Alex Schuster began Pine Valley Furniture (PVF) as a hobby. Initially, Alex would build custom furniture in his garage for friends and family. As word
spread about this quality craftsmanship, he began taking orders. The hobby has since evolved into a medium-sized business, employing more than fifty workers.

Over the years, increased demand has forced Alex to relocate several times, increase his sales force, expand his product line, and renovate Pine Valley Furniture’s information systems. As the company began to grow, Alex organized the company into functional areas—manufacturing, sales, orders, accounting, and purchasing. Originally, manual information systems were used; however, as the business began to expand rapidly, a minicomputer was installed to automate applications.

In the beginning, a process-oriented approach was utilized. Each separate application had its own data files. The applications automated the manual systems on which they were modeled. In an effort to improve its information systems, PVF recently renovated its information systems, resulting in a company-wide database and applications that work with this database. Pine Valley Furniture’s computer-based applications are primarily in the accounting and financial areas. All applications have been built in-house, and when necessary, new information systems staff is hired to support Pine Valley Furniture’s expanding information systems.

a. How did PVF go about developing its information systems? Why do you think the company chose this option? What other options were available?

b. One option available to PVF was an enterprise wide system. What features does an enterprise- wide system, such as SAP, provide? What is the primary advantage of an enterprise-wide system?

c. PVF will be hiring two systems analysts next month. Your task is to develop a job advertisement for these positions. Locate several Web sites or newspapers that have job advertisements for systems analysts. What skills are required?

d. What types of information systems are currently utilized at PVF? Provide an example of each.