MIS: Uchumi Supermarket

Uchumi Supermarket
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Table of ContentsIntroduction3Paper Objectives4Analysis of Uchumi Supermarket4Current Problems facing Uchumi Supermarket5Analysis of Uchumi Supermarket Market Strategies based on the Five Porter's Model6Business Process for Uchumi Supermarket7Data Warehouse for Uchumi Supermarket8Recommendations and Conclusion9Reference List10
Transaction Processing System of Uchumi Supermarket
Executive Summary
Organizations face different challenge in the operations especially for organizations that still use manual system of data processing system. These are organizations that use batch-processing system in collecting data, processing data to produce information and in the storing of data for both the organization and their customers. Some of the challenges that are faced by these organizations such as Uchumi supermarket include poor delivery of services due to untimely production, leakage of information data and information due to lack of proper measures of data access and storage, lack of effective communication within the organization and poor departmental coordination among other challenges. It is also important for these organizations to ensure that they use the current technological advancement in controlling and operating different activities of the organization. Through the use of the current technology, organizations are able to provide better services to their clients such as online shopping, online access of information of the organization and safe keeping of any private information. Moreover, by enforcing the use of information technology will help organizations in controlling access to their information both internally and externally. Based on the issue of stiff competition in the market, organizations need to study and understand the five porter's model so as to come up with proper strategies that would help them to survive in the market despite presence of their competitors. For better service delivery, organizations must develop better warehouse that control the use and access of the organizational data and information. Lastly, organizations should ensure they develop better ethical policies that create effective flow of operation of their customers and workers.
Introduction
Organizations globally are required to provide better production and service delivery to their clients based on the current technological advancement. Therefore, they are expected to adopt both the manual and real time processing systems to ensure organizational activities flow as planned (Mahajan, 2009). Through the use of a computerized processing system, organizations are in better position of providing timely production and service delivery. They also have high chances of enhancing production and distribution services to their clients. Additionally, through the use of better processing system, organization are able to manage their data and information safely as echoed by Mahajan (2009). Hence, every organization must ensure necessary steps are taken towards effect collection, processing and storage of organizational data and information.
Paper Objectives
Based on the importance of better and effective processing modes, this paper provide an analysis of the Unchumi supermarket on the use of batch processing system, various problems that the organization faces through the use of batch processing system and the technological use of information technology within the organization towards better service delivery. Additionally, the paper focuses on various ways in which the organization can improve their services based on its productions and ensure they survive within the competitive market. Lastly, it finalizes with some of the ethical codes of conduct that the organization must enforce towards their workers and clients.
Analysis of Uchumi Supermarket
Uchumi supermarket is one of the leading supermarkets with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya that provides variety of goods and services to the local clients. It was formed in 1975 by Kenya Wine Agency Limited, Kenya national Corporation and Industrial Commercial Corporation as a limited corporation and was first listed among the companies within the Nairobi Stock Market in 1992 (Pretty et al, 2011). Although the supermarket mostly dealing with supply of food and household products to its local customers, Uchumi supermarket also has different branches across East and Central Africa such Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda among other countries. Based on its business operation, Uchumi supermarket most distribute and sell foodstuff products to customers. For instance, it sells basic products like bread, sugar, flour and vegetables among others (Silva, 2009). It also sells electronic products made globally by different companies like Samsung and LG products. Apart from the above products, the organization provides various services to its clients. Some of the services provided include after sales services, free delivery services, packaging services and other promotions through the use of their Uchumi Cards.
Most of the Uchumi clients are from different cultural background. Thus, in order for the organization to serve all these customers, it sells and distributes diverse products and services that suit all their customers despite cultural differences (Silva, 2009). Through such products and services, Uchumi has managed to attract and maintain their customers for the last 37 years since its formation. Additionally, the organization has an effective organizational structure based on departmental sections with well define job description and management. Hence, the organization, although operates under different sections but collectively run as per its set objectives. For instance, the current Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Ciano has ensured that skilled and personnel are recruited in the organization to provide necessary management to the operations of the supermarket (Pretty et al, 2011).
Moreover, Uchumi supermarket has always ensures they create better internal and external environment for their workers, clients, suppliers, shareholders and the people staying around its environs. Hence, it has made sure all the organization members work and coordinate through effective communication that has been developed internally. Similarly, organization suppliers are also given the demanded treatment to enhance the existing relationship with the organization. Furthermore, the supermarket ensures that they distribute and sell products that are user friendly and health wise to their clients (Pretty et al, 2011). Not taking chances with its surrounding, the organization always ensures that waste products from the organization are disposed as per the laws and regulations that govern waste disposal practices. Lastly, Uchumi has in place proper strategies of dealing with any challenge that may affects its operation towards its objective of becoming the world leading supermarket in better production and timely delivery of its services to clients come 2030.
Current Problems facing Uchumi Supermarket
Just like any other business organization, Uchumi supermarket is faced by various problems based on its transaction processing system. This is the process in which the organization uses in data collection, processing and storage. Furthermore, it is through this system that the organization uses in making some of the vital decision of the organization (Nagpal, 2011). For instance, through this system, Uchumi supermarket uses some of the information of their customer in developing their Uchumi cards that these customers use in doing their shopping. The organization, despites its expansion and existence, it has not developed a full computerized transaction processing system to govern the collection, processing and storage of information. Therefore, currently the organization operates under batch transaction processing, a process that require the organization to first collect its information, store them but processing takes place later (Dyk et al, 2009). Through the use of batch processing system, the organization faces various challenges. For instance, in most cases, debugging some of the information that is collected becomes a problem resulting delay and untimely products and service delivery. Therefore, the organization faces low demand of their products and services from their clients as some move to other supermarkets that provide quick services.
According to Dyk et al (2009) apart from problems in debugging, the organization also faces threat to the collected data and information. Batch processing requires that all the data and information are stored before processing takes place but some of the information is accessed by un-authorized persons whom by getting access to the organizational information, tamper with the information. When the tampered information is used in making the organization decision, it has affects the operation and production of Uchumi supermarket (Nagpal, 2011). The use of batch processing within Uchumi supermarkets has also result to delay of the organizational activities as some of the operations do take long. In many occasion, these delays have resulted to errors as they take unknown time to be completed. Therefore, they are either done away with or wait for their response which may yield wrong results. Similarly, when these delays are experience, no transaction and sales are conducted and most of the customers go for services from Uchumi main competitors such as Nakumatt and Nivas supermarkets.
Lastly, the use of batch processing although may appear less expensive in terms of its cost but it is expensive in the long run as users must be trained some of the computer packages that the system operates under (Dyk et al, 2009). In addition, batch processing affects communication within Uchumi supermarket. It is required that any vital information is communicated in time for timely service delivery to be realized. However, this has become a g...