkets is based on the implementation of e-commerce and
its impact on the market share. It is a though a major issue or challenge for many retail
organisation owners to manage changes for meeting up the expectations of customers and
provide better convenience (Woolworths.com, 2017). Thus, the e-commerce facility has been
considered for handing the power to customers and provides them comfort while purchasing a
products or service from the company. Woolworths Limited has considered the supply chain
management platform for managing e-commerce (Weske, 2012). This is an easy and effective
way to optimise the ways of fulfilling the capabilities of E-commerce operations and processes
conducted by the organisation.
Sub-processes functions of the e-commerce supply chain management
The sub processes mean the various business operations and processes that are managed
by Woolworths Limited within the supply chain management. Few sub-processes are the
management of selling in multiple sales channels to ensure that each of the supply chains fulfills
the requirements of each of the channels. The network alignment is done to meet the
expectations and preferences of the end consumers. The omni-channel and e-commerce are
combined to enhance the efficiency of inventory management with the use of supply chain and
meet the needs of customers (Woolworths.com, 2017). Other sub-processes include integration
of technology by offering better visibility across the whole supply chain. JB Hi-Fi mainly does
this to reduce the wastage of time and manage inventory properly to ensure successful and timely
delivery of products and services to people all over Australia (Flanagin et al., 2014).

7
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Challenges and protection
There are various issues and challenges faced by Woolworths while managing the
electronic commerce and ensure convenience while delivering products and services to the
customers.
Security risks and threats
One of the major risks could be the development of a new web site by the company
which can create inconvenience for the users as they have been habituated with the previous web
site managed by the company (Galegher, Kraut & Egido, 2014). The new site launched by
Woolworths Limited has been difficult to use by the customers, and there have been
functionality issues as well such as crashing of the web site on iPad, a longer time taken during
management of transactions and even breach of data (Woolworths.com, 2017). There could be
other security risks like lack of privacy, which can lead to loss of data and information, alteration
of data, inaccurate authentication and non-repudiation. This often creates complexity about
whether the receiver has recovered the messages or information sent by the sender or not
(Laudon & Laudon, 2016).
Mitigation techniques
It is important to manage the database by enabling proper management information
system or MIS and ensure that systems are kept password protected for preventing any kinds of
unauthorised access that might result in loss of important data and information. Woolworths can
use the hash or checksum like MD5 or CRC to develop a system that can detect any risks or

8
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
threats and make sure that data in transit through techniques like phishing are prevented (Laudon
et al., 2012).
Conclusions
The topic started with the identification of issues of the management information system
and how it could be resolved by the organisation. The benefits of adopting the e-commerce and
m-commerce were included here along with the ways by which these two major components had
been integrated into the management of business within Woolworths, Australia. The security
risks and threats associated with electronic commerce along with the various sub-processes of
the e-commerce supply chain management had also been illustrated here to derive a good
conclusion in the end.
Recommendations
 It is recommended to align the financial operations with the key performance indicators
for accomplishing the strategic objectives and ensure the smooth running of the business.
 Skilled professionals are needed to be appointed who have knowledge of dealing with
uncertainties and manage the database system properly to prepare financial reports with
ease.
 It is recommended to make investments for creating a pool of talent consisting of
employees who have relevant skills, knowledge and expertise to handle the database and
MIS properly.

9
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
 The new web site created must be developed with new and advanced features for
providing better flexibility, and ease for customers manage purchasing of products and
services.
 Implementation of multi-layered security protocols is recommended for developing
strong privacy policies and enables proper authentication and encryption measures. This
would ensure the customer to make secure payments, and the risks of compromise could
be reduced as well.

10
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
References
Flanagin, A. J., Metzger, M. J., Pure, R., Markov, A., & Hartsell, E. (2014). Mitigating risk in
ecommerce transactions: perceptions of information credibility and the role of user-
generated ratings in product quality and purchase intention. Electronic Commerce
Research, 14(1), 1-23.
Galegher, J., Kraut, R. E., & Egido, C. (2014). Intellectual teamwork: Social and technological
foundations of cooperative work. Psychology Press.
Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2016). Management information system. Pearson Education
India.
Laudon, K. C., Laudon, J. P., Brabston, M. E., Chaney, M., Hawkins, L., & Gaskin, S.
(2012). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, Seventh
Canadian Edition (7th. Pearson.
Lee, S. K., & Yu, J. H. (2012). Success model of project management information system in
construction. Automation in construction, 25, 82-93.
Peppard, J., & Ward, J. (2016). The strategic management of information systems: Building a
digital strategy. John Wiley & Sons.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Sousa, K., & Oz, E. (2014). Management information systems. Nelson Education.
Weske, M. (2012). Business process management architectures. In Business Process
Management (pp. 333-371). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.