Question 2

Identify at least three business processes that New Century performs, and explain who is responsible for the specific tasks. A business process is a specific set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and documented. Three business processes that New Century performs are: 1. Office Payroll 2. Insurance Reporting 3. Ordering and Organising Office and Clinic Supplies The following staff is responsible for performing these duties: 1. Fred Brown - Office Payroll 2. Tom Capaletti - Insurance Reporting 3. Carla Hererra - Ordering and Organising Office and Clinic Supplies

Question 3
Explain how New Century might use a transaction processing system, a business support system, and a user productivity system. For each type of system, provide a specific example, and explain how the system would benefit the clinic. Transaction Processing System A transaction processing (TP) system processes data generated by day-today business operations. Examples of TP systems include accounts receivable, and warranty claim processing. TP systems perform a series of tasks whenever a specific transaction occurs. TP systems involve large amounts of data and are mission-critical systems because the enterprise cannot function without them. TP systems are efficient because they process a set of transactions-related commands as a group rather than individually. To protect data integrity, however, TP systems ensure that if any single element of a transaction fails, the system does not process the rest of the transaction. Business Support System Business support systems provide job-related information support to users at all levels of a company. These systems can analyse transactional data, generate information needed to manage and control business processes, and provide information that leads to better decision-making.

A business support system can work hand in hand with a TP system. For example, when a company sells merchandise to a customer, a TP system records the sale, updates the customers balance, and makes a deduction from inventory. A related business support system highlights slow or fastmoving items, customers with past due balances and inventory levels that need adjustment. To compete effectively, firms must collect production, sales, and shipping data and update the company-wide business support system immediately. The newest development in data acquisition is called radio frequency identification [RFID] technology, which uses high-frequency radio waves to track physical objects. Dramatic growth of RFIDs has been fuelled by companies like Wal-Mart, which requires it suppliers to add RFID tags to all items. An important feature of a business support system is decision support capability. Decision support helps users make decisions by creating a computer model and applying a set of variables. For example, a truck fleet dispatcher might run a series of what-if scenarios to determine the impact of increased shipments or bad weather. Alternatively, a retailer might use what-if analysis to determine the price it must charge to increase profits by a specific amount while volume and costs remain unchanged. User Productivity System Examples of user productivity systems include e-mail, voice mail, fax, video and Web conferencing, word processing, automated calendars, database management, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, presentation graphics, company intranets, and high-speed Internet access. User productivity systems also include groupware. Groupware programs run on a company intranet and enable users to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams.

Question 4
During the Systems development process, should New Century consider any of the following: B2B, vertical and horizontal system packages, or Internet-based solutions? Explain your answers.