JOHN & MBELE, INC. ONLINE TRADING SYSTEM

This case study should take approximately 10 min to read.

John & Mbele. Inc. is a regional brokerage firm that has been successful over the last several years. It is owned by John John and Sizwe Mbele both who are actively involved in the daily running of the organisation. Competition for customers is intense in this industry. The large national firms have very deep pockets, with many services to offer clients. Severe competition also comes from discount and Internet trading companies. However, John & Mbele has been able to cultivate a substantial customer base from upper-middle income people in the South Africa. To maintain a competitive edge with its customers, John & Mbele is in the process of developing a new online trading system. The plan for the system identifies many new capabilities that would provide new services to its clients. John & Mbele currently has an online trading system, but only a small percentage of its clients use it. The system was purchased as a customized package in 2007 and has enjoyed only limited acceptance among customers. Complaints about the system range from slow performance, convoluted buying and selling processes, to awkward user interfaces. John & Mbele has decided that upgrading or replacing the system is essential to its long-term survival, since more and more customers are moving to online trading. Edward Ngcobo, the new Web system's project manager with Andre van der Westhuizen his Business Analyst, is in the initial stages of planning the project. He is uncertain how to gather information to define new system requirements. Typically, a new customer joins the brokerage and is allocated a Trade Analyst to answer customers trade questions. A customer may have any number of products or none at all. Each product may have one or more prices. A contractor, Mary Hedge, is a specialist in designing on-line trading systems for Small to Medium size enterprises. She has been contracted in to assist in the process efficiency and customer experience. Koos Adams as the head Trade Analyst is dedicated to the project to provide detailed knowledge on equities trading. John John will be the sponsor.

Andre has identified the following list of possible first steps in the project to gain feedback on problems with the existing system and requirements for the new system:

Conduct a telephone survey of 100 to 200 existing customers

Observe a selection of Customers using the system

Distribute a questionnaire to a few thousand customers

Have a dozen or so customers participate in a one-day focus group

Recruit a handful of customers to participate in a three-day JAD session

Typically, the buy/sell process entails selecting the equities (stock/equities) you wish to buy or sell at the current market price. This involves selecting the equities, submitting to the exchange the request to buy or sell and should there be a willing buyer or seller at the chosen price the exchange will conclude the transaction. If no willing buyer or seller is available, then the transaction has the option to wait in a queue until such time as it can be completed.

The following questions are answered based on the case study.

Q.1.1 John & Mbele have various Business Needs that are identified at various levels within the organisation that need to be addressed. Identify three Business Needs along with the level of the enterprise they originate from. Ensure you clearly articulate why this is a Business Need.

Q.1.2 Knowing the importance of a Gap Analysis, write a short note to your primary stakeholders explaining what a Gap Analysis is including at least three capabilities it should cover from the case study.

Q.1.3 John & Mbele are concerned they will be unable to Analyse the Potential Value of a proposal and Recommend a Solution to the Company Board. Put together a memorandum for the Project Sponsor at John & Mbele describing the elements you will assess in determining the potential value. Hint: Your memorandum should identify at least four of your primary Stakeholders for this activity as well as examples from the case study. You will be awarded marks for explanation, original examples, and references.

Q.1.4 John & Mbele have indicated how they believe the current solution does not perform; however, they have no performance metrics to show you. This tells us that there are no formal performance metrics of the solution. Write a recommendation and create the necessary documentation to the management team of John & Mbele to show how you intend to Assess Solution Limitations. Hint: Your recommendation should Identify a technique to be used and create the necessary documentation to implement. You will be awarded marks for your own description and references.

Q.1.5 The Executive team at John & Mbele has identified the need to create a team of Business Analysts for he various change initiatives that will occur. They have asked you to consult with Human Resource HR) on ensuring the job specifications of Business Analysts include Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving as an underlying competency. Write a report to HR detailing the importance of this skill as well as listing the core competencies. Hint: Link these core competencies to the case study by providing an example of where it would be used. You will be awarded marks for explanation, original examples, and references.

Q.1.6 A Business Model Canvas is a simple way to represent a business. John has never seen or heard of such a model before. As a Business Analyst, you know this is a simple means to portray the model of the business. Create a Business Model Canvas to present to John & Mbele. Should the case study not mention a dimension/element ensure you put a proposed value to support and clearly indicate it as a proposal.