Enterprise Business Processes and Reporting (IS 6214) MBS MIMAS 2010 / th November 2010 Fergal Carton Business Information Systems

Last week Normalisation of Northwind data –Using Excel to help in data clean up GRN anomaly examples –Blain : checking undelivered linen in bulk delivery for a hotel –Neil: fresh goods (lemons) delivery to a bar –Richard: supplier delivery to cafe at peak lunchtime Manager or assistant does receiving (GRN) as floor staff busy Suoplier warned, driver arrives at same time but waits till after lunch How can technology deal with constraints?

This week Data import example –Marketing contacts What is a sales order Cucina sales order process Process mapping assessment 1 Dec Northwind Sales orders –Order header –Order detail

Cucina – additional notes Cucina can create advantage by being “trustworthy” Trustworthy means being backed by accurate data GRN is good practice, makes for accurate process Think about discounts for customers Orders will provide data for: –Goods received notes (no price) –Invoices (with price) –Sales reports

Cucina process flows Work in groups Describe sales order process Show movement of goods and information Document assumptions about business Show process from customer viewpoint Why will customer order from you and not from Cuisine de France?

Cucina Sales process Sales order processing AccountsCustomer Goods Delivery (GRN) Sales order Invoice Sales order & GRN Payment

Questions on assessment 1 Dec, lab at 9am Bring blank paper, pencil, eraser, ruler Have your own copy of case study, but no other material Questions distributed on the day All work marked with student # and name 3 questions in the assessment –1 process map –2 questions on how that map would be used

Preparation for assessment Background research on the business sector involved –how do convenience stores currently manage their supplies of fresh bread? A process map should ideally be able to differentiate between physical flows (goods) and virtual flows (information). Use two different colours / line types It should also be a basis for discussing challenges in the business (for example, why are manual invoicing processes causing “heartache”?) Research simple process mapping exercises

Cucina process flows Work in groups Describe sales order process Show movement of goods and information Document assumptions about business Show process from customer viewpoint Why will customer order from you and not from Cuisine de France?

Narrative analysis rules Look for who is doing something = Function –Mention of a department, person, responsibility –Eg. Once shipped by the shipping department Look for action of what is being done = Process –Use of verbs (becomes, generates, requests, transfers, … ) –Eg. Sales rep activities result in customer leads Look for nouns (not people / geography) = Data –Leads, quotes orders, … –Eg. the order generates an invoice

Sample bread products

Weaknesses of process mapping Biased representation? –Difficult to meet all people involved –Dependent on accuracy of information given by participants –Holes in understanding -> poor process –Doesn’t take into account new processes –Interpreted differently –Consistency in analysis when using multiple analysts –Only maps repetitive processes? –What about manual work? Find right level of abstraction Only theoretical? Complexity / overcomplication

Northwind Data : Customers

Northwind Data : Order headers

Northwind Data : Order details