Information Systems in Organizations

Information System at Sainsbury

[Name of the institute]Information System at Sainsbury

Introduction

The aim of this paper is to assess the working of information system in a retail company. The company I have selected for this purpose is Sainsbury. The retail store chain that in 2006 had over 200 'superstores' and in excess of 500 'express' stores within the UK. They have also established a small foothold in the USA, China and several European countries, including France and Sweden. The information system is organised with a CIO at the headquarters. Each SBU has an IT manager who is responsible for implementation and support of information system within the 'centralised framework' also for identifying, justifying, planning and implementing local information systems. The retail store requires a method that could adequately handle the situation of poor performance by the current systems.

Company Overview

Being one of the leading UK retail companies, Sainsbury's has to give good quality products to the customers that must be available at the right time at the near place. Sainsbury's have a to introduce new technologies that would help the customers, from slowing the technological factors Sainsbury will be increasing their profit, if they are able to satisfy the needs of the customers at the right time that will help them to be the success of the organisation.

At the dawn of the third millennium, the company Sainsbury, founded in 1869 and has successfully operated a number of changes are deemed necessary for group survival. With over 535 stores, 238 gas stations, and 145 000 employees who provide services to 13 million customers a week, she experienced a meteoric success and is one of the largest and oldest grocery chains retailers of Great Britain. Sainsbury, however, saw away its leadership first began to erode some of their competitive strengths such as its performance. Costs were rising faster than income and earnings and, accordingly, Sainsbury has been considerably delayed on industry leaders. During the 90s, the company faced competitor's stronger and stronger, belonging to two distinct categories: those who were betting on the value, such as Tesco and ASDA / Wal-Mart, and those who based their operations on quality and service, as Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Sainsbury has adopted an intermediate position in the market by being inserted between the two and thus put pressure increasingly important sales. In 2000, with a disappointing decline in stock prices against all market forecasts, and a fall of 23.3% of operating profits, the company recognized that radical change must be made in order to improve performance business.

LO1

Information is something that can enhance the effectiveness and rationality behind every decision that the managers and the people at higher authorities make. No matter what the task and no matter in which department there is a need to make a decision availability of information is always sought by the mangers. When the CEO and directors and board of members formulate the strategy of expansion and make decision related to adopting a direction for the organization then they ...