Improved Management Decision Making Essay Example for Free

Improved Management Decision Making Essay Managers at all levels of a business are required to make decisions constantly. Whether it be at an often low risk operational level, or at high importance strategic level, precise analysis is essential, failure on doing so could end in disaster in businesss unforgiving world. Evidence of this can be seen in the strategic level of Dell management in 2004. A poor decision to enter the market with their DJ.Ditty MP3 player, Dell failed to address any strong marketing campaign along with failure to analyse stronger substitute products concluded in Dell discontinuing the product two years later in 2006. The decision made in the development of the product were likewise poor as rival companies such as Apple and Zens product features far overpowered Dells weak product. (Laubacher 2011). Simple research into Information Systems tells us they are able to display information that can lead us to answer questions we are often queried with. But often management decisions are not just simple rhetorical answers but strategic procedures that will aid the business in specific ways. In this essay I will assess the different methods of how IT based systems through the means of Information systems can aid management decisions or, if they do at all. (C.Lucas 1994)In his book information systems concepts for management, defines an IS as a set of organised procedures, that when executed, provides information to support organisation. The information is a tangible or intangible entity that serves to reduce uncertainty about some state or event. (Oz, Jones and Gowthorpe 2009) Back this definition up stating an IS system is a computer based set of hardware, software and telecommunications components, supported by people and procedures to process data and turn it into useful information. The information system can then be divided up into different subsystems with varying goals that help gear towards the organisations main goal. It is clear that ISs are significant in the day to day operation of a business. The fact that ISs can answer question is indisputable, but the process in which they answer them and the form of answers they give can be debated. Synergy defines the combined resource output exceeding the total output of the same resources if they were employed separately (Oz, Jones and Gowthorpe 2009). This theory can be stretched as far as the four stages of processing that an information system goes through. Input is the first stage of this process which is entered by the human. The next three stages include the processing of the IS system, these include changing and manipulating the data, extracting the information out of the information system and finally storing the information that the IS system has administered. This is a great example of synergy, the IS system calculates the data at a quicker and cheaper cost than if a human were to do it, but the IS system first needs input from an event or scenario from a human, this evidence of synergy. (C.Luckem 2002) Theory on complex event processing relates to this very well. He defines each business action (be this internal with staffing decisions or external with customers through sales) taking several stages of events to reach a final state and in todays technological driven domain ISs play a very Important role in each of these states. He relates to the use of ISs gathering and storing of data, sharing of information and the ability of systems to automate and often control components playing a vital part of CEP. ISs that relate to CEP are systems such as Supply Chain Management, according to (B.Handfield and L.Nichols 1999) Is a set of approaches utilized to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, and stores, so that merchandise is produced (often by computer aided design) and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, and at the right time, in order to minimize system wide costs while satisfying service level requirements It is easy to see how this can be related to management decision making, at each stage of a process with the use of SCM managers can stop the process and analyse production rates, therefore using IS systems to make a decision, which In the case of SCM means utilising every process so that wastage is at a minimum and costs remain low throughout production . Luckem further expresses that the use of IS systems in CEP does not function with remotely one source but needs both the Human and IS system to work collectively for any form of process to work accordingly. Although(Bider 2010) argues the reliability of information processed by ISs. He states that human error can often be the cause of incorrect data. This is not uncommon; often as information is filtered through the information map from department to department human error can cause faults. So an argument could be formed that managers can often put great analysis into ISs, but decisions can be made using the wrong output from the system. In relation to the four stages of processing, this output can then be stored incorrectly meaning any future decisions based on this first problem will not aid the answer process as the information will be incorrect. There are other types of systems that can significantly aid decision making DSSs or Decision Support Systems are systems that aid making decisions through the use of built in models. (Turban 1995) Defines it as an interactive, flexible, and adaptable computer-based information system, especially developed for supporting the solution of a non-structured management problem for improved decision making. It utilizes data, provides an easy-to-use interface, and allows for the decision maker’s own insights. DSSs are comprised of three modules data management, model management and dialog management or in profit terms (actual prior, possible sales, possible revenue, and possible profit). Using these modules DSSs helps find an ideal course of action, able to analyse and finally answer questions that are often asked upon humans, What if or How will this action impact revenue are example. DSSs are able to process raw data, and draw comparisons to generate information to aid a business decision. Although (Jensen, B.Lowry and Jeffery 2011) argue that the now more wide spread use of Decision Support Systems due to the increase in technology used in business today should not replace the decision making of a human. They argue that although It is often difficult for people to assess credibility correctly in face-to-face interactions but argue the use of DSSs cannot be used as an absolute decision making process The capability of face-to-face interactions is critical to effective communication and decision making. Their views can be seen as somewhat old fashioned when relating to decision making. Similar to DSSs are Strategic information systems. The root of this system is based upon Michael E. porters Concept of competitive advantage. This concept analyses the strategic steps a business undergoes to gain an advantage over its competitors. According to (E.Porter 1998), SIS works by enhancing opportunities through analysing competitors, recording seller patterns, identifying potential substitute products and finally retrieving information on keeping a healthy share in the businesss market. All of these should aid a business to create a competitive advantage through the means of SISs. The storing of data and analysis of this data is what managers will use to make decisions. In both the DSSs and SISs the analysis will often plan out a possible route in which the business may take to achieve its aims. It is then up to management to take these recommendations on board through adopting the ideas or not. IS used in the hierachary of a business are important to assess, at an operational level Systems used will be Transactional Process systems are Electronic point of sale, both of these systems allow managers to analyse structured data and draw conclusions for themselves, examples of this maybe the management of stock ordering to improve on wastage, or assessing what product sells at an appropriate time. These systems can then be assessed by the tactical level that may use the means of DSSs to assess new pricing strategies to adapt to the operational level through the help of DSSs but on the evidence of data outputted by TPSs or EPOS. The next and final stage will be the use of the systems at a strategic level. Strategic level will use DSSs and Executive information systems (similar to DSSs but often seen as more precise and concentrated form of system) along with unstructured data which occurs through the means of meetings, conversations and emails .Furthermore strategic level generally have access to IS of all subordinates ISs to help make decisions as well as ISs linked together with external commercial services, such as the latest stock prices and general business news are also common. It is clear that ISs aid management decisions, but in context of this it is important to assess the characteristics of the managers, as well of the management styles. For example managers that adopt an autocratic style of management will be less interested in staff well-being which may affect their reaction to support they receive through IS systems, meaning they may adopt any plans a DSS comes up with whether or not it has a negative effect on staff. Democratic style managers may rely heavily on the data produced from systems of their subordinate. When assessing the improvement of decision making through the means of ISs, I feel it is important to assess manager characteristics, it is clear that there are systems that aid the decision making process but as (Bider 2010) stated there can be human error caused through the input of a system which may lead to poor decision making. I feel steady analysis through each stage of the input process will allow data to be used correctly, therefore being pivotal in decision making process and consequently improving them. Bibliography B.HANDFIELD, Robert and L.NICHOLS, Ernest (1999). Introduction to Supply Chain Management. vol.1. 1st ed., Prentice Hall. Business Using IS , BIDER, IIia (2010). Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling. vol.50. 1st ed., Queensland, Springer. 364213050X. C.LUCAS, Henry (1994). Information systems concepts for management. 5 ed., indiana, Mitchell McGraw-Hill. 11. C.LUCKEM, David (2002). The Power of Events: An Introduction to Complex Event Processing in Distributed Enterprise Systems. 1 ed., Addison wesly. 1. E.PORTER, Michael (1998). Competitive advantage: creating and sustaining superior performance : with a new introduction. Havard, Simon and Schuster. JENSEN, Matthew, B.LOWRY, Paul and JEFFERY, Jenkins (2011). Effects of Automated and Participative Decision Support in Computer-Aided Credibility Assessment. Journal of management information syetems, 28 (1), 201-233. LAUBACHER, Robert (2011). Managing Corporate Reputation in the Blogosphere: The Case of Dell Com puter. Corporate Reputation Review, 14 (2), 133-144. OZ, JONES and GOWTHORPE (2009). Finacial and Management Informatoin. vol.2. London, Cengage Learning. TURBAN, Efriam (1995). Decision support, And what they do? In: Decision support and expert systems : management support systems. Englewood cliffs, Prentice Hall, p.576.

Eternal Life Essays -- Essays Papers

Eternal Life 1 Is there life after death? In Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† Mrs. Mallard â€Å"is drinking the elixir of life through her open window.† It is possible that this very elixir provides Mrs. Mallard with her freedom through eternal life. Through Chopin’s use of characterization, conflict, and symbols, the author reveals the theme that like Mrs. Mallard, some people can achieve freedom through eternal life. [Does "eternal life" here mean life after death, or, as in "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," life without death? The basic problem with this essay is that it overlooks the primary point of the story -- Louise glimpses freedom as a result of the death of her husband, and then loses that freedom with the realization that he is still alive. It is a story of "an hour" because Louise has only an hour of freedom. Although the writer of this essay makes a valiant attempt to support the thesis, there really is not enough religious (or moral) symbol ism, etc. to support it.] 2 Chopin’s physical and emotional characterization of Louise suggests the woman is experiencing a spiritual encounter that includes the possibility of eternal life. Early in the story, Chopin uses characterization to describe Mrs. Mallard’s physical condition, noting that she has â€Å"heart trouble† (12); this description foreshadows her death, [i.e. not eternal life] which will take place later in the store [story]. [Isn't it also symbolic?] The author illustrates that Mrs. Mallard is physically exhausted by writing that when she hears the news of her husband’s supposed death, she sinks into a â€Å"comfortable, roomy armchair . . . quite motionless with her head thrown back† (12). Chopin goes on to write that Louise experiences â€Å"physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her a soul† (12), which allows the reader to see that something is taking place within her both physically and emotionally. [This paragr aph demosntrates that "something is taking place," but not that it relates to eternal life.] 3 The author also describes Mrs. Mallard as feeling â€Å"young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength† (12)-- the strength of God. [What suggests that it is the strength of God, and not just a personal strength of her own?] From the statement â€Å"now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously† (12), the reader can sens... ...new freedom?] Her â€Å"moment of illumination† (the true light) signifies her soul is now saved. She even breathes a â€Å"quick prayer† (13), which is symbolic of her quest for a divine intervention and repentance[.] (s[S]he is totally and completely engulfed with the presence of God). [No, what was she praying for? A long (not eternal) life.] One of Mrs. Mallard’s last actions is to rise (resurrection action) â€Å"at length and [open] the door† (the gateway to her salvation). In addition, the author provides the reader with the words â€Å"joy that kills† (13), the joy is symbolic of her freedom and â€Å"that kills† is symbolic of her eternal life. [CS -1] [Why would "that kills" be symbolic of "eternal life"?] These words provide the reader with an understanding that a human being must experience death to receive eternal life. Louise has found her freedom through eternal life. 9 Louise’s figurative elixir of life is the foreshadowing [?] that Chopin uses in the story to express Louise’s freedom through eternal life. In regards to past readings, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, [Title] the elixir is both literally and symbolically a recipe for immortality or eternal life.

Compare and Contrast Essay

At multiple points in life, people are faced with judgments ranging in difficulty and significance. And every decision could be affected by outside influences which could persuade people to make a choice. Sometimes, one is faced with the choice of which juice to drink in the morning, a very minute decision to make. There are other, more substantial decisions like choosing which college to attend or whether or not it is the right time to buy a home. Depending on the size of the decision and influence, everything that happens in one’s life could be crucial moments that determine the final outcome of one’s life. This was seen in Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima and Bernard Malamud’s The Natural. Both author’s used the main characters to show that one’s future is determined by the choices made throughout life, and the outside influences that guide the choices. Anaya and Malamud use other’s expectations, other’s guidance, and decisions made as significant points that help determine the outcome of the main character’s future. A main comparison between the two stories was that both of the main characters faced constant expectations on them placed on them. In Bless Me, Ultima, Anthony is the rope in a tug of war between his two families, the Yanez and the Lunas. He is judged by his more rebellious and spirited brothers, who display characteristics of the Yanez vaqueros, and is ridiculed that he will become like his mother (Anaya 68). Also, when he goes to his Luna uncle’s house for a time, he is tried be persuaded into becoming farmers like them, for â€Å"he has the feel of the earth in his blood† (Anaya 142). Both families tried to show him how he is more like the other, and both had the expectation of him becoming the next honored person to represent the family. Similarly, in The Natural, Roy is criticized nonstop by the fanatics of the ball club, but only when he is in a slump or having a bad game. But when he is in a great streak and crushing the baseballs, then he is adored. Roy is loved and hated constantly based on his actions, and the fickle nature of the crowd eventually determined how he was to be viewed after making his decision of selling out. The people close to the main characters helped determine the route that their future took, whether it was for the better or worse. Unlike the previous point, the guidance that the main characters of the story received severely contrasted. In Bless Me, Ultima, Tony had the guidance of the curandera, Ultima. Her supervision and direction of Tony helped him combat and overcome struggles by giving him hope. Ultima’s supervision of Tony was crucial so that he would not make an innocent mistake that could lead to his harm. Ultima’s protection of Tony was seen in action when Tenorio, the wicked bar owner and father of three witches, attempted to kill Tony in his drunken revenge. When he pointed his rifle at him, however, he was attacked by Ultima’s spirit in the form of an owl. Ultima died that night to protect the well being of Tony, showing how she is ultimately Tony’s keeper and protects him at all costs (Anaya 258). On the other hand, Roy’s manager Sam guided Roy in his beginning years as a ball player looking for a team. Roy was useless without Sam. He didn’t know â€Å"how to do simple things† like dress himself or even how much to tip a person (Malamud 5-6). As Harry Sylvester noted, Roy was a player who â€Å"operates with ease and the greatest skill, without having been taught†¦ [who] left alone†¦ might achieve his real fulfillment. † Roy did posses these great qualities, but Sam was like Roy’s judgment, and his absence really helped shape the outcome of Roy’s life because he wasn’t there to council Roy during tough situations. This absence of guidance and advice was the difference of Roy achieving his predicted greatness. Much like the first point, a main comparison that could be made for both writings is the decisions both main characters take in the process of determining their future. Tony stresses out a lot throughout the entire story about his life and becoming either a pastor or a cowboy, even though he is only seven. He is also very cautious with each move and step he takes so that he won’t commit an error in his development of becoming a man. Tony’s display of caution and care leads to him making the rightful decision of choosing elements of both families and using them to his advantage (Anaya 247). In contrast, Roy always displays a careless nature in his choices. As Orrin Judd put it, Roy continuously chose â€Å"pleasure over principle and dissipation over dedication† throughout the plot. This is certainly true because in many instances, Roy followed his primitive human nature in desire for pleasure and success, like following his desires for Harriet Bird or constantly wanting to be called â€Å"the best there ever was in the game† (Malamud 27, 34). Roy’s choices of following his temptations and the search for fame eventually led to him tragically failing in the end. Both characters faced tough situations, but their decisions in those situations  helped plan out their future. In all, the comparisons and differences of both The Natural and Bless Me, Ultima lead the audience to believe that a person’s future lies within their choices and the people’s reaction to them. Both stories displayed how key aspects of a person’s life can help determine their future. The many choices and decisions one makes in life can determine the outcome of their future, for the better or worse. Also, if one is loved by many or has great guidance to help them, then one will have a greater chance of achieving greatness and vice versa. In the end, the human being is responsible for their decisions and they must take the necessary precautions and steps to ensure the best future possible. Works Cited Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Grand Central, 1972. Print. Judd, Orrin. â€Å"Review of Bernard Malamud’s The Natural – BrothersJudd. com. † Brothers Judd Good Books and Recommended Reading – 27-Mar-11. 23 Mar. 2001. Web. 27 Mar. 2011. Malamud, Bernard. The Natural. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. Print. Sylvester, Harry. â€Å"With Greatest of Ease. † New York Times. The New York Times Company, 26 Aug. 1952. Web. 27 Mar. 2011. .

How Cell Phones Changed Us Socially - 1503 Words

How Cell Phones Changed Us Socially Having a cell phone is very convenient and helpful most of the time. They are great for emergencies, but not everyone knows of the potential negative impacts these phones have on our lives. In the past several years there have been numerous studies looking into the problems, which cell phone cause. This paper will show how the cell phone has had a dynamic impact on social interactions in today’s society. First it will show the point of having a cellular phone has changed the concept of social space and time among social interactions. Secondly, the paper will show how individuals misuse and don’t take responsibility for their mobile device. Following that, research will be presented that demonstrates how Short Message Service (texts) has taken its own way of communication in relationships. Lastly, this paper will look to provide a conclusion of the impact that the use of cellular phones has had in regards to social interactions. Technologies are an ever-changing aspec t of this day and age. New gadgets and ideas are always trying to simplify life and bring people closer together. When the first mobile phone was released to the public in the 1900’s, not many caught on to the fad, mainly because of the outrageous price and bulkiness of the first model (Marples 8). Times have changed since then and how this technology is not only a product that most of the world owns, but it is something you never leave your house without (8). TheShow MoreRelatedcell phones: how have they changed us socially927 Words   |  4 Pages Cell phones: How Have They Changed Us Socially? Introduction Thesis Statement: Cell phones have socially changed our lifestyle and have greatly influenced our lives. Alternatively referred to as a cell, cellular, and cellular phone, a cell phone, which is also sometimes abbreviated as â€Å"cp† is a mobile phone or portable phone that enables a user to communicate almost anywhere in the world. 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