BUSINESS

Information and Systems for Competitive Advantage

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Woolworths - Coles3

Discussion4

Analysis of the current information systems application with the use of Wards' derivative of McFarlan's APAF4

Investigation of information and communication technologies and applications5

New strategies for businesses in industry to gain CA and SCA6

ICTs and applications used to support strategies7

ICTs or applications to create competitive disadvantage7

Conclusion8

References9

Information and Systems for Competitive Advantage

Introduction

Information and systems are mainly used for provided support and maintaining the competitive advantage for human beings. These information systems have help the users in maintaining bulks of data in a meaningful way so that it can be used when required. These information systems are user friendly and one can store, retrieve and delete information when ever required (Avgerou, 2000, p.567). In most of the retailing business the flow of information is so frequent in the form of transactions like buying and selling that often the store keeper gets confused. For managing bulk of transactions and information these information systems were introduced, as these information systems help the users in managing all the information in a specialised way. In this research report a well known Australian supermarket Woolworths - Coles has been used to further clarify the readers that how it is managing all its daily routine activities a well planned and organised way.

Woolworths - Coles

An Australian retail supermarket Woolworths - Coles uses an integrated software system that helps in maintaining all the tasks related to the availability of goods. Fujitsu is software that is used by Coles in managing the job tasks effectively managing the tasks and duties of the system. This system works in a brilliant way for maintaining and updating the list of transactions that are carried out in a particular period of time. The system is dependent on the store workers, who are responsible for recording all the transactions and updating of the prices of various products. Most of the time, it is found that the marked items in a range of products are kept in the supermarket in such a way that it does not require anyone to again and again look for it. The system that is used by Coles is known as CAS. It is helpful in maintaining the record of the products in a specialised way.

All the transactions with the external market like suppliers etc. is done electronically. At an average Woolworths-Coles supermarket holds about 15,000+ products with variety of range. All the transactions are done with the use of CAS system that help the store manager in getting the clear picture of the supermarkets stock, sales and revenues earned.

Discussion

Analysis of the current information systems application with the use of Wards' derivative of McFarlan's APAF

Wards Derivative of McFarlan's APAF is a structure that is assists in analysing of a single business with the use of information technologies. This system is feasible that for collection of the results in the form of analysis within an organisation as it helps in production of report when ever ...