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INFOSYS.110 BUSINESS SYSTEMS:

DELIVERABLE 2: BUSINESS SECTION
2014

Name Dania Alsagoff
NetID sals831
Group Number: 054
Website Link: http://infosys1102014fcgroup054.blogspot.co.nz
Tutorial Details
Tutor: Day: Time:
Kayur Ramson Monday 4pm
Time Spent on
Assignment:
19 hours
Word
Count:
1646

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THE ONLINE CAREER ADVICE PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
A common problem that is prevalent today is that there is a lack of knowledge about careers. This means that
many people, including myself, do not know what career they would like to enter. This is partly due to
unawareness of what certain careers entail and partly due to unawareness of the existence of many other
careers. To aid resolve this problem, we have proposed an online program that enables customers to find any
information they would like about a career. What gives it a competitive edge is simulations that aid you in
envisioning what working in a particular career is like, even tasking you with simplified tasks.
3. BUSINESS SECTION
3. 1 Vision
To help people with the most important decision of their life, and to help them be happy with it.
3. 2 Industry Analysis: Online Career Advice Industry
Industry: Online Career Advice Industry
Force: High/Low: Justification:
Buyer power: High This service is not a necessity; substitutes may
be valued over a virtual program. There are no
switching costs involved. Successful
peopleknow who they are and what their
giftings and strengths are.(1)(careers advice
online) These people may not want careers
advice.
Supplier power: Low Companies working with us benefit as we
advertise them & there are many to choose
from. There are many technological equipment
suppliers to choose from, the cost of personal
computers and electronic devices has
decreased(2)(University of Notre Dame)thus

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switching costs are low for both.
Threat of new
entrants:
High There are low start-up costs to creating a
website: Starting an online business can take
a relatively small amount of capital if you
manage your budget wisely(5)(Startup
Nation,2006) Therefore low barriers to entry
into the industry.
Threat of substitutes: High
There are many substitutes. They may be
valued for their for their one-on-one
interaction, such as
talked over your choices with your parents and
whnau? talked to your teachers and careers
advisers? talked to Careers New Zealand
advisers(3)( CareersNZ)
Rivalry among
existing competitors:
High our list of 75 sites expanding our total to
100(Adams, S, 2013) show that there are
already a lot of competitors out there,
accessible from anywhere in the world(4).
Thus firms have to compete fiercely.
Overall attractiveness of the industry: The industry is easy to enter, however the service is not a necessity
and there are many substitutes. Attracting customers is difficult once in the industry and there may be other
competitors entering the industry easily, with a competitive advantage that makes it difficult to compete against
them. Overall, the industry is not very attractive.

3. 3 Customers and Their Needs
Customers of this product are:
High school students/ graduates; knowing what career youd like to enter is important in subject choice or
decisions after secondary school. many are simply saying "I don't know" when it comes to what they want
to be when they grow up report NBC News.(9)

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Tertiary students; knowing what career youd like to enter is important in deciding majors / courses.
Those looking to change careers; this is time consuming, expensive and you want to make sure you make
the right decision. These customers thus need sufficient insight into careers. A poll of 25 million employees
in 189 different countries. Only 13% of workers feel engaged by their jobs.(Adams, S, 2013) (6) show the
amount of unhappy workers.
Secondary /tertiary institutions looking to aid students in career decision-making; these customers are
looking to provide a decision-making tool for their downstream customers/students.
One of the worst pieces of career advice is to do what you love.(Trunk,P., 2007)(7) The problem
with this is that often, you either dont know what you love, or it isnt a realistic option for you. This
program aims to help them realize what they love, or what options are realistic for them.
3. 4 The Product and Service
The program will provide insightful information tailored to what customers want. Constant feedback will be
reviewed and adjustments made to meet those wants. The program lets users explore the career and what its
like to be in that career, aiding decision making- especially important for those currently working, as explained
above. The single most efficient way to increase your productivity is to be happy at work. No(thing)in the
world can beat the productivity boost you get from really, really enjoying your work. (8) (Kjerulf,A., & Allen,D).
If this program leads customers to jobs that they will enjoy, it will increase their potential productivity, which
could lead to promotions, higher pay etc. and help customers be happy with their jobs, therefore achieving the
company vision.
3. 5 Suppliers and Partners
3.5.1 Companies willing to collaborate to provide information and insight on a career. An employee needs to
provide a perspective on his/her career- a valuable step to providing the service to customers.

3.5.2 Electronics equipment suppliers are needed to supply computers, backup systems etc. These are essential
in creating and running an online service.

Suppliers may also be outsourced marketers, computer programmers or IT specialists. Outsourcing could keep
costs low for the company.

3.5.3 A potential partner could be any company that wants to buy site space for advertising their good or
service, as this benefits both us and them: them in the form of increasing their reach, and us in the form of profit.

3.5.4 Another partner could be companies that approach the business and ask to collaborate; i.e. a
career/section devoted to their company (this attracts potential talented employees to work for them). This

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encourages future talent for that company, and benefits us in not having to research for a company to
collaborate with.

3. 6 Strategy: Cost Leadership Strategy
Competitive scope: Broad Market. This service can be used by anyone who wants information about a
career, job or careers in general.
Cost strategy: Low cost. This service can be used for very low prices, as a many of the users will most
likely be students and this product needs to be priced low to attract them.
The overall strategy is therefore Cost Leadership Strategy.
3. 7 Value Chain Activity: market and sell the product or service
The most important value chain activity for this business is market and sell the product or service.
As its a new and small business, marketing schemes are very important to attract customers. Letting people
know the program exists is the first step. Next would be to encourage them to use the program. Through the
advertising of our competitive edge, key differences to competitors are highlighted. Bringing across the vision is
important, as being happier will appeal to those currently unhappy regarding careers, and of course actually
selling the service to customers is what will eventually lead to their happiness with career choice, thus achieving
the vision. Marketing will increase the reach of the company to everyone, (broad market) and keeping costs low
& advertising those low costs thus adhere to the cost leadership strategy.


3. 8 Business Processes
3.8.1 A key business process is Career creation process
This is the process of creating a part of the program for a career; each career is one part of the program. By
increasing the amount of careers that we provide advice and information for, we are increasing the width of our
customers. This enables the business to further capture value.

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START
Pick a career to
create
Pick a business to
collaborate with
Approach the
business
Present
collaboration
idea
Plan aspects of the
program together/
Gather information
from them
They agree to collaborate
They are uninterested in collaborating
Design this part of
the program
Implement the
career
END
Career source analysis system Marketing
Marketing

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3.8.2 Another key business process is the Advertising process
Through market research and identifying the business customer segments, marketing schemes can be created
to attract each segment. This generates interest in the program. This process would contribute to the most
important value chain activity; market and sell the product or service. By reiterating the vision, customers can
be drawn in by advertising benefits of the service: future happiness from better career decision-making.


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3. 9 Functionalities
START
Market Research
Identify Customer
Segments
Generate ideas to
attract segment(s)
Pick the best idea
Seek approval
from other
departments &
upper
management
Create contracts
Approved
Implement
advertising
Disapproved
END
Trend Analysis system
Marketing
Marketing

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3.9.1 Career Creation Process
Identify a career to display in the program.
Pick a career source

3.9.2 Advertising Process
Identify a customer segment in the market.
Pick the most likely successful advertising scheme out of generated ideas.
3. 10 Systems

3.10.1 Career source analysis system
This is an SCM system performing the role of a DSS system. It supports the career creation system, pick a career
source function in analysing who to best collaborate with to create a career. The system analyses various
companies, employees, and factors to pick a candidate that will help create the best career to aid customers
career decision-making.

3.10.2 Trend analysis system
This is a CRM system performing the role of a DSS as it analyses market/social trends and customer preferences.
In identifying various trends, segments can be created, and customers sorted into frameworks according to
shared preferences etc. This system identifies how to target different customers and aid decision-making for
careers. This supports the advertising process; identify a customer segment functionality.

3.10.3 Marketing Analysis System
This is a type of CRM performing the role of a DSS. It supports the advertising process; pick the
mostsuccessfulscheme functionality in analysing generated ideas for advertising. It picks the most
successful scheme based on cost, reach, emotional response etc. Effective marketing increases our reach, so
more people achieve happiness with their career from using this service.





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3. 11. Summary Table: Value Chain to Systems

Value Chain
Activity
Processes Functionalities Specific
Information
System(s)
Broad
Information
System(s)

Market & Sell
the product or
service
1. 1. Career
Creation
process
1. Identify a career
1. 2. Pick a career source
1. Career
source analysis
system

1. SCM

2. 2.
Advertising
process
1. Identify a customer
segment
1. 2. Pick the most
successful advertising
scheme
1. Trend
Analysis
system
2. Marketing
Analysis
System
1. CRM
2. CRM

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CONCLUSION
The programs aim is to help decision-making about careers, and eventually bring
happiness to people by helping them find a career they love. We aim to do this
through innovative uses of information technology and information systems, which
support the various processes of this decision making process, thus adding value to
customers, and creating value for the business.

REFERENCES

1.Career Change Advice- 6 keys to a Successful Career Change (n.d.). Retrieved May 21,
2014, from http://www.careers-advice-online.com

2.University of NOTRE DAME. (2012, September). Information Technology Equipment
Purchases on Sponsored Projects. Indiana, U.S.A. Researched & Sponsored Accounting.
Retrieved from http://controller.nd.edu/assets/91688/sp_it_equip_purchases.pdf

3.Careersnz. Step-by-step guide to choosing school subjects. Retrieved [ May 20, 2014]
from http://www.careers.govt.nz/education-and-training/still-at-school/choosing-
school-subjects/

4.Adams, S. (2013, September 18). The 10 Best Websites For Your Career-2013. Forbes
Magazine. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/09/18/the-10-best-websites-for-
your-career-2013/

5. StartupNation Author.(2006, March 21). Costs of Starting an Online Retail Business.
Retrieved from http://www.startupnation.com/articles/costs-of-starting-an-online-
retail-business/

6. Adams, S. (2013, October). Unhappy Employees Outnumber Happy Ones By Two To
One Worldwide. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/10/10/unhappy-employees-
outnumber-happy-ones-by-two-to-one-worldwide/

7.
Penelope Trunk. (2007, December 18). Bad career advice: Do what you love. Retrieved
from http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/18/bad-career-advice-do-what-you-
love/


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8. Kjerulf,A., & Allen,D. Happiness at work as productivity booster. productive! magazine.
Retrieved [April 3, 2014], from http://productivemag.com/1/happiness-at-work-as-
productivity-booster

9. Langfield, A. (2013, September 2012). What career do teens want? 'I don't know,'
many say. CNBC News. Retrieved from
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/careers/what-career-do-teens-want-i-dont-know-
many-say-f8C11129187