Written Case Analysis

Name: Kissah A. Neri

Chapter/Topic: Chapter 2/ Strategic Uses of Information System
Case Title: IT Makes Cents
Date Submitted: May 7, 2019

Thinking about the Case:

1. The company 99 Cents Only is not on the leading edge of IT and definitely do not like to
implement the bleeding edge technologies, the people running this company is smart
enough to only use the benefits of IT to its optimum. This means that they do not
purchase and install Information Systems that is not needed now by the company. They
only develop IS that is currently being use and finish it later and start another IS that has
much more importance and finish the previous IS later.

2. In dollar store industry, where it customers like bargains so it is important that the prices
of its items is not so expensive for its customers. To attain this, the dollar store industry
needs to purchase items in a low price. But the problem, it is hard to find items that have
quality in low prices. So, dollar store industry turns to IT solutions to determine suitable
merchandise and when the officers sees an opportunity to buy discontinued products
which is offered at a low prices they buy it. In dollar store industry, the competitions are
fierce so it is important to remain your item prices at a low rate. To increase the
efficiency of purchasing items to be sold is very important to this industry.

3. By the company turning to IT to improve company’s performance overall is a big step in

realization to increase productivity. Using computer voice commands in the business
transaction speed up process and avoid delays thus increasing productivity of the
employees. Developing in-house applications instead of purchasing from private
company ideally save company’s money. As they can modify the system as they wish
without extra charge or expenses, having an IS of your own gives you a formidable
advantages over the other competitors.

4. 99 Cents only modify its information system as they see how obvious the return of
investment will be. They prioritize only the IS to be develop, depending on the
importance of the IS with respect to their business operations.

5. We all know that approving budget to buy expensive IT solutions can be very long
process because most of the approving committee doesn’t or have a doubt about the
return of investment to their company that is why CIO will get frustrated in the process.
Not like the other competitors, 99 Cents Only is being run by the family so it doesn’t
really require a lot of time to acquire new IT solutions and implement the system in the
company.

Concept/s or Theory/ies Used in Analyzing the Case:

1. The concept used in this case is the optimal utilization of information system to gain
competitive advantage.