Chapter 4: Ultimate Office Products

I. Central Problem: Ultimate Office Products was losing market share and profits were

declining.

II. Objectives:

1. To speed up the processing order processing.

2. To improve the company’s customer service.

3. To be a competitive company in the market.

4. To improve and learn the new technological changes used in the market.

III. Alternative Courses of Actions:

1. ACA 1: Automate the system by purchasing new computer workstation and

buying a software package to support them.

Advantages Disadvantages

Customers can make electronic Additional expense will be

orders. generated.

It can provide a fast and efficient There will be training for existing

order processing. manpower which is time consuming

and more expense.

It can provide automated billing Batting heads of the employees

which can help in faster work flow. about the importance and need for

the new change.

Better and effective inventory The will be commotion in the work

control. place because not all employees see

 eye to eye.

2. ACA 2: Create a map of the work and operation flow from the time the orders

were received until the filled orders are received.

Advantages Disadvantages

The management will know where Time consuming.

the problem really lies.

The management can determine A great amount of effort and focus is

how to make the working process needed to complete the job.

more effective, efficient and fast.

If done effectively the management Additional workload for the

can create provide a better employees.

transaction process for the

customers.

IV. Recommendation:

ACA 1: Automate the system by purchasing new computer workstation and

buying a software package to support them.

I recommend ACA 1 because in order for Ultimate Office Products to be a strong

company and strengthen their market status against the emerging companies

which are offering the same line of products, they need to up their game; innovate

and improve their working process as well as their services so that they can stay

relevant and they can offer the best and quality services to their customer. In order
to achieve this, they need to venture into new technologies which will help their

service process to be efficient, effective and fast. Also, with the help of the new

technologies the employees will be more productive and they can do cover more

jobs which can help in a better work flow in the office. If they can do this, they

can gain more control in the working process and have an advantage against its

competitors. They can also accommodate more customers and a vast range of

product orders. Through this they can generate more income for the business and

in the long run they can stop and prevent further loss of market share for the

company.