Limitations:
- Due to the time limit, the research is limited with room for improvement. A larger consumer base could have been surveyed rather than just taking views of the existing customers about the website.
- The present business scenario of the retail store has been used to make the suggestions for improved IT applications. The retail business is small at the moment and as it grows larger, its IT requirements such as the type of network needed, will be different from what are suggested in this report. Therefore as the business expands, a new evaluation will have to be carried out and this report will no longer be applicable.
Findings:
The Data Protection Act 1998 states that the rights of consumers concerning the data companies hold about them are as follows:
- The customer has the right to access information a company has held about him/her, and to change any out-dated or incorrect information.
- The consumer also has the right to prevent a company from using of keeping his personal information with them any more.
- Other rights regarding data protection mention that consumers cannot be contacted to market products without their prior consent.
- If these rights are violated then the consumer has the right to sue the violating company and claim compensation.
The buying office needed to connect with the suppliers to be able to know the status of their orders and track the delivery, as well as to let them know their stock position so that new stock could be delivered to their premises.
The shop's survey shows that it is a single building shaped liked a rectangle, and the area is roughly 20 meters square. The staff at the till need to be connected to the management office to share information on their computers. The layout of the workstations is also simple, as the tills are next to each other and the management cabin is also in the same line but a little bit further to the customer tills.
The existing customers said that they would like to shop on-line. They also wanted to know when the new stock had arrived and when a sale was on. They disliked the idea of giving the same information again and again . So they wanted to have their contact details stored in the website database, which could be accessed by them securely for any alteration.
Conclusions:
- Data Protection Act Compliance:
Compliance to the Data Protection Act is a legal requirement for all businesses who interact with general consumers, so the retail business should educate the staff about how to keep client information safe and what measures to take in their marketing activities that can get their message across without sending unsolicited messages.
The business needs a simple network which can also be set up easily.
As their customers have mentioned, the retail shop should have a website to sell and market their products to buyers who like to use the internet.
Recommendations:
Data protection Act:
- The shop managers should immediately inform all their customers of any information they hold about them.
- Only collect as much information as is necessary to process a transaction.
- In their marketing activities, the business should sent newsletters and email only to customers who opted for them.
- Make sure the customers are aware that they are taking all possible measures to secure their personal information.
- Periodically contact the customers to ask them to update their information.
Database Precautions:
- This database has personal information of the customers. Therefore it should be secured. No member of staff should have access to it, except the senior manager, so that non-related people may not have access to it. It should be kept under password.
- Security of database can be a problem because all the information is in one place, and if hackers get in the system, they can steal all information. Therefore, the database must be kept secure with encryption and passwords at all times.
- Data Protection Act requires the company has to make sure that customer data is protected even from getting corrupted. So, virus protection software should be installed on the system.
- If the networks are not working properly, the staff cannot share information. So a back-up program should also be available in case of emergency.
Type of Network recommended:
A Local Area Network (LAN) can be used for this small business premises because of the following reasons:
- All computers in the small premises can work efficiently via LAN.
- This network enables small businesses to share printers and files.
- This network is very cost-effective when Ethernet cables are used.
- Data can be transferred quickly by LAN.
Type of Topology suggested:
A BUS topology will suit this small premises because all the tills are in a straight line and the manager's office is also in the same straight line. Therefore a BUS topology can connect them all easily and most cost-effectively as the cable will be used in a straight line. The topology will be connected by using a straight line of cable and connecting each computer to it separately.
Caution:
If the network shuts down, this topology will make it difficult to find out where the problem is. If a cable breaks, the complete network will shut down so care should be taken to keep the cables intact.
In the appendix, a diagram is drawn showing how BUS topology will work.
Advantages:
- When their database is installed, the buying office can easily share information amongst the staff and the will all be able to see the same information.
How can the retail shop use their website to generate more business?
- Send newsletters personalized emails to announce sales.
- Post fashion tips on the websites and send email alerts for customers to see these tips. This way customers will come to the website, and check out the new stock.
- The website should contain testimonials of existing customers so that new customers are are encouraged by the good customer service.
- In compliance with the Data Protection Act, the customers should be given full access to the information available about them, and a password should be given to let them change their information as they like.
- A click-stream analysis on the website, can be used to make more profiles of customers and this can be used as another database, so that the company knows which pages do customer s visit most.
- They can sell their products 24 / 7 by applying e-commerce.
Management Consultant
Management Company
28th August 2008
Bibliography:
Reports:
Wilson T Ph.D. (1989) “The implementation of information system strategies in UK companies - aims and barriers to success.”
International Journal of Information Management, 9 pp.245-258
Youern A and Green J (2006) “Databases” Thames Valley University
Books:
Goad T (1997) The first-time trainer AMACOM Div American Management Association
Rubenstein A and Geisler E (2003) Installing and managing workable knowledge management systems Praeger/Greenwood
Websites:
Mitchell B, "LAN - Local Area Network"
http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/your_rights.aspx
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/lanvlanwan/g/bldef_lan.htm
Visited on 27th May 2008
Castro J and Mylopoulos J, VI. The Feasibility Study
Visited on 27th August 2008
(Author name not available)
Visited on 27th August 2008
(Author name not available)17th August 2008
Visited on 27th August 2008
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/local_area_network_LAN.html
Visited on 27th August 2008
Topology Image:
http://homepages.uel.ac.uk/u0116771/bus_topology.htm
Visited on 27th August 2008
APPENDIX
Appendix:
An aerial view of the retail shop showing the best topology.
