Critical Thinking Exercise $1-1$: Business Liaison Role $($page $14)$

You have been employed as a systems analyst in the information systems organization of a medium$-$sized consumer goods manufacturer for three years. You are quite surprised when your manager offers you a one$-$year special assignment as a warehouse manager supervising workers and operations in the large distribution center used to store your company$$s finished products and prepare them for shipment to retail stores around the country. Your manager explains that the company wishes to groom you to become the business liaison with the supply chain organization and wants you to become familiar with the entire order$-$fulfillment process. Based on its recent growth, the company is planning to open at least two new distribution centers in different regions of the country over the next two to three years. Management has chosen you to be a key player in developing a strategic plan that is consistent with corporate strategies and meets the needs of the supply chain organization.

Review Questions

$1.$ What organizational benefits can be gained from the creation of this role and improved strategic planning?

A$./$ The creation of the role of a system analyst turning into a warehouse manager can bring many benefits, among them can be the cross functional understanding of how the warehouse operates making possible improvements in efficiency $.$ The purpose of the position is to have a business liaison to facilitate communication between IS and supply chain which would increase collaboration.

$2.$ What key drivers should govern the IS strategic plan?

Critical Thinking Questions

$1.$ How would you like the IS organization to be perceived by the rest of the company? Why?

$2.$ For you, personally, what are the pros and cons of accepting this position? Would you take this assignment? Why or why not?