Question

CASE STUDY ----->>> "Sweet Tooth Cupcake and Pastry House

Sweet Tooth has managed the company until now basically running on a single Excel spreadsheet to determine costs, payroll hasn’t been much of an issue because it has run with just the labor of its two original founders, and inventory has been managed by looking at the shelf to know how much is left.

Sales history has been difficult to maintain. The founders know how much money is coming in and how much is going out, but they don’t know which products have been the most successful in terms of profit or sales volume other than by gut feel.

The time for an expansion to a second location and hiring of staff has come. With this expansion there will be additional needs for inventory management, sales tracking by product, location, etc., and payroll tracking.

This application needs to provide support for the following:

1. Know what inventory (separate raw goods and finished products) is on hand at which location.
2. Which inventory needs to be restocked due to quantity and lifespan.
3. Know who has worked which shifts (basic scheduling) and how much they have earned.
4. Sales reports with profit margins indicated, including over time (i.e. by month, quarter, etc.)
5. Reports by quantity sold of items based on date so comparisons can be made to predict demand for holidays, etc.
6. Equipment inventory and maintenance records.
7. Take orders for large events online with customer information for confirmation."

Question

I am working as an analyst, i need to be familiar with the business case and identify 5 questions I need answered from each role within the business that isn’t evident from the case study.

Answer 1

In case the company is evaluating a new accounting or MIS software, then following questions become relevant for an analyst to identify and suggest appropriate software and proper implementation of the same:

1. WHat are the broad categories of products that the company manufactures and sells?

2. Is the business of the company cyclical in certain products?

3. Does the company have regular customers and wish to retain/maintain information relating to sales made to a particular customer or group of customers?

4. How does the management/founders decide as to which inventories are to maintained in what quantities at a given point of time?

5. How does the founders plan/forecast the finished goods inventory levels at the shop?

6. What are the major cost drivers of the company and how does the management allocate overheads to each goods sold?

7. What the critical equipments used in production process without which the production can be halted and what are their maintenance cycles?

8. Average collection time from customer?

9. What exact information does the company require for the online bulk orders?

10. Why does the management plan to have an online portal for the bulk orders? What purpose does it solve?