“Please give me a response to each discussion post telling me what you liked or disliked and
provide any other alternatives to each.
Provide me a half page on each discussion response.
Discussion #1:
I believe you can achieve a
competitive advantage through the proper implementation of appropriate
Information Systems (IS). Does a company have to have an IS in place in
order to be competitive? No; however, it will only make them more efficient and
increase areas such as productivity and profitability.
An example comes to mind that is similar to one given in the
book. Amazon.com has a great IS in place for many areas of their business
model.

Their check out system remembers every address ever shipped from
your login as well as credit card numbers which makes it a smooth easy
process. People are far more likely to buy something from Amazon.com when
theyre browsing because purchasing can be done in a few clicks. This
system eliminates typing in information that would slow the process on any
other website. They also coordinate with thousands of other companies to
sell and ship products. If they didnt have an IS in place to easily
provide countless purchase and shipping options they would lose the competitive
edge.
The people who think information technologies are simply
utilities to get by in day to day operations are missing out on huge
opportunities to jump ahead in their business. Just today I introduced a
Sharepoint site at my clinic that I have been working on for a few
weeks. No other department utilizes Sharepoint in our facility but instead
uses a combination of sharedrives, emails, memos, paper lists and other
communication methods. What weve done is use a technology to streamline
our process through making Sharepoint a part of our IS. Now all of our
employees are three clicks away from 95% of the information pertinent for their
use each day, on one source. While we are not in competition in our
facility, it will make us more efficient, knowledgeable and user friendly that
any other department in the building. Point in fact, by the time I left
work today three members of three seperate departments had heard about our
newly implemented webpage and were seeking information to use in their own
department.

Discussion #2:
Automating manual processes can improve business work flow
and reduce overhead expenses. Electronic communications provide
immediated turnaround for responses and inquiries. These two IS
inititiates can have a direct or indirect impact to a customer. Such
initiatives can focus on cost or product. The end result is to gain the
competitive advantages.
Take for instance how information systems has transformed
the whole travel industry. There is really no need for human intervention
to plan a trip unless the customer insists on a personal touch. Agencies
like Apple Vacations are hanging in there, but that is probably only after
coming on line. Online travel companies will need to continue seeking the
competitive by offering a new product or service, enhancing the existing suite
of products and services. This can be achieved by continuing to strive to
provide the best customer experience, quickest response time and provide the
most competitive rates at the consumers finger tips.
Another example includes universities engaging in the online
space. Historical universities have had to include information systems to
increase potential student enrollment opportunities. Now there aren’t any
enrollment boundaries, academics are present in a method convenient an flexible
to more students, and professors can still ensure that the same information is
being taught to each student at the same pace.
In a nutshell, information systems can increase their
competitive advantage through product or process strategies. Information
systems are tools within an organization that be used to leverage resources to
achieve business goals. Having these types of tools in place can clearly
assist in implementing business strategies to gain the competitive advantage,
they are not just a bunch of hype.

Discussion #3:
Information
Systems and Competitive Advantage
In achieving competitive advantage
through information systems, companies can create, design, or enhance
information systems that provide services and products different from their
competitors. Some information systems can help employees work more quickly
and efficiently in servicing customers. My job provides for our publishers
a Consumer Insights and Analysis program. This program provides our
publishers with sales information on how well their magazine titles are
performing in different retailers throughout the United States and
Canada. The program also allows the publisher to compare their magazine
sales with competitors magazines titles in the same category. Each
publisher has access to the program to generate their own reports at their
convenience. When it is time for contract renewal with our clients, we
emphasize this program as a service we provide and our in which our competitors
do not provide for its clients.
The Consumer Insights & Analysis is a customized program
that our company created and enhanced based on our publishers request. We are
constantly enhancing the system to provide more information that publishers are
requesting to help generate their reports accurately. We always ask the
publishers to provide feedback on the program, and provide suggestion on how
to improve the program to fit their personal needs. The program helps the
publishers in determining which stores to continue shipping their product to
generate more sales. It also helps them make decisions with continuing to
ship magazines to non-profitable retailers. Publishers providing their
feedback with enhancements for the program is an example of knowledge
management.
Using knowledge management alternatives is also another form
of how companies can achieve competitive advantage. E-mails, blogs, or
companys websites used within a company are great information systems used to
formulate information from employees and customers to provide feedback on ways
to improve a companys service, product or operations. Sharing knowledge can
help reduce cost, or improve performance and efficiency in areas that provide
competitive advantages, such as product development, engineering,
manufacturing, and customer services.(Linton 1) Most retailers,
especially department stores, provide a website at the bottom of their receipt;
so customers can provide feedback about the product or service they received
while shopping. Companies need to acknowledge this information and make
necessary changes and adjustments to stay ahead of competitors.

Sources:
Linton, Ian Strategic Moves to Build a Competitive
Advantage.
<http://smallbusiness.chron.com/stategic-moves-build-competitive-advantage-21952.html>

Discussion #4:
I do believe information systems can
offer a competitive advantage to companies. The Bosu/Fitness Quest case from
this weeks assignment is a perfect example. Another company that I buy a lot
of products from has also used an information system to keep me (and I assume
many others) interested in their products..rei.com/””>REI (Recreation Equipment
Inc.) sells
outdoor gear; camping, backpacking, cycling, etc. With my purchase history,
email and home address, I receive regular REI emails that not only alert me to
current sales or product promotions, but also tell me about seminars going on
at my local REI store and outdoor activities taking place in my part of
Wisconsin. Because of the outdoor news and calendar of local events, Im less
inclined to simply trash the email once I receive it. I do read them because
they are tailored to my interests and I expect this leads me to make more
purchases. In short, REI uses its information system to make customers feel
like part of a community that shares similar interests.
In terms of the principles of
competitive advantage mentioned on pg. 56 of our textbook, the company has
enhanced and differentiated its services (they dont just sell outdoor
recreation equipment, they provide access to outdoor activities), established
alliances (customers are made to feel like part of a community), and because of
this, REI has locked in customers (REI is typically my first stop when shopping
for new gear).

Discussion #5:
Information systems are more than the sum of its parts. An
information system can be a tool used by an organization to enhance the
customer experience, improve internal business processes helping to achieve
economy of scale, or to achieve synergies with aligning companies. Information
Systems contribute to competitive advantage in two ways, through product
implementation and through system implementation. Product implementation
strategies include developing a new product or service, enhancing an existing
product or services, and differentiating a product or services. Product
implementation strategy allows a company to increase market share or gain entry
into a new market by offering consumers something different. System
implementation strategies allow organization to lock in customers, buyers and
suppliers, increase barriers to entry making it difficult for competition to
enter the market, establish alliances, and reduce cost. Competitive advantage
can be gained through information systems by combining product implementation
strategies and implementation system strategies to drive the overall mission of
the organization (Kronke)
Information systems also provide many benefits as a tool.
Information systems improve the efficiency, improved data integrity, and the
ability to streamline processes, leading to overall improved cost management
and profitability (Goessl). Utilizing information systems as a tool, rather
than as a utility, allows a company to keep on the cutting edge of changes in
the market, increase their competitive advantage, and maintain or increase
their market share.
References:
>
Kronke, David. Experiencign MIS. 3rd Addition. Pearson/Prentice Hall,
2012. eBook.
>
Goessl, Leigh. “”Maximizing Information Systems To Gain a Competitive
Advantage.”” Helium. 21 Sep 2011: n. page. Web. 4 Sep. 2012. <http://www.helium.com/items/853154-maximizing-information-systems-to-gain-a-competitive-advantage>.

Please give me a
response to each discussion post telling me what you liked or disliked and
provide any other alternatives to each.
Provide me a half page on each discussion response.Discussion #1:I believe you can achieve a
competitive advantage through the proper implementation of appropriate
Information Systems (IS). Does a company have to have an IS in place in
order to be competitive? No; however, it will only make them more efficient and
increase areas such as productivity and profitability. An example comes to mind that is similar to one given in the
book. Amazon.com has a great IS in place for many areas of their business
model. Their check out system remembers every address ever shipped from
your login as well as credit card numbers which makes it a smooth easy
process. People are far more likely to buy something from Amazon.com when
theyre browsing because purchasing can be done in a few clicks. This
system eliminates typing in information that would slow the process on any
other website. They also coordinate with thousands of other companies to
sell and ship products. If they didnt have an IS in place to easily
provide countless purchase and shipping options they would lose the competitive
edge.The people who think information technologies are simply
utilities to get by in day to day operations are missing out on huge
opportunities to jump ahead in their business. Just today I introduced a
Sharepoint site at my clinic that I have been working on for a few
weeks. No other department utilizes Sharepoint in our facility but instead
uses a combination of sharedrives, emails, memos, paper lists and other
communication methods. What weve done is use a technology to streamline
our process through making Sharepoint a part of our IS. Now all of our
employees are three clicks away from 95% of the information pertinent for their
use each day, on one source. While we are not in competition in our
facility, it will make us more efficient, knowledgeable and user friendly that
any other department in the building. Point in fact, by the time I left
work today three members of three seperate departments had heard about our
newly implemented webpage and were seeking information to use in their own
department. Discussion #2:Automating manual processes can improve business work flow
and reduce overhead expenses. Electronic communications provide
immediated turnaround for responses and inquiries. These two IS
inititiates can have a direct or indirect impact to a customer. Such
initiatives can focus on cost or product. The end result is to gain the
competitive advantages. Take for instance how information systems has transformed
the whole travel industry. There is really no need for human intervention
to plan a trip unless the customer insists on a personal touch. Agencies
like Apple Vacations are hanging in there, but that is probably only after
coming on line. Online travel companies will need to continue seeking the
competitive by offering a new product or service, enhancing the existing suite
of products and services. This can be achieved by continuing to strive to
provide the best customer experience, quickest response time and provide the
most competitive rates at the consumers finger tips. Another example includes universities engaging in the online
space. Historical universities have had to include information systems to
increase potential student enrollment opportunities. Now there aren’t any
enrollment boundaries, academics are present in a method convenient an flexible
to more students, and professors can still ensure that the same information is
being taught to each student at the same pace.In a nutshell, information systems can increase their
competitive advantage through product or process strategies. Information
systems are tools within an organization that be used to leverage resources to
achieve business goals. Having these types of tools in place can clearly
assist in implementing business strategies to gain the competitive advantage,
they are not just a bunch of hype.Discussion #3:Information
Systems and Competitive AdvantageIn achieving competitive advantage
through information systems, companies can create, design, or enhance
information systems that provide services and products different from their
competitors. Some information systems can help employees work more quickly
and efficiently in servicing customers. My job provides for our publishers
a Consumer Insights and Analysis program. This program provides our
publishers with sales information on how well their magazine titles are
performing in different retailers throughout the United States and
Canada. The program also allows the publisher to compare their magazine
sales with competitors magazines titles in the same category. Each
publisher has access to the program to generate their own reports at their
convenience. When it is time for contract renewal with our clients, we
emphasize this program as a service we provide and our in which our competitors
do not provide for its clients. The Consumer Insights & Analysis is a customized program
that our company created and enhanced based on our publishers request. We are
constantly enhancing the system to provide more information that publishers are
requesting to help generate their reports accurately. We always ask the
publishers to provide feedback on the program, and provide suggestion on how
to improve the program to fit their personal needs. The program helps the
publishers in determining which stores to continue shipping their product to
generate more sales. It also helps them make decisions with continuing to
ship magazines to non-profitable retailers. Publishers providing their
feedback with enhancements for the program is an example of knowledge
management.Using knowledge management alternatives is also another form
of how companies can achieve competitive advantage. E-mails, blogs, or
companys websites used within a company are great information systems used to
formulate information from employees and customers to provide feedback on ways
to improve a companys service, product or operations. Sharing knowledge can
help reduce cost, or improve performance and efficiency in areas that provide
competitive advantages, such as product development, engineering,
manufacturing, and customer services.(Linton 1) Most retailers,
especially department stores, provide a website at the bottom of their receipt;
so customers can provide feedback about the product or service they received
while shopping. Companies need to acknowledge this information and make
necessary changes and adjustments to stay ahead of competitors. Sources:Linton, Ian Strategic Moves to Build a Competitive
Advantage.
<http://smallbusiness.chron.com/stategic-moves-build-competitive-advantage-21952.html>Discussion #4:I do believe information systems can
offer a competitive advantage to companies. The Bosu/Fitness Quest case from
this weeks assignment is a perfect example. Another company that I buy a lot
of products from has also used an information system to keep me (and I assume
many others) interested in their products..rei.com/””>REI (Recreation Equipment
Inc.) sells
outdoor gear; camping, backpacking, cycling, etc. With my purchase history,
email and home address, I receive regular REI emails that not only alert me to
current sales or product promotions, but also tell me about seminars going on
at my local REI store and outdoor activities taking place in my part of
Wisconsin. Because of the outdoor news and calendar of local events, Im less
inclined to simply trash the email once I receive it. I do read them because
they are tailored to my interests and I expect this leads me to make more
purchases. In short, REI uses its information system to make customers feel
like part of a community that shares similar interests.In terms of the principles of
competitive advantage mentioned on pg. 56 of our textbook, the company has
enhanced and differentiated its services (they dont just sell outdoor
recreation equipment, they provide access to outdoor activities), established
alliances (customers are made to feel like part of a community), and because of
this, REI has locked in customers (REI is typically my first stop when shopping
for new gear). Discussion #5:Information systems are more than the sum of its parts. An
information system can be a tool used by an organization to enhance the
customer experience, improve internal business processes helping to achieve
economy of scale, or to achieve synergies with aligning companies. Information
Systems contribute to competitive advantage in two ways, through product
implementation and through system implementation. Product implementation
strategies include developing a new product or service, enhancing an existing
product or services, and differentiating a product or services. Product
implementation strategy allows a company to increase market share or gain entry
into a new market by offering consumers something different. System
implementation strategies allow organization to lock in customers, buyers and
suppliers, increase barriers to entry making it difficult for competition to
enter the market, establish alliances, and reduce cost. Competitive advantage
can be gained through information systems by combining product implementation
strategies and implementation system strategies to drive the overall mission of
the organization (Kronke)Information systems also provide many benefits as a tool.
Information systems improve the efficiency, improved data integrity, and the
ability to streamline processes, leading to overall improved cost management
and profitability (Goessl). Utilizing information systems as a tool, rather
than as a utility, allows a company to keep on the cutting edge of changes in
the market, increase their competitive advantage, and maintain or increase
their market share. References:>
Kronke, David. Experiencign MIS. 3rd Addition. Pearson/Prentice Hall,
2012. eBook. >
Goessl, Leigh. “”Maximizing Information Systems To Gain a Competitive
Advantage.”” Helium. 21 Sep 2011: n. page. Web. 4 Sep. 2012. <http://www.helium.com/items/853154-maximizing-information-systems-to-gain-a-competitive-advantage>. “