Benefits and Application of Database Packages

Benefits and Application of Database Packages Introduction The aim of this paper is to reflect on the benefits of Database processes in business operations. Actually, database refers to data collection that is prepared and arranged in computer systems in order to choose quickly preferred items. The effective use of database is enhanced by the manner in which information is organized orderly in ascending documentation.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Benefits and Application of Database Packages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, manual recording has been faced with many shortcomings, for example it is complicated process thus ineffective. This paper also examines how database packages can be applied in business processes. Surely, database systems are invented to enable businessmen to manage and restore information (data collection) in an ordered way. Importance of Database in Firms’ Business Operations Database process is beneficial to busi nessmen when it comes to processing, collecting and storing information (Solove, 2001). For example, business operation will be more effective when businessmen know their suppliers, competitors and consumers. According to Mukherjee Duncan (2000), several business lack resources to process and collect huge amount of information. â€Å"This means that they do not have vital information on whether consumers buy goods repeatedly, how progress is their business and how profitable are they† (Mukherjee Duncan, 2000). Such important information is beneficial in shaping business strategy and handling operational business challenges. Businessmen should gather much information from database which are beneficial in future operation of their businesses. Solove (2001) claimed: Database operation is important because it minimizes resources and time utilized in managing data; it enables businessmen a capability to evaluate data in many ways; it is an effective system of management of data; it transforms disparate idea to be useful information; and promotes quality of information (p.24). Database Application According to (Mukherjee Duncan, 2000), several business operations like insurance, banking, publishing and manufacturing commercial businesses need to use database systems because of their business demands. Indeed, there are two database systems, relational (structured) and single (flat) file databases (Solove, 2001). Moreover, Mukherjee Duncan (2000) explained:Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Database system that a businessman may need depends on: amount of data that requires to be processed and stored; whether more than single individual are required to amend and access data; and data complexity in terms of sound, plain text and image files (p.32). When a business operation is not complex, for example managing one hundred consumers, a businessman may use effectively database package like spreadsheet. On the other hand, Solove (2001) viewed that a complicated business operation may require sophisticated packages like Sybase, Microsoft Access, Oracle, Informix and Filmmaker Pro. Such are particularly made to sort huge quantity of data, for example, enabling businessmen to handle payments processes, clients’ names and products ordered (Mukherjee Duncan, 2000). Database is important particularly to businesses which require huge quantity of information. Furthermore, â€Å"database process is a tool which is beneficial to build effective applications like inventory and sale ordering management in business operation† (Solove, 2001). In fact, â€Å"database devices make effective management and maintenance of data structured files. Such tools have strict parameters in order to instill accuracy and integrity in its task† (Mukherjee Duncan, 2000). For instance, any alteration that happens in the da ta will never be affected or corrupted whenever the process fails. Moreover, database enhances efficiency because it enables many users to utilize the data simultaneously (Solove, 2001). Database is most important when business application is shaped to meet the needs of businessmen. Indeed, specifying business need is special involvement that calls for a professional developer (Mukherjee Duncan, 2000).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Benefits and Application of Database Packages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Solove (2001), the modern database process utilizes SQL processing (Structured Query Language) that enables evaluation of data and thus reports are built in various ways. Such reports created are beneficial in coordinating business processes while promoting customers’ demands. Conclusion The use, collection, and processing of information is important in business operation. For ex ample, many business processes may be effectively managed when the information is stored accurate and updated. Any application which may make work engaged more effective and easier should be embraced without doubt. Database has significant role in Information Technology because its capability to process structured information is what drives business efficiency. References Mukherjee, S., and Duncan, G. (2000). Optimal Disclosure Limitation Strategy in Statistical Databases: Deterring Tracker Attacks through Addictive Noise. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 95, 4-8. Solove, D. (2001). Privacy and power: Computer Databases and Metaphors for Information Privacy. Stanford Law Review, 53, 35-40.

Employment Trends Services Industry Soars

Employment Trends Services Industry Soars For many job seekers, employment reports have indicated that jobs, particularly in the service industry, are plentiful. Recent unemployment numbers have held steady at 5.3 percent, representing a seven-year low. It is expected that the last two quarters will post a trend toward even more encouraging employment numbers. Sector GrowthSome sectors are posting an increase in the number of available jobs. For instance, growth in health care, retail, technology, professional services and finance jobs is encouraging. At the same time, some areas such as the energy sector posted lower job offerings, largely due to the glut in oil and decreased commodity prices. Overall, the service industry posted the largest gains. The biggest decrease was found  in the manufacturing sector.Service Sector and Retail Trade GrowthThe U.S. Department of Labor noted that the majority of job growth is related to the upswing in service sector jobs. Food service jobs grew by 376,000 in the past year, the leaderà ‚  in all sectors. This trend is the strongest and is positioned for greater growth. The growth of 322,000 jobs in the past year among retail workers is also encouraging. Creating a perfect retail resume is your first step to take if you want to apply for retail jobs.Other Sectors With GainsGains were seen in other sectors, with health care jobs adding 28,000 jobs for the month and 436,000 for the year. Jobs available in hospitals rose by 16,000. Computer design grew by a modest 9,000 jobs, while engineering and architectural jobs gained about 6,000 positions. Transportation-related jobs grew by 146,000 overall.Health Care JobsThe rise in health care jobs is related to demographic changes including an aging population and health insurance modification. These changes make  health care a good sector for aspiring job applicants.Dental and nurse practitioner jobs also offer a potential for rapid growth and an excellent salary base. Health care assistant jobs overall are plentiful.Look ing for a JobBeing aware of job offerings is the first step in gaining employment. Older methods of using job want ads are limited, and more applicants are turning to online searches to find work. TheJobNetwork provides you with a way to stay on top of jobs as they become available, letting you apply quickly before the position is filled.TheJobNetwork lets you search a vast database filled with opportunities obtained from various sources. This free-to-use database makes it easy by listing your job preferences and criteria as well as your qualifications. When matching jobs are found, an email alert is sent to you. Signing up with this job search platform enhances your chance of securing the type of employment you want.

Police Agencies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Police Agencies - Assignment Example The DeKalb County Sherriff's Deputies start at about $33,492 per year and move up to $51,281 after 5 years (http://theblueline.com/feature/ILdekalbcounty2.html). They enjoy 33 days off per year after 6 months, partially paid insurance, paid overtime, paid training, and uniforms. Illinois Conservation Police enjoy paid vacation days, sick days, personal days, and holidays; overtime compensation; uniforms, equipment, and vehicles; life and hospitalization insurance (http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/CAREERnew.htm). Starting salary is $3127/month; after a one year CPO certification the salary increases to $4136/month with an excellent retirement/pension plan. Illinois State Troopers start at $48,192 per year but require advanced training to apply (www.isp.state.il.us). FBI Agents start at about $45,000 per year and can make as much as $120,251 after twenty years (http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=FBI_Agent/Salary). There seem to be certain disparities in pay between agencies. For example, note that the city police make far less than the most of the other agencies. State troopers and university police start higher than FBI agents.

Construction management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Construction management - Assignment Example To correct this and improve productivity I proposed that the targets and goal be realistic that the workforce is able to achieve. If this was not possible then an increase in the workforce was necessary to ensure that the delays are over. Lean system has the clients in mind and by so doing; the system is able to create the customer and not what is available and easy for production need whatever. Value streaming is also a special characteristic that makes lean system sufficient Ahmed (2010 p.g 34). The system is able to identify where recourses are less and come up with situations where the recourses are wasted and there is need for the recourses to be minimised for maximising their use. With lean production system, we get to know the flow of the recourses and the cash. To keep with customer demands, lean production system is able to come up with pull, which is effective in identifying and combining the total efforts that the customer and the worker use. No one is perfect but we can always strive for perfection. We make this possible by the lean system, which provides an environment for the managers to try to work perfectly. We can as well use Lean construction services to improve our production. Lean construction provides clear goals on developing basic practices and goals regarding the project, which we are working on. The operating system is able to create awareness as well as understanding the project goals. We are also able to interact with various companies who are experiencing the same problems and know how they have dealt with their own problems Ahmed (2010 p.g 34). To reduce any risk o overrun and liquidated damages, we have to use the cost plus the fixed percentage contract. In this type of contract, we are able to receive the actual fee of the construction job and a fixed fee that will act as the profit. This will in return give us a reduced risk of any liquidated risk. If we are

Class Test on Micro Economics Essay Example for Free

Class Test on Micro Economics Essay i) All questions in this section are compulsory ii) Marks for questions are indicated against each iii) Answers for very short answer questions carrying 1 mark must be answered in ONE sentence each iv) Answers for short answer questions carrying 3 marks each should not normally exceed 60 words v) Answers for short answer questions carrying 4 marks each should normally not exceed 70 words vi) Answers for long answer questions carrying 6 marks each should not normally exceed 100 words each. vii) Answers should be brief and to the point – The above word limits should be adhered to as far as possible. 1. Name the characteristic which make monopolistic competition different from perfect competition[1] 2. Why is demand for water inelastic?[1] 3. State one feature of oligopoly[1] 4. In which market form is the demand perfectly inelastic?[1] 5. Distinguish between increase in demand and increase in quantity demanded[3] 6. Goods X and Y are substitutes. Explain the effect of a fall in price of Y on the demand for X.[3] 7. At a price of Rs. 5 per unit of a commodity A, total revenue is Rs 800. When its price rises by 20%, total revenue increases by Rs. 400. Calculate its rice elasticity of demand[3] 8. Explain the implication of freedom to entry and exit of firms under perfect competition[3] 9. Given below is the cost schedule of a firm. Its average fixed cost is Rs 20 When it is producing 3 units. |Output |1 |2 |3 | |Average Variable cost (Rs.) |30 |28 |32 | Calculate its marginal cost and average total cost at each given level of output.[3] 10 Explain the features of â€Å"What to produce† OR Explain any two main features of centrally planned economy.[4] 12. When the price of a commodity falls by Rs. 2 per unit, its quantity demanded increases by 10 units. Its price elasticity is (-)1. Calculate its quantity demanded on its equilibrium price.[4] 13. Explain the effect of increase in income of buyers of a normal commodity on its equilibrium price.[4] 14. State whether the following statements are true or false: Give reasons for your answer (a) When total revenue is constant, average revenue will be constant. (b) Average variable cost can fall even when marginal product is rising (c) When marginal product falls, average product will also fall.[6] 15. Explain the law of variable proportions with the help of total and marginal product curves. [6] 16 Explain producers equilibrium with the help of a marginal cost and marginal revenue schedule [6]

The Problem of Pornography Essay -- Argumentative Essay, Censorship 201

  In the United States someone has to be eighteen years old before they can buy pornography, but just because they have to be eighteen to buy it doesn't mean they have to be eighteen to look at it. Everywhere around the Internet one may stumble upon pornography where anyone, including children, may look at it. Pornography is not something to be proud of and is not something that our children should be able to see randomly on the Internet or in a store at a young age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Susan Brownmiller"s essay, "Let"s Put Porn Back in the Closet," she argues that "pornography represents hatred of women, that pornography"s intent is to humiliate, degrade, and dehumanize the female body for the purpose of erotic stimulation and pleasure," which I completely agree with. (Brownmiller 53.) Women that respect themselves or other women would never pose for any type of pornography. People should never look at a woman as if they are just an object in a magazine or movie. Women should be respected and so should their privacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When I was growing up, pornography was not something peopl...

Project Management Email Essay

In response to your email, our team has analyzed each project. In your email, you stated that the selected project should generate revenue within 12 month of next week’s PMO Review. You also stated that we should also consider the degree of risk involved with on-time completion, the critical path requirement and cost, and the effective life cycle and forecasted ROI. In order to make a recommendation, we took into account the scope of each project and whether it will meet the desired outcome, within your desired constraints. PROJECT JUNIPER The critical path for Project Juniper would be six months, which would be October 2015. The costs associated with this project would be less than the others, $325,000; however, the potential revenue is only $250,000. In addition, its break-even point is slightly less than three years, with a forecasted life cycle of only 2-3 years. PROJECT PALOMINO The critical path for Project Palomino would be nine months, which would be January 2016. The costs associated with this project would be $655,000, with revenues as low as $450,000. However, using a 5% margin of error, this could be more profitable with its break-even point of seven years. The issue we are worried about is that this would also be the end of the project’s life of seven years. PROJECT STARGAZER The critical path for Project Stargazer would be ten months, which would be February 2016. The costs associated with this project would be $575,000. The break-even point is one and a half years, with a seven-year life cycle. In addition, the company has already started on the research of the widgets, allowing the company a faster start up time, which will fit into the 12-month timeframe given. Even though the risks may be higher, the  technology of this project will help dilute the risk, as well as the ability to increase price using skimming price strategy. This project is innovative and can have various modifications, which will enable the company to satisfy a larger customer base. Our team recommends Piper Industries to accept Project Stargazer. FIVE PHASES 1. Concept Development/Project Conception – Data of customer’s needs will be collected, competition will be identified, and the idea for a project will be carefully examined to determine whether or not it benefits the organization. During this phase, feasibility, risk, and return on investment will be analyzed. The project is already at this stage, with the research and the costs being well documented. 2. Project Planning – This step is the most important step. The team will decide on a budget, set timelines, and identify available resources, materials, and expertise to ensure on-time delivery, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify roadblocks. A project plan, project charter and/or project scope may be put in writing, which will outline the work to be performed. The team will prioritize, calculate a budget and schedule, and determine what resources are needed. 3. Project Execution – The project manager clarifies roles and responsibilities, timelines, and individual deadlines. There is constant communication to ensure tasks are completed on time and to specification. For this project, execution will take place 12 months after the PMO meeting. 4. Project Performance and Control – The project manager monitors timeline, plan, and team performance. They will also conduct review meetings and periodic project performance reports to review the budget. The project managers will also compare the status of the project to the actual plan to keep the project on schedule. If there are key constraints affecting project success, the necessary adjustments will be made. This step is necessary to improve quality, delivery time and the launch timings for market capture. 5. Project Close – This is the final phase of the project. Project tasks are completed and the client has approved the outcome. An evaluation can be done at this point, along with closing all contracts and settling all bills. Documentation can be used for future projects. The project team is released. KEY DELIVERABLES Aside from the dates and costs mention about, the project team decided on five key deliverables for Project Stargazer. They are as follows: 1. To launch the new line of widgets quickly, infiltrating into an existing competitive market. 2. Increase revenues, utilizing modifications and increasing sales during the maturity stage. 3. The team will provide product testing and analysis, meeting client requirements 4. In order to gain and/or retain reluctant customers, increase the product lifestyle and hold as a market leader. 5. Use customization to highlight the flexibility of the widget and introduce new products. REFERENCES Jacobs, F.R., & Chase, R. (2011). Operations and supply chain management (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Nestor-Harper, M. (n.d.). Tasks in the Five Phases of Project Management | Chron.com. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/tasks-five-phases-project-management-52690.html

Misuse knowledge Essay

One of the notable books I have read is Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. It is a memorable and meaningful book that has a great impact on my personality. I was able to discover many things not only about life, society and history but also about mankind itself. One of the concepts satirized in the book is scientists and the scientific approach as a whole. The book shows science as a cold and inconsiderate entity, one that comes from man’s obsession for what Vonnegut argues is fruitless knowledge, as man will only misuse knowledge. It depicts many things and I was able to realize that the book is of great help in learning about science and its relation to people on earth. Aside from the fact that I read the book out of requirement of my English Grade Twelve class, I became personally touched by the story because it highlights how science can be misused against man and cause undesirable consequences. I became more aware of my actions and promised myself to put more importance to science once I become a professional. The book discusses pessimisms in an increase in man’s moral figure but still I view it very differently. For me, it is a precaution of sorts for men and women of science to not seek science for the sake of science itself, but rather for the betterment of man and society as a whole, and how engineers in particular must be responsible with their creations lest it be used against their common man.

Oil

Oil In our society today, consumption of oil has become as common as food or beverage consumption. We use oil everyday. Oil is used for many things such as: raw material for many plastics, heating in winter, medicines, clothing, paint, transportation, and pesticides. "Crude Oil can be refined into gas, gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, fuel oil, and long residue" (Cohan, Emily 1). By using oil for basically everything, this natural resource is likely to last for only a short period of time. It seems as if we are always running out of oil and each barrel we use brings us one step closer to completely running out. However, we are finding new oil everyday. "Despite being a very mature producing region, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service, have estimated that the U.S. still has substantial undiscovered oil and gas resources." Untapped resources are still coming up and are of use (American Petroleum Institute 1).United StatesIn 1859, Pennsylvania put up the world's first oil well (Clifford, Dick 3). According to the American Petroleum Institute, "Oil and natural gas together equal 65 percent of our nation's energy." That is an incredible amount of energy. Without that energy, our world would be in a lot of danger. We would run out of everyday materials such as: rubber, electricity, and other things that we need for existence. In 1904, Captain William Matson proved oil was more efficient than coal. Oil was thereafter used for gasoline in the new cars, in steamers, and in sugar refineries. A ton of coal equals the same amount of energy as 4 barrels of oil (Cohan, Emily, 1). Wow! If people could actually realize how much that actually is then the world would be saved! Think of how much money people could save on...

Very Good Editors Must Pay Attention to the Details

Very Good Editors Must Pay Attention to the Details Its often said that the brains of human beings have two very distinct sides, with the left side being responsible for language, logic, and math, while the right handles spatial abilities, face recognition and processing music. Editing is also very much a two-sided process, one that we divvy up as micro- and macro-editing. Micro-editing deals with the technical, nuts-and-bolts aspects of news writing. Macro-editing deals with the content of stories. Heres a checklist of micro- and macro-editing: Micro-Editing AP Style Grammar Punctuation Spelling Capitalization Macro-Editing The lede - does it make sense, is it supported by the rest of the story, is it in the first graf? The story - is it fair, balanced and objective? Libel - are there any statements that might be considered libelous? Substance - is the story thorough and complete? Are there any holes in the story? Writing - is the story well-written? Is it clear and understandable? Personality Type and Editing As you can imagine, certain personality types are probably better at one type of editing or the other. Precise, detail-oriented people are probably best at micro-editing, while big-picture types probably excel at macro-editing. Small Details vs. Content of Stories And in a typical newsroom, especially at larger news outlets, there is a kind of micro-macro division of labor. Copy desk editors generally focus on the small details - grammar, AP Style, punctuation and so on. Assignment editors who run the various sections of a paper - city news, sports, arts and entertainment and so on - generally focus more on the macro side of things, the content of stories. But heres the rub - a good editor has to be able to do both micro- and macro-editing, and to do both well. This is especially true at smaller publications and student newspapers, which typically have fewer staffers. Not Getting Caught up in Small Details to Lose the Big Picture In other words, you must have the patience to correct bad grammar, misspelled words and punctuation problems. But you cant let yourself get so caught up in the small details that you lose sight of the big picture, i.e., does the lede of the story make sense? Is the content well-written and objective? Does it cover all the bases and answer all the questions a reader would likely have? Both Are Equally Important The larger point is this - both micro- and macro-editing are equally important. You can have the most wonderfully written story in the world, but if its filled with AP Style errors and misspelled words then those things will detract from the story itself. Likewise, you can fix all the bad grammar and misplaced punctuation but if a story makes no sense, or if the lede is buried in the eighth paragraph, or if the story is biased or contains libelous content, then all the fixes you made wont amount to much. To see what we  mean, take a look at these sentences: Police said they confiscated three point two million dollars of cocain in what was a massiv drug bust. The CEO of Exon estimated that 5% of the companys profits would be plouwed back into resarch and development. Im sure youve figured out that these sentences primarily involve micro-editing. In the first sentence, cocaine and massive are spelled wrong and the dollar amount doesnt follow AP Style. In the second sentence, Exxon, plowed and research are misspelled, the percentage doesnt follow AP Style, and companys needs an apostrophe. Now, look at these sentences. The first example is meant to be a lede: There was a fire at a house last night. It was on Main Street. The fire burned the house to the ground and three children inside were killed. The CEO, who is known for his money-grubbing personality, said he would close the factory if it lost money. Here we see macro-editing problems. The first example is three sentences long when it should be one, and it buries the most important aspect of the story - the death of three children. The second sentence includes a potentially libelous bias - the money-grubbing CEO. As you can see, whether its micro- or macro-editing, a good editor has to catch every mistake in every story. As editors will tell you, theres no room for error.

Mr Cod Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Mr Cod - Essay Example The company manages its operations through specialised American machinery to international standards, but with a difference. Mr Cod has its roots firmly targeting British sentiments and maintains a high quality that is synonymous of its service. Mr Cod's special Fish and Chips and other famous chicken products are, in the opinion of its staunch supporters and existing franchisees, superior to any multinational competitor. Mr Cod is the brainchild of Mr John Brewer, a pioneer of fast food franchising in the UK, and a former director of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He became a founder member of the British Franchise Association in 1977, and a founder member of the British Fast Food Federation in 1978 (Mr. Cod, Mr. Cod Background and History, www.mrcod.com). The fast-food industry has seen a remarkable upward trend in recent years in the UK. It was estimated that this business industry, which, if coffee shops were included, was valued at around 10.78bn, in 2005, an increase of 4% to the corresponding period the previous year. It's quite easy to predict the cause for this growth pattern. With globalisation come opportunities. Its not just here in the UK or in Europe, but the world itself is becoming one big union. China was the first to break the communist jinx and follow a path to liberalisation and open market. This opened the floodgates and multinational companies took advantage of the benefits of cheap labour and raw materials to establish and expand their market presence there. It didn't take long for other Asian countries to recognise the benefit of liberalisation. Soon others joined the bandwagon to economic freedom and FDI. Perhaps one might wonder what this has got to do with the fast food industry. Time! Just about everyone competes with the other for space. Fast-paced and time restrained, the people who make things happen, have just no time to share the table with their colleagues and family. Gone are the days when families got together on weekends over a barbeque and had fun. Today, the world is fast-paced. Only those who have the inclination and dedication for fast-paced life, survive. Breakfasts during transit, business meetings over lunch, and late dinner are a part of an executive's life. Liberalisation and globalisation has brought countries closer to each other. With more and more conglomerates setting up their business in other countries, competition has become stiff. Time is money and people just don't seem to have the time to sit over a cup of coffee with a paper in their hand. This phenomenon has created opportunities for hoteliers and other like-minded entrepreneurs as well. Fast food for the fast-paced! Just about every corner of the street is occupied by a burger or hot dog vendor making a decent income by sunset. Welcome to the world of fast foods. This tradition has caught the imagination of almost all people

Edgewires Automated Phone System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Edgewires Automated Phone System - Case Study Example They serve a niche market of vacationers who desire adventure in their holidays. Thus, call centre operators became immersed in and learned how to provide adventure seekers satisfying holiday experiences. Not only are such holidays off the beaten path but they typically require special equipment. Edgewire's operators coordinate with suppliers to fulfil all their customers' needs. Satisfaction of thrill-seeking customers is obviously healthy or else Edgewire couldn't have grown into a robust business if its operators delivered inferior adventures. Today's situation is that goals #1 and #2 have evolved into apparent conflict. In the interest of long-term stability, Edgewire's management firmly believe they must install an automated phone answering system. Doing so means replacing call centre operators. Management has calculated the savings by cutting back on labour costs. However, this goal of presumed long-term stability comes at the cost of jobs; yet providing jobs was a goal of the EU regeneration grant. Quite naturally the call centre operators are distressed and disagree. This Social Impact Statement (SIS) examines the issue in-depth. The goal is to find options that perhaps can be smartly used to satisfy all parties that are affected by Edgewire's conversion to an automated phone answering system. ... This SIS comes somewhat late. Edgewire management's decision is almost fait accompli. They are reluctant to discuss the inherent conflict-of-interest or negotiate the core issues. They stalled before acquiescing to the independent evaluation requested by the call centre operators' Trade Union. 1.1 The New System and Its High-Level Benefit - Reduce Costs 2,310,000 Yearly In addition to cost savings, two features of the proposed automated phone answering system are quite attractive. It will be a "decision support system" (DSS) as well as a "knowledge based system" (KBS). DSS tells call centre personnel specific decision information each customer already made about an adventure holiday and left on the automated phone system. KBS is a standardisation of holiday packages for customers who don't need special customising. Management believes these new ways to do business streamline operations and save labour costs, thus better ensuring Edgewire's long-term financial wellbeing and economic stability. Here are supporting data. Staffing Current Staff Current Cost Proposed - New Staffing Level Cost with New System Savings Call Centre operators 200 4 million 50 1.25 million 2.75 million System Update Officers -0- -0- 20 0.5 million -0.5million Line Managers 10 300,000 10 300,000 -0- Drop-in centre 3 60,000 -0- -0- 60,000 Totals 213 4,360,000 80 2,050,000 2,310,000 1.2 Stakeholders Stakeholders have not been apprised or consulted. Until now only Edgewire's management (primary stakeholder) has had input on decision making about the automated phone answering system. Nobody knows with certainty how Edgewire's customer base (another primary) will react. Management lacks 100% unity. Dissention exists. Anxieties are growing