HOLMES INSTITUTE
FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
HI5019 STRATEGIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
TRIMESTER 1 / 2015
Group Assignment: Due Friday Week 12
2500 + words and extra for diagrams: WORTH 20%
The processes of selecting an AIS/ERP to make informed decision for
investment in an accounting software
Group Assignment Scenario
B Bakery is a family owned firm with around 70 employees and sales revenue
increased to more than $ 13.5 million during the past year. It has been in business for
over 50 years and supplies bread and confectionary products to a number of different
businesses, including supermarkets and pub-chains. The firm has experienced mixed
fortunes over the years in terms of business performance, but in the last few years
has experienced a growth in orders for some of its new healthy product ranges.
However, the Bakery has recently lost some key accounts as a result of being unable
to produce some of its products at a competitive price.
Although the firm hired an accountant who was keeping their books for them and
producing the financial statements each year, the firm thought they needed much
more information to really run their business efficiently. They felt that they needed to
make an investment in an accounting software to take their business to the next
level.
Assignment Requirements
In groups of three or four, you are required to conduct desk research on AIS/ERP
Systems for your above client. Prepare a Business Report for the client detailing the
following processes of selecting an AIS/ERP:
1. Define business processes
a) What a Baker does? Discuss the business activities/processes of the
organisation to show your understanding about the business. (250
words)
2. Develop business requirements
b) What processes are indispensable to be performed? (250 words)
c) What outcomes are required from these processes to achieve business
objectives? (250 words)
3. Determine the systems requirements
a) What are some of the possible software features or functionalities that the
firm should consider to achieve their IT investment objective? (250
words)
4. Software selection
a) Visit the web sites of accounting software package vendors (e.g. SAP,
MYOB, Xero etc.). You need to visit at least 3 (three) software vendors’
websites.
b) Which category of accounting software (low, medium or high-end/ERP)
suitable for the firm? Give your justifications in detail. (250 words)
5. Vendor selection
a) Compare and contrast the features/ functionalities of two accounting
software packages offered by accounting software package vendors (e.g.
SAP, MYOB, Xero etc.) within your selected category in question 4. (600
words)
c) Which one would be the most suitable vendor (and accounting software
package) for the Bakery business and why? (400 words)
Format of the Report
1. You at least should have the following details:
a. Assignment Cover page clearly stating your name and student number
b. A table of contents, executive summary
c. A brief introduction or overview of what the report is about.
d. Body of the report with sections to answer the above questions and with
appropriate section headings
e. Conclusion
f. List of references.
2. Diagrams and tables clearly labelled and explained.
3. Ensure all materials are correctly referenced. Plagiarism will be severely penalised.
MARKING SCHEME FOR REPORT:
Contents of the report Excellent
8-
1
0
Good
6-7
Average
5
Not adequate
3-4
Poor
0-2
1. Format of the Report
a) Assignment Cover page
clearly stating your name
and student number
b) A table of contents,
executive summary
c) A brief introduction or
overview of what the
report is about.
d) Section headings
e) Conclusion
f) List of references
Comments:
/10%
2. Define business processes
a) Discuss the business
activities/processes of
the organisation
b) Shows understanding
about the business.
Comments:
/10%
3. Develop business
requirements
a) Identification and
discussion of important
business processes for
the business
b) Clear explanation about
outcomes from these
processes to achieve
business objectives
Comments:
/20%
4. Determine the systems
requirements
Software features or
functionalities that the firm
should consider to achieve
their IT investment
objective
Comments:
/20%
5. Software selection
Justifications and arguments for
the selection
Comments:
/20%
6.Vendor selection
a) Compare and contrast
the features/
functionalities of two
accounting software
b) Justifications for the
vendor selection
recommendations.
Comments:
/20%
Overall Comments TOTAL /100%
TOTAL /20