Decision Support Systems (DSS) – Meaning, Types, and Components

Decision Support Systems (DSS) help executives make better decisions by using historical and current data from internal Information Systems and external sources. By combining massive amounts of data with sophisticated analytical models and tools, and by making the system easy to use, they provide a much better source of information to use in the decision-making process. Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a class of computerized information systems that support decision-making activities. DSS are interactive computer-based systems and subsystems intended to help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to successfully complete decision process tasks. While many people think of decision support systems as a specialized part of a business, most companies have actually integrated this system into their day to day operating activities. For instance, many companies constantly download and analyze sales data, budget sheets and forecasts and they update their strategy once they analyze and evaluate Continue reading

Case Study on Entrepreneurship: Ted Turner

Ted Turner, founder of Turner Broadcasting System, is an entrepreneur who loves living on the edge. Who else would buy an unprofitable Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio for $ 1.6 billion? Who else would bet on producing the Goodwill Games with U.S. versus Soviet athletes at a cost of about $ 50 million? Who else would report that “the thrill of victory is everything we imagined it would be,” following the triumph of Turner’s Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series, following three consecutive, unsuccessful trips to the playoffs? Robert Edward Turner III was born in 1938, and his boyhood was spent primarily in Savannah, Georgia. As a boy, he was an enthusiastic reader of books about heroes, from Horatio Hornblower to Alexander the Great. Unsuccessful in playing any of the major sports, he turned to one that required no special physical attributes but relied on the ability to think, take chances, Continue reading

Role of Management in Improving Workplace Safety and Health

Perhaps more than any other HR activity, health and safety offer HR manager an opportunity to be more proactive than reactive. Read: The Concept of Occupational Safety and Health There are a number of strategies that can be used by organizations to ensure a healthy and safe workplace and ensure compliance with legal requirements. Some are: Design Safe and healthy systems of work Exhibit Strong management commitment Inspect Workplace for health and safety problems Establish Procedures and controls for dealing with health and safety issues Develop Training programs Set up Health and safety committees Monitor Safety policies Draw up Action plan and checklist 1. Design safer systems of work: The most direct approach to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace is to design systems of work that are safe and without risk to health. This can often only be done satisfactorily at the design, planning or purchasing stage. It may Continue reading

Agency Problem

Why conflict of interest between owners and management? The control of the modern corporation is frequently placed in the hands of professional non-owner managers. We have seen that the goal of the financial manager should be to maximize the wealth of the owners of the firm and given them decision-making authority to manage the firm. Technically, any manager who owns less than 100 percent of the firm is to some degree an agent of the other owners. In theory, most financial managers would agree with the goal of owner wealth maximization. In practice, however, managers are also concerned with their personal wealth, job security, and fringe benefits, such as country club memberships, limousines, and posh offices, all provided at company expense. Such concerns may make managers reluctant or unwilling to take more that, moderate risk if they perceive that too much risk might result in a loss of job and Continue reading

Strategic Comparison Between Honda and Toyota

In the global automobile industry, the vehicle has become an important part of every economy in terms of increased demand.  Two of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world are Toyota and Honda. The Honda Motor Company was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer which began with the construction of a motorized bicycle. Then, Honda started to develop and expand new lines of vehicle before it became successful in terms of the world market. Furthermore, it has been unceasing in its exploration of the idea of what role the motorcycle and automobile should play in society. Especially with management, the company realized the importance not only of the conventional approach of upgrading product performance, but also active efforts towards customer safety. Another successful Japanese automobile manufacturer is the Toyota Motor Corporation. The manufacturer of automobiles were sought conduce by prosperous society, operating its business with a focus on vehicle production and Continue reading

Cellular Manufacturing – Meaning, Implementation and Benefits

A cellular manufacturing layout is in direct contradiction to the traditional production line. In the production line, numerous workers are needed to service a single production line running from receiving of  raw material  to shipping of finished product. A breakdown in staffing or machinery in any part of the line nearly always resulted in the entire process being idled until the specific difficulty in the line was repaired, or re-crewed. With cellular manufacturing, production is divided among groups, or cells, of workers and production machinery. Thus, the breakdown of one cell, due to equipment malfunction or staffing problems, does not radically affect the rest of the production process. Technology and cellular manufacturing have combined to streamline the production processes of numerous established and start-up manufacturing facilities worldwide. Lean systems, such as Kaizen, and  Six Sigma, to name just two, though very often high in startup cost, provide both a short- Continue reading