Management Information systems

Answer for Question 1

Looking at how Carlson Restaurant Worldwide are focusing on cost reduction to save their income we could categorized it as bottom line initiative . Using the Business Intelligence System , the company is able to identify some problems related to its supply chain , and also clarify their contracts to make them more reliable . Hence , they are already suppressing their profits to be spent to suppliers

All this benefits to the company is based on the cost cutting , not into improving their service to attract more customers , so its best to

be said as bottom line initiative

Answer for Question 2

The approach of using many types of technologies from multiple vendors at certain extends show the diversity and possible sign of professionalism . However , the critical downsides to such approach lies in the integration of those technologies or applications

All technologies and applications will have different type of output or limitation to be synchronized with the others . Sometimes , even two applications made by the same vendor might not cooperate effectively This is the downside of using a selection of applications

Answer for Question 3

Internal Elements

Menu mix for each store , production cost , gross profits for each store , burger and other burgers , calories of the burger , contribution margin made by each menu item , training

cost , advertising cost , equipments cost , upkeep cost , exclusively on thick burgers , overall profits from burger sale , overall annual sales

External Elements

Trends of the food market , possible responses from the customers possible fluctuation of supplies price , critics from nutritionist possible competitor , substitute food products

Answer for Question 4

From the case and in conjunction with Porter 's Force Model we could derive some points that Ruby Tuesday able to solve

Bargaining power of the customer , is one of the Force Model that is oriented at the customer . Without using Business Intelligence (which means the will be prepared longer , the customer might be choosing another restaurant to dine in . The power of the customer to obtain informations will cause them to avoid Ruby Tuesday because of they are slow in preparing the meals

The intensity of competitive rivalry , is also another point that is being affected by the action from Ruby Tuesday . Office workers tend to look for fast serving food store which result in highly competitive field among the restaurant especially at lunch hour . Many restaurant guarantee their serving time , some offer refund and even next visit discount if they fail to do so . It would be hard for Ruby Tuesday if they did not manage to solve their problem (still having slow table turnover rate ) to grow in such competitive field

Answer for Question 5

The decision of accepting credit cards payment can be considered as top line initiative because this ways Wendy 's improving their service to the customer , and by the foretold from the Business Intelligence , increasing the profit they gain from credit card users

If , by accepting those payment the costs would outweigh the incremental profit , then it might be...