QUESTION $2(22$ marks$)$From: Dina.Ash@mph$.$comTo: manaacc@mph$.$comSent: $15$ July $2024$Subject: Information strategyGood MorningI hope you are well and enjoying your time in MPH thus far.Below is a document on Information Strategy of MPH Group, please go through it and pleaserespond to the request at the bottom of this email.Three key areas have been outlined:$1.$ IS Strategy $($Information Systems Strategy$)$This long$-$term plan defines how the organisation will leverage information technology $($IT$)$ toachieve its overall business goals. Vision: We envision becoming a leader in omnichannel retail experiences forfurniture and apparel in South Africa, leveraging IT for seamless customer journeysand efficient operations. Goals:o Enhance customer experience through online shopping, mobile apps, and in$-$store integration.o Improve operational efficiency with integrated inventory management, supplychain optimisation, and data$-$driven decision$-$making.o Optimise marketing and advertising by leveraging customer data insights.o Strengthen data security and compliance with South African regulations$($POPIA$).$ Strategic Initiatives:o Implement an enterprise resource planning $($ERP$)$ system to integrate allbusiness processes across departments $($sales$,$ inventory, finance, etc.$).$o Develop a robust e$-$commerce platform with secure payment gateways andefficient logistics management.MAC$4868[$CONFIDENTIAL$]$ Page $27$ of $39[$TURN OVER$]$o Invest in data analytics tools to gain customer insights for personalisedmarketing campaigns and product recommendations.o Utilise cloud computing for scalability, cost$-$effectiveness, and improveddisaster recovery capabilities.o Promote a culture of data$-$driven decision$-$making throughout the organisation$\mathrm{.}2.$ IT Strategy $($Information Technology Strategy$)$This strategy focuses on the technological infrastructure required to support information flowwithin the organisation. Infrastructure:o Implement a secure and reliable network infrastructure to connect all stores,offices, and warehouses.o Integrate point$-$of$-$sale $($POS$)$ systems at all retail outlets to capture real$-$timesales data.o Establish a centralised data centre or utilise a secure cloud storage solution.o Invest in cybersecurity measures to protect against data breaches andcyberattacks$\mathrm{.}3.$ IM Strategy $($Information Management Strategy$)$This strategy defines how the organisation manages its data and information to supporteffective business operations. Data Governance:o Develop data governance policies and procedures to ensure data quality,accuracy, and accessibility.o Implement data classification and security protocols to protect sensitiveinformation$.$o Establish data ownership and accountability within different departments. Information Access and Sharing:o Create a centralised information repository for easy access to accurate andup$-$to$-$date information by all authorised personnel.o Standardise data formats and reporting procedures for seamless informationsharing across departments.o Invest in user training programs to ensure employees can effectively utiliseinformation systems.MAC$4868[$CONFIDENTIAL$]$ Page $28$ of $39[$TURN OVER$]$ Data Analytics and Reporting:o Utilise data analytics tools to extract insights from customer data, sales trends,and operational performance.o Generate regular reports and dashboards to monitor key performanceindicators $($KPIs$)$ and make informed business decisions.Continuous Improvement:This information strategy is a living document and needs to be reviewed and updatedperiodically. The organisation should conduct regular assessments of its IT infrastructure,data management practices, and emerging technologies to ensure continued alignment withbusiness goals and the evolving South African retail landscape.Now, could you please respond to the following, I would like to use your response in mypresentation next week at the board meeting:$2\mathrm{.}1$ Can you please provide a summary of the information strategy MPH Group? Pleasecover the following in the summary:a$.$ Discuss why there would be a need for an information strategy. $(3$ marks$)$b$.$ Discuss how MPH benefits from a formal information strategy. $(3$ marks$)$c$.$ Discuss why the information strategy should be reviewed periodically. $(3$ marks$)$d$.$ Analyse the content of the above strategy to ascertain whether it included the keycomponents to be included in such a strategy. $(8$ marks$)2\mathrm{.}2$ Discuss the risks that MPH could expose their information systems to by deciding tobeocme an omnichannel retailer? $(5$ marks$)$Kind regardsMs Dina AshCFO MPH