问题详情

SectionB–TWOquestionsONLYtobeattempted
ForionElectronics(Forion)manufacturesarangeofelectronicgoods.Itsbusinesshasgrownrapidlyoverthelasttenyearsandisnowcomplexandinternational.Forionmanufacturesover100differentproducts,sellinginto25differentcountries.Thereisasupplierbaseofover200companiesfromwhichForionsources.Asthebusinesshasbecomemorecomplex,theboardhasfounditdifficulttopulltogetheralltheinformationthattheyrequireinordertomakedecisions.
Thecurrentinformationsystemsaredevelopedin-houseandarebasedinthefunctionaldepartments(suchaspurchasing,manufacturing,warehousinganddelivery,sellingandmarketing).Theorganisationusesthefinancialsystemasameansofbringingtogetherinformationforanoverviewofcorporateperformance.
TherehavebeenanumberofexamplesofproblemsencounteredwithinformationinForion:
–thereareinefficienciesarisingfromorderingthewrongamountofsubcomponents;
–thereareoftenstock-outsorobsolescenceofunsoldgoodsinthewarehouses,althoughthemarketingdepartmentpreparesgoodsalesforecasts;and
–sometimes,thereareinsufficientdeliveryvehiclesavailabletomeetcustomerdeadlines.
TheboardofForionbelievestheproblemsarisefrompoorinformationsharingwithinthecompany.Theyareconsideringthepurchaseofanenterpriseresourceplanningsystem(ERPS)tobethesingleinformationsystemforthewholeorganisation.
Also,Forionisplanningtolaunchasmartphone.However,inordertomakeitcompetitivetheyneedtohavehigh-visibility,durablescreens.Asthecostofscreendevelopmentisconsiderable,ithasbeendecidedtoform.astrategicalliancewithawell-knownscreenmanufacturertoprovidethiskeycomponentforthenewsmartphone.BonAccordScreens(BAS)hasbeenchosenasthestrategically,astheyhaveastrongreputationfortheirqualityofmanufacturingandnewproductdevelopment.BAShasbeentryingtobreakintothesmartphonemarketforseveralyears.
TheallianceagreementhasstipulatedthreecriticalareasofperformanceforBAS’supplytoForion:
1.qualityofmanufacturing,measuredbyfaultratesofscreenssuppliedbeingwithinagreedtolerances(sothattheyfitForion’sphone-bodies);
2.timeofdelivery,measuredbythenumberoftimesashipmentismorethanonedayoverdue;and
3.theabilitytoprovidetechnicalupgradestothescreensasthemarketdemands.
Theservicelevelagreement(SLA)willbebasedonthesethreepointsandtherewillbefinancialpenaltiesbuiltintotheagreementifBASfailstomeetthese.
Required:
(a)DiscusstheintegrationofinformationsystemsinanERPSandhowtheERPSmayimpactonperformancemanagementissuesatForion.(10marks)
(b)Evaluate,fromForion’sviewpoint,theusefulnessofthethreecriticalareasintheallianceagreementformeasuringtheperformanceofBAS.(8marks)
(c)Evaluatetherelativereliabilityoffinancialandnon-financialdatafrominternalandexternalsourcesinthecontextofthealliancebetweenForionandBAS.(7marks)
请帮忙给出正确答案和分析，谢谢！