Mark Mitton is the accountant acting as liaison to the information systems department for a midsize retail firm in Salem, Oregon. Mark has been investigating several computer systems and has narrowed the selection to the best three systems. Mark developed a shopping list of features the system needs. He carefully reviewed each system, talked to other users, and interviewed appropriate systems representatives. Using a point-scoring system, Mark assigned weights to each factor to coincide with his evaluation. Mark developed Table 19-4 to help him select the best system.

Required

a. Use a spreadsheet program to develop a point-scoring matrix, and determine which of the three systems Mark should select.

b. Mark’s coworker, Susan Shelton, did not agree with Mark’s weightings. Susan suggested the following changes:

Will the manager’s changes affect the decision about which system to buy?
d.What can you conclude about point scoring from the changes made by Susan and Mark’s manager? Develop your own weighting scale to evaluate the selection of the three software packages. What other selection criteria would you use? Be pre¬ pared to discuss your results with the class,

e. What are the weaknesses of the point-scoring method?

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Flexibility Reputation and reliability Quality of support utilities Graphics capability 60 50 0800 10 10 On the basis of the changes, which vendor should Mark recommend? c. Mark's manager suggested the following changes to Susan's weightings: Reputation and reliability Installation assistance 40 Experience with similar systems Training assistance Internal memory size 29432 90 40 65 10