TRISTAN BYER

Student ID: 20201097

Assignment 1 - INFO 0107

Introduction to Management Information Systems

TRISTAN BYER 20201097

Table of Contents

Question 1...................................................................................................................................................2
Question 2...................................................................................................................................................2
The Employees:.......................................................................................................................................2
Question 3 ..................................................................................................................................................3
Question 4...................................................................................................................................................4
 Management Information Systems.............................................................................................4
 Decision Support System -...........................................................................................................4
 Executive Support Systems..........................................................................................................5

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Question 1

The functions that the baggage handling system carries out are:i

 The bag is move to the departure gate from the check-in area
 Bags are moved from one gate to another
 Bags are transferred to the baggage claim from the arrival gate

What happens when a bag is scanned into the system using a barcode reader?

1. When the barcode on a baggage is scanned by a computer, the data is rapidly processed
2. After being processed the result determines when and where to transfer the bags
3. The system is then able to track the whereabouts of the bag at any point in time

Question 2

The Employees:

 Employees entering data from the baggage at the airport check in counters are required to
enter the data precisely and correctly, this is because the tags on the bag contain bar
codes and sensitive flight details that can be read by computers.

 Upon arriving at the gate, the luggage enters a sorting station, this process involves
airline employees using electronic computerized terminals that transfer baggage’s to the
appropriate plane.

 A service was recently introduced by Delta Airlines, which gives passengers the option to
track their baggage’s from the time they are checked in to the moment they are loaded
onto the flight, and finally the arrival time at baggage the claim.

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  Baggage handling systems are used by airline companies to greatly reduce the amount of
bags that are lost or delayed each year. This is achieved by using a large array of
actuators, sensors, mechanical devices as well as computers, bundled with over 3 million
lines of program code.

 Vehicles that are destination-coded, using radio frequency identification and advanced
conveyors equipped with sorting machines and automatic bar code scanners, are a few of
the advanced technology’s utilized by baggage handling systems.

 Another technology that is increasingly being implemented within various industries are RFID
tags which can be used in the airline industry as an alternative and effective way to locate
baggage. It works by attaching to each piece of baggage and utilizing wireless devices that
consistently signal their location and contents.

 RFID tags make it extremely easy and efficient to track packages because they can continuously
give off signals containing their exact location.

Question 3 ii

 The baggage handling system is attempting to reduce and avoid unnecessary cost
pertaining to misplaced and mishandled baggage, decreasing the amount of baggage’s
lost or delayed will also increase customer satisfaction and promote sustained growth
within the airline industry.

 In general, the airline industry’s misplaced baggage rate has increased by 38 percent
compared to a couple of years ago when almost two and a half million bags were delayed
or misplaced.

 Misplaced and mishandle bags are a large expense for airlines companies. Decreasing the
issue yields the potential to generate significant savings. The airline industry loses $2.5
billion per year as a result of misplaced and delayed bags.

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  Presently baggage handling systems are much more effective than previous systems.
After introducing a new system, the amount dropped to 3 bags for every 1000 travelers,
as opposed to 9 bags every 1000 travelers.

 Despite spending sixteen million dollars on a new system, delta airlines reduced the cost
by twenty-five million a year and increased overall customer gratification.

 Optical scanners were installed by Delta Airlines in 2008 as a way of tracking baggage
with the use of tag bar codes, they also widened and lengthened their system of baggage
conveyor belts and implemented a control room to for the use of monitoring conveyor
belts and baggage carousels in most of their locations including Atlanta.

Question 4

All of the data recorded into the baggage handling systems are inserted into systems that are used
for transaction processing. From there, the following types of reports may be generated.

1. Management Information Systems

2. Decision Support Systems
3. Executive Support Systems

 Management Information Systems reports usually contain information regarding the

amount of baggage’s at any time and place and the amount of time a bag takes to move
from one place in the system to another. Information containing the status of maintenance
of the different types of system devices can be generated by equipment management
reports.

 Decision Support System - Reports are generated to assist managers in performing

equipment maintenance and whether it should be transferred to a different location based

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 on the baggage weight. Valuable information for managers can also be contained in these
reports regarding whether the system is performing correctly and how the system can be
further improved.

 Executive Support Systems reports are used to inform executives about expenses and
whether the system is achieving the desired profits. According to data produced from the
baggage handling systems, information about system efficiency is also readily available
to executives.

References

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i
“Solved > 1.What Types of Transactions Are Handled by Baggage from Chapter 2 Problem
case_study 1.” ScholarOn, https://scholaron.com/textbook-solutions/solutions-for-management-
information-systems-managing-the-digital-13th-edition-chapter-2-1-108461-9780133050691.

ii
“Case Study Questions on Baggage Handling Systems.” Bartleby,
https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Case-Study-Questions-On-Baggage-Handling-Systems-
FK52NVYSEPP#:~:text=Problems%20to%20be%20solved%20by,baggage%20will%20create
%20yearly%20savings.