How do you know what information systems are really needed by a business and

which are the most important?

There are various parameters which decide on which I.S. is suitable for which business.

Each I.S. targets a specific issue and audience in different organizations and no I.S. can provide all the information an organization needs. A manager looks for such I.S. which helps in day-to-day business as well as achieving strategic business objectives. As we are evident that there are

different levels of management in an organization, therefore every level requires different levels of information for decision-making. Also, a firm requires I.S. systems for its operations support

apart from management support systems. Important Information Systems:

Operations Support Systems

Transaction Processing systems

Process Control Systems

Enterprise Collaboration Systems Management Support Systems

Management Information Systems

Decision Support Systems

Executive Information Systems Other Systems

Expert Systems

Knowledge Management Systems

Strategic Information Systems

How should a company’s structure or culture affect the building and use of information

systems?

Each company has its own culture, values and ways of doing things, that is appreciated by most of its members. This implies that there will be a huge impact of organization’s culture into

the I.S it is using. As we know that in contemporary systems there is a huge interdependence between a firm’s I.S. and its business strategic objectives and processes. Thus, there will be a direct impact of

company’s structure or culture on the information system it is using.

A Detailed Report on Dirt Bikes

About the Company

Dirt Bikes USA is a small company headquartered in Carbondale Colorado that

manufactures and sells its own brand of customized racing and off-road recreational riding bikes.

It was founded in 1993 by Carl Schmidth and Steven Mc Fadden, two young experienced bikers who saw dirt bikes were becoming very popular in USA as both sporting and racing motorcycles.

They opened a small production facility in Carbondale, expanded its operations widely and offers products by giving them unique spirited style for which the company is noted.

Company Goals and Culture

Goal: Company goal is to create bikes that performed and looked better than the foreign brands by using the best quality components available from all over the world.

Culture: Company maintains a very friendly family atmosphere, encouraging teamwork, attention to detail and quality, and continual learning and innovation. Company is always open to

ideas to improve products and services.

Products and Services

Dirt bike racing has many forms, including racing specifically for different size bikes, for

short distances, long distances and even for up to 6 days. Dirt Bikes currently produce four models.

Enduros 250

Enduros 550

Moto 300

Moto 450

The two Enduros are endurance racers, while the Motos are for motocross racing. Both four

models are having electric as well as kick starters, steering stabilizers, liquid cooling etc. Dirt

bikes are appealed primarily to serious trail and Enduros riders while they are making inroads

into the motor cross markets.

Organizational Structure

Above chart shows levels of Management

Below table shows detailed list of employees and their designations in Dirt Bikes:

Department Number of Employees

Administration 4

Service 10

Corporate 5

Parts 6

Marketing and Sales 10

Shipping and Receiving 5

Basic Employees 80

Total Employees 120

Information Systems and Technologies

Dirt Bikes should introduce such an I.S. which helps the system to directly collect worker

payroll data (Swiping Cards). It must use I.S. which helps to know the sales of different products

in different in locations on real time basis. It also must use databases to analyze sales trends to

forecast future developments. Also to integrate all 40 distributors it must have a strong back-end

facility. It must also introduce websites for promotion of its products worldwide and encourage

feedback from its customers and fans. A substantial investment in computer software, data

management technology and in networking and telecommunications technology, Dirt Bikes can

provide real economic value to the business.