The WNZ Media Case Study:
1. Based on a careful reading of the case answer the following questions and then complete the table below. In the table below, list in column 1 the most important operational (transactional) activities (i.e. day-to-day work) at WNZ Media Corporation as it operates its business and competes in its markets. Then in column 2 describe the information required to enable or support each of those operations-level requirements.
a. Employing the MIS Integrative Framework (posted on blackboard for this Session Assignment), what is the primary business focus/driver of WNZ Media (i.e. operational excellence, customer intimacy, product/service innovation) and why did you make this choice?
b. What would be the most important secondary driver/focus for WNZ?
c. Complete the table below (note: provide at least 8 examples):
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Key Operations-level (i.e. day-to-day) Business Activities/Transactions
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Associated information Requirements
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repurpose Web content to create new multi-media products
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- story/news article libraries
- video and audio libraries
- Google "interest" survey data
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2. For each information requirement you identified in Column 2 of Question 1, explain what types of application software would most effectively enable the management of these information requirements for WNZ Media Corporation. In the last column describe how this investment has improved operations efficiency and/or effectiveness.
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Information Requirement (copy from question 1, column 2)
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Enabling Application Software
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Operations benefit
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- story/news article libraries
- video and audio libraries
- Google "interest" survey data
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- multi-medial library system
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- leverage of existing assets
- increased revenue from existing assets
- targeted selling driven by customer data
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Note: Most business requirements align with multiple enabling application systems. Be inclusive here in your thinking!
3. In addition to the software applications you listed in Question 2, WNZ Media Corporation needs an information technology (I/T) infrastructure. This consists of the hardware and system software used to support the applications mentioned previously (but not the applications themselves). Fill in the table below with your recommendations for the various components of this infrastructure, and be as specific as possible.
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I/T Product, Component or Standard
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Value to the business
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- Linux operating system for WNZ server
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- WNZ has highly skilled technical people who can run Linux
- lower TCO for server operations
- more dependable server performance
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4. Please describe in Column 1 how WNZ Media Corporation could use information management and information technology for business process management and control (note: include at least eight examples). For each opportunity, identify in column 2 where WNZ will turn for the information required for management and control. In the last column identify the benefits these uses will provide to the corporation.
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Opportunity for Management (M) and Control (C)
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Sources of M & C Information
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Benefits to WNZ
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- manage the sales of repurposed content to ensure the right mix of products and a satisfactory return on investment
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- DSS reports employing Google data
- accounting system analysis of product by product profits
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- eliminate unprofitable items or market them better
- prioritize production of new products
- improve profitability of product line(s)
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5. Please describe in Column 1 how WNZ Media Corporation could use information to innovate for the future (note: include at least eight examples). For each opportunity, identify in column 2 where the information for these processes will come from. In the last column identify what benefits these uses will provide to WNZ Media Corporation.
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Opportunity for Innovation
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Sources of Learning/Innovation Information
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Benefits to the WZN
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- emergence of the Kindle as a content distribution platform
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- Amazon sales data and other consumer information
- incidence of use of Kindle by other content publishers
- technical info on product and its fit with WNZ offerings
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- potential new distribution channel
- opportunity to reuse and repurpose more content to increase sales and profits
- reaching customers who cannot connect to the Web because they are traveling
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6. What are the legal and ethical issues involved in each of the following scenarios and how would you recommend they be handled?
a. WNZ Media Corporation collects, edits and publishes a wide range of information as news stories and documentaries based upon work done by its own employees in the field. What are the legal and/or ethical issues raised by these practices and how should WZN address them to mitigate risk for the corporation?
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Legal Issue
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Ethical issue
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Mitigations
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who owns the content?
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what are WNZ's rights to use or repurpose the content?
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- obtain copyright where possible
- obtain permissions from owner
- review extent to which content can be used and limit use accordingly
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b. WNZ Media Corporation collects, edits and publishes a wide range of information as news stories and documentaries based upon public/customer submissions. What are the legal and/or ethical issues raised by these practices and how should WZN address them to mitigate risk for the corporation?
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Legal Issue
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Ethical issue
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Mitigations
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who owns the content?
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what are WNZ's rights to use or repurpose the content?
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- obtain copyright where possible
- obtain permissions from owner
- review extent to which content can be used and limit use accordingly
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