IS 344 GBI

Preliminary

In answering the following questions, it may be very helpful to review the Global Bike Inc. Company Overview (https://lms.epistemypress.com/mod/book/view.php?id…Links to an external site.
)included as part of Chapter 1 (online textbook).

Report Specifics

Consider the integrated work system used by Global Bike, Inc. (GBI) to provide bicycles and accessories to the end customer (i.e. the bike rider). Based on your understanding of GBI over the semester, please answer the following questions:

1. Create a detailed work system snapshot for GBI. Be sure to include all work system elements. In talking of the integrated process steps, consider those summarized in Chapter 9 (Process Integration).
2. Describe the nature of GBI’s product/service offering in terms of the following dimensions:Information vs. physical – To what degree is the nature of GBI’s offering a pure information offering vs. a pure physical offering?Service vs. product – To what degree is the nature of GBI’s offering a service vs. a product?Commodity vs. customized – To what degree is GBI’s offering a commodity vs. an offering that can be customized?Controllability – To what degree are GBI’s offerings controllable by a customer post-purchase? Can you think of features that might provide this in the future?Adaptability – To what degree are GBI’s offerings adaptable over time? Can you think of features that might provide this in the future?
3. Alternatively, describe the nature of GBI’s product/service offering in terms of the following dimensions:GoodsAccess to resourcesService actions
4. If you were looking to improve the nature of GBI’s product/services (i.e. the output of their work system) how might you go about altering any of the dimensions referenced in question #2 or #3 above to change the nature of GBI’s work system output and provide a product/service customers may find more valuable? Think carefully how the use of modern information technologies might enable new features along these dimensions.
5. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes requirements for bicyclesLinks to an external site.. How might this impact the value of GBI’s bicycles for U.S. customers? What other criteria would customers consider in determining if GBI bicycles provide value for their money?
6. Do all potential customers consider the same factors in the same manner when deciding to purchase a GBI product? Why?
7. GBI defines two business areas based on its product lines, each of which has two sub-categories (and some with further sub-categories). Describe this hierarchy. What process(es) are these used in and for what purpose?
8. In the context of GBI’s supply chain:Identify and briefly describe the organizations participating in GBI’s supply chain through delivering bicycles to customers. Which ones are upstream? Which ones are downstream? These have been discussed throughout the semester in the text and exercises.In studying GBI’s supply chain, you can see that GBI primarily assembles semi-finished goods into finished goods at its production facilities. How and why?
9. How does GBI utilize the Internet as a distribution channel? Why?
10. What type of production strategy does GBI utilize? What type of production process does GBI utilize?
11. Consider the organizational structure for GBI as shown in Figure 1 of the GBI OverviewLinks to an external site. referenced above. Consider the functions (activities) reporting to Co-CEOs John Davis and Peter Weiss.In the context of Michael Porter’s value chain, which of the functions (activities) described would be considered primary activities? What role do primary activities play in an organization’s value chain?In the context of Michael Porter’s value chain, which of the functions (activities) described would be considered support activities? What role do support activities play in an organization’s value chain?
12. GBI operates two production facilities, Dallas and Heidelberg. Each facility has three assembly lines, each of which can produce around 1000 bikes per year. If these plants operate at capacity, what is the monthly output rate of each plant? If total production capacity can be increased by 15%–20% by using overtime hours and part-time workers, is this illustrative of process flexibility, scalability or elasticity? Why?
13. Consider that you are the VP of Operations for Global Bike, reporting to Co-CEO Peter Weiss. In this role you are responsible for the production process, among other key processes. Whether following a make-to-order strategy or a make-to-stock strategy, please identify and briefly discuss at least three performance measures (in the context of GBI) that you would monitor on a regular basis. For each of these variables, what is the impact of the measurements being on a positive (increasing) trend or a negative (decreasing) trend in the context of your role as VP of Operations and producing GBI products?
14. In considering the integrated work system used by GBI and the role of the VP for Human Resources, how might that role influence overall performance of the work system? What are some of the questions and issues the VP for Human Resources should be addressing to ensure optimal work system performance? What important metrics or other performance indicators should be monitored on a regular basis? Explain how these metrics impact the processes and activities of GBI’s work system.
15. In considering the integrated work system used by GBI and the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Technology Officer (CTO) how might that role influence overall performance of the work system? What are some of the questions and issues the CIO/CTO should be addressing to ensure optimal work system performance? What important metrics or other performance indicators should be monitored on a regular basis? Explain how these metrics impact the processes and activities of GBI’s work system.
16. What are some of the advantages of using SAP that GBI enjoys? In order to leverage these advantages what are some of the steps that GBI takes to minimize the effort consumed by the use of SAP? (You may need to make some assumptions. Use your general knowledge of ERP systems and complex technology and apply to GBI’s use of SAP.)