Case Study on MIS: Information System in Restaurant

A waiter takes an order at a table, and then enters it online via one of the six terminals located in the restaurant dining room. The order is routed to a printer in the appropriate preparation area: the cold item printer if it is a salad, the hot-item printer if it is a hot sandwich or the bar printer if it is a drink. A customer’s meal check-listing (bill) the items ordered and the respective prices are automatically generated. This ordering system eliminates the old three-carbon-copy guest check system as well as any problems caused by a waiter’s handwriting. When the kitchen runs out of a food item, the cooks send out an ‘out of stock’ message, which will be displayed on the dining room terminals when waiters try to order that item. This gives the waiters faster feedback, enabling them to give better service to the customers. Other system features aid management in the planning and control of their restaurant business. The system provides up-to-the-minute information on the food items ordered and breaks out percentages showing sales of each item versus total sales. This helps management plan menus according to customers’ tastes. The system also compares the weekly sales totals versus food costs, allowing planning for tighter cost controls. In addition, whenever an order is voided, the reasons for the void are keyed in. This may help later in management decisions, especially if the voids consistently related to food or service. Acceptance of the system by the users is exceptionally high since the waiters and waitresses were involved in the selection and design process. All potential users were asked to give their impressions and ideas about the various systems available before one was chosen.

QUESTION ONE [30]

1.1 In the light of the system discussed in the article, discuss the decisions to be made in the area of strategic planning, managerial control and operational control and the information that would be required to make such decisions(20)

1.2 With reference to the case study, discuss what additional systems could be added on to the restaurants MIS that will enable a more holistic system. (10)

QUESTION TWO [20]

2.1 Explain how a business organisation can use information technology to compete effectively by improving efficiency and by improving its products and services. (10)

2.2 Describe any five (5) characteristics of the 1st generation computer. (5)

2.3 Explain briefly the impact of recent developments in high performance computing on lifestyles, research and business. (5)

QUESTION THREE [20]

3.1 A computer can be viewed as a system because it is interrelated, that is it accepts input, processes the input and produces output With regards to the above statement discuss the concept of a CPU. (10)

3.2 Programming is a specialized form of the age-old process of problem solving.
With regards to the above statement, explain the process that programmers use to write a programme.

Answers to above questions on MIS

Answer 1: On the basis of information provided in the case study, there are significant decisions that are required to be made in the area of strategic planning, managerial control and operational control in order to effectively manage the system at the restaurant. With respect to strategic planning, it is important to decide on menu, the market positioning strategies and the investment decisions support the restaurant business.