Trouble shooting information systems at the Royal hotel
ITC 6020 - Information Systems Design and Analysis
Content
Case Overview
Discussion Question and Answers
Conclusion
Case Overview
Blake had just finished his first year in the master degree’s program and attended an internship with a famous IT company. After the orientation, the company offered him the first account with the Royal Hotel which he can manager from the start to the end.
He arrived at the hotel with a one-week assignment. In the first meeting with the General Manager (GM) of the hotel, the manager told Blake that the service they provide to the customers was “unacceptable”. The high standard of the hotel ask for better service. The manager wants all the
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The information system is a combination of software, hardware, data, people and procedure. It is not solely depending on the technology, interactions between people also counts. In this case, multiple reasons have caused the situation in this case: (1) Ignorance of the real situation: The new technology may meet the needs of the hotel. However, the task stated by the GM can be done in a much easier and cheaper ways. For example, they can require employees to use written form reports in order to reduce the slippage percentage and reoccurring problems. Reporting every problem real time may cause extra work for maintenance. Gathering all the problems in a period of time and report them afterward may be more efficient, besides, the additional cost can be greatly reduced. (2) Did not take employees into consideration: In this case I am aware that the employees are interested in the new technology first, but soon “lose that interest”. It could be caused by the hard operation of the new system, thus the teaching may took a long time. While the old method is much easier and have been used for a long period, to change this habit can be tough. (3) Time limitation: We can see from the case that Blake only have one week to do his job. Although main research has been done during this time including the funding investment and negotiation with vendor, there is no time and chance for field test. The whole project is theoretical. (4) Overestimate and underestimate the
Steve McKenzie a management consultant from New Jersey reflected back on his Easter Holiday trip where they stayed at The Regal Carnation Hotel in Guam. He remembered the false advertisement of the website, many missed opportunities, and the lack of management and customer service on a vacation that over promised and under delivered. He contemplated writing a letter to the Hotel owners and management, although he may not personally receive something in return, knowing he may be able to make improvements on future travelers was motivation enough.
The problems that may occur with information systems in documents not saved correctly and the old revision of the document has been updated mistakenly or the document been sent as a shortcut to another users desktop changes been made and other staff not been able to access these.
It will also allow the tasks to be completed efficiently so that the business can focus on improving other areas of the business where the employees may require a higher level of training in customer service such as the waiters and reception staff. I think these departments should not use rationalization because they have direct contact with the customers, to make the customers feel welcomed and help the business to keep its identity of a quality hotel they must be more social and engage with the customer to provide them with the individual needs and services the hotel has on offer. Junction Hotel should also cut down on their costs much like Travelodge have done so that they offer the basics to the customers and have the extras available on extra cost so that not only can they exploit efficiency in service but have variety in terms of the product they have on offer which will help them increase their profits and market share in this difficult climate. Junction Hotel should also change their way of management so that they have more of a social business which will should help the employees to feel more willing to work and feel wanted so that they can provide a cheerful and happy experience for the customer, which will be an opposite to if they adopt rationalization in management like the experience customers feel at McDonalds, they often feel they are talking to a robot and may choose to go
Information systems (IS), technically are a set of interrelated components that collect and retrieve information, process and store it and support the organization in decision making. Information Technology (IT) is a shared technology and provides the platform for specific information. It consists of hardware and software for a business to achieve their objectives. Included is the computer systems, the computer, any hand-held devices, software the company needs to operate and storage. (20)
it is difficult to prove that the actions of the hotel, such as inadequate security and failure to follow
• Potential resistance by hotel staff to new products and procedures. Kimpton had a low turnover rate. Their employees had been there for years and had become accustomed to doing things in a certain manner. For example, they stated “many cleaning staff
John Becker believes in enfranchisement. He believes in going beyond and above our means to all guests and that each guest manages equally. This process was a success at his prior hotels that John decided to implement this process here at the regency grand hotel. He met with the management team and introduced his expectations to them. He made them aware that they are to take care of the minor issues and to contact him with significant problems in the hotel between the guest
Failure to adapt culturally and keep the connections (Guanxi) based on which the Hotel was built which in turn led to lose connections between employees and contractors will result in dramatic failure of modernization and an effective business plan (Grainger, 2008).
They upgrading a hotel first upgraded employee facilities. When a survey at London hotel showed dissatisfaction with workers’ areas, installed new floors, lockers, and showers within three months. Four-seasons needed to get it down to the front line: clerks, bell-staff, bartenders, waiters, cooks, housekeepers, and dishwashers, the lowest-paid and in most companies the least-motivated people, but the ones who would make or break a five-star service reputation. Four-seasons needs employees able and willing to respond on their own to whatever comes up, employees who can spot, solve, and even anticipate problems. That means delegating authority as well as responsibility. Four-seasons pay attention on how to treat employees and make them feel confortable when they work in hotel because employees could bring positive attitude towards customers if they in good mood.
After reading the case, one continues to come up with new problems and issues along the way that are related to information technologies. The three main problems we encountered in this case are lack of IT knowledge, inappropriate planning, and ineffective and inefficient Resource Management. Each of these issues requires specific attention to fix the next problem and so forth. The solution to attack each individual problem or issue will be explained as follows.
3.2. Advantages and disadvantages for this particular hotel from affiliating to the Hilton hotel chain
They must provide owners with a reasonable return on investment, keep guest satisfied and returning, and keep employees happy. This may seem easy, but because there are so many interpersonal transactions and because hotels are open every day, all day, the complexities of operating become challenge that the general manager must face and overcome. The GM not only focuses on leading and operating the hotel departments but also on aspects of the infrastructure, from room atmosphere to security (Walker, 2013).
As we discussed in class, every business is faced with these issues and they are important to managers making strategic decisions. One of the first things learned about business is that if there is no demand for a good or service, the firm that provides it will not continue to exist. Over time the hotel industry has continued to change with market conditions and make itself attractive to business
Information system is a combination of hardware, software, infrastructure as well trained personnel who organized and facilitate planning, control, coordination and decision making within an organization. Information systems are also able to implement a vital integrated set of components for collecting, storing, and processing data. With this, it provided organizations with the necessary information, knowledge, and digital products needed. Information system bring the meaning of business applications that manage their operations, compete in the market place, manage accounts and human resources. This system have a vast variety of components that are crucial for a enterprise, business to function at his highest level, IT software is responsible that all system are reliable and up to date.
An information system is a base in today’s business world. Everything is electronic. In various businesses, the survival and ability to succeed strategic business goals is challenging without extensive use of information system. Businesses improve the efficiency of their operations in order to accomplish higher profitablity. Besides that, information systems are important tools available to managers for achieving higher levels of efficiency and productiviy in business operations. For an example, Zara uses the PDA technology to gather customer feedback and input.