Executive Summary
The presented project aims to modify the company’s system, “The Simple Cat and Dog.” The firm suffers from its database’s operational inefficiency, which revolves around the absence of an order confirmation mechanism that would notify customers. The proposed solution is to increase working memory, which would allow the implementation of the missing element in the database.
System Evaluation
Figure 1 shows the network diagram of the data flow between the customer and the company. It is not as extensive as usual ERDs are, because the company’s database containing its exchange with customers is small, which provides speed (IT Pro, 2021, para. 6). Yet, the network is not as fast as it should be. The problem is that the order quote is not mentioned in the order section, which suggests that it is not provided to the customer. As a result, customers are unsure whether their order was placed and the transaction was successful.
Solution 1
The first solution to the abovementioned problem is to use a technical approach to correct it. Specifically, the capacity of hardware and the cloud, where all the information is stored, should be increased.
This solution can help obtain two benefits: technical efficiency and procedural efficiency. The latter means that placing orders and monitoring this process will become more organized. The former means that if the storage capacity is increased, the system’s speed will not slow down.
This approach is economically feasible since the return on such an investment will be quick. Moreover, it will increase operating and technical feasibility due to more efficient and reliable order placement and the ability to handle more information.
Solution 2
The second solution is to add the missing element without increasing hardware capacity. At the same time, the storage capacity may be maintained within normal limits if the data about completed orders is deleted one week after completion.
The first benefit is financial – the company will have no expenses to expand storage capacity. The second benefit is technical efficiency, as information will not be stored for long, and working memory will not be affected.
This solution is technically, Operationally, and economically feasible since it improves work without financial investments. Indeed, the company will only need to change some of its internal regulations about the purchasing and delivery system. At the same time, technical power will not be harmed.
Solution 3
The third solution is not to add the suggested feature if memory capacity cannot be increased. Instead, it is possible to manually notify each customer of what ID their order has. The first benefit is technical efficiency, as no direct changes to the database are applied, the working memory will not be overloaded. The second benefit is financial. As customers will be notified, they will be sure that customer service is working and will not leave for another company.
Solution Details
If the company leadership takes no corrective measures, the system may continue experiencing processing inefficiencies. The first potential consequence is that customers begin paying for the product they have already purchased, damaging the company’s reputation. The more customers are not notified about their orders, the order cancellations and mistaken payments there will be. In the first case, confusion regarding the order status may lead customers to abandon their purchase and choose another supplier. In the second case, customers may overpay for the order, which islikely to provoke substantial customer negativity.
The second consequence is that the absence of an order quote may lead to customers’ inability to track their order and get notified when it has finally arrived. As a result, the system may overflow with additional orders, which will be executed and will later have to be returned or cancelled. It will put additional strain on the already struggling database and cause adverse reactions among customers, who are unsure whether their order has been processed and is on its way. In either case, the company risks losing customers and gaining notoriety for inadequate customer service.
Final Recommendation
The preferred recommendation, among the two discussed above, is the first. Although it demands financial investment, it will ensure the system has enough memory capacity to add more features to the purchasing and shipping process. Furthermore, it will ensure that the system will work efficiently in terms of the technical and operational aspects of the company’s work. This investment should pay off quickly because it will enable the company to expand its services and have more customers without the risk of a system crash.
Reference
IT Pro. (2021). Five database problems and how to solve them. Web.