Consider the two different bike rental companies in Figure 3-6. Think about the bikes that they rent.

Clearly, the student bikes will be just about anything that can be ridden out of the shop. The bikes for the business executives, however, must be new, shiny, clean, and in tip-top shape.

a. Compare and contrast the operations value chains of these two businesses as they pertain to the management of bicycles.

b. Describe a business process for maintaining bicycles for both businesses.

c. Describe a business process for acquiring bicycles for both businesses.

d. Describe a business process for disposing of bicycles for both businesses.

e. What roles do you see for information systems in your answers to the earlier questions? The information systems can be those you develop within your company or they can be those developed by others, such as Craig’s List.