Assignment - Decision Support System (DSS)
Applicable course objective:
- demonstrate problem-solving skills by identifying and resolving issues relating to information systems and their components, and proficiently utilise different types of information systems software (especially gaining proficiency in utilising databases, spreadsheets, and presentation applications).
- demonstrate written communication skills by understanding basic information, communication and technology (ICT) terminology for effective communication and applying it within a business environment.
Applicable graduate qualities and skills gained from this assessment instrument:
- Problem Solving (Skill U2)
- Written & Oral Communication (Skill U4)
Preamble
Dr Rod N Berry was extremely impressed with our computing firm Klingon Systems after the successful development of The Borg Collective's Database Management System (DBMS) using Microsoft Access (Assignment 1). The business has further contracted our firm to assist in setting up more information systems for the business.
The next information system that the business is interested in is a Decision Support System (DSS) using Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current). The DSS will be used to analyse sales trends for the business to determine future courses of action for the business.
Dr Rod N Berry would like the information in the Database Management System (DBMS) (Assignment 1) imported into Microsoft Excel (any version from Excel 2007 to current) so that the information can be summarised as a report and future analysis of sales trends could be performed on the basis of the suppliers used by the business, sourcing items from either Luxembourg(LU) or Tuvalu(TV).The DSS should allow the business to select suppliers from either of these two regions on an ad-hoc basic depending on the most favourable exchange rate at the time of analysis.
Dr Rod N Berry has noted that a number of the business's competitors are providing a discount to their customers who place large orders. The business would like to see the impact of adopting a similar policy on its profitability. The business has also noted a growing number of online companies are starting to provide free order deliveries to encourage more online sales. The business would like to run a number of scenarios based on potential Mark-up and Freight options to ascertain the best combination if they were to adopt a similar policy on order deliveries.
Decision Support System Design
Mrs Augusta Lanvele, your manager, has set up the following tasks for you to complete for this phase of the project:
1. Create a Spreadsheet and import the four (4) Access Tables into four (4) Worksheets
2. Data Validation Check
3. Create an Index Worksheet
4. Create a Data Input Worksheet Template for later use
5. Create a Calculations Worksheet Template for later use
6. Create Name Ranges for the Customers, Items, and Suppliers data
7. Create a Report Worksheet and set up the column headings
8. Modify the Report Worksheet by Cell Referencing all the Orders Table data
9. Modify the Report Worksheet by using VLOOKUP to get Customer, Item and Supplier data
10. Modify the Data Input Worksheet to include extra data needed for tasks 11 to 15
11. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Cost Price (AU)
12. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Selling Price
13. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a Nested IF to calculate Freight Cost
14. Modify the Report Worksheet by using a AND / IF to calculate Item Discount
15. Modify the Report Worksheet by using simple formulas to find Purchases and Sales, and Modify the Report Worksheet by using a formula to calculate the Order Discount
16. Modify the Data Input Worksheet to include extra data needed for tasks 18 to 22
17. Modify the Calculations Worksheet by using simple formulas
18. Modify the Data Input Worksheet by Cell Referencing all the Calculations data
19. Create eight (8) Scenarios on the Data Input Worksheet
20. Create a Scenario Summary of the eight (8) Scenarios
21. Create a Documentation Worksheet
22. Create an Analytical Essay to describe the findings made using the Spreadsheet.
Attachment:- Assignment.rar