Question 2

1. 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 dinning room .the order is routed to a printer in the appropriate preparations 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 are 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.

1. In light of the system, describe the decisions to be made in the area of strategic planning, managerial control and operational control? What information would

you require to make such decisions?

(5 Marks)

11. Management Information System (MIS), broadly refers to a computer-based system that provides managers with the tools to organize, evaluate and efficiently manage departments within an organization. With use of examples explain what would make this system a more complete MIS rather than just

4

iii. Explain the probable effects that making the system more formal would have

doing transaction processing in a case of this restaurant?

on the customers and the management.

(5 Marks)

(5 Marks)

IV. What are some of the notable advantages and disadvantages the MIS system might have on both the customers and the restaurant staff and management?

(5 Marks)