INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED BUSINESS TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY
Information Sheet 1
WHAT IS A BUSINESS TOOL?
Business management tools are all the systems,
applications, controls, calculating solutions,
methodologies, etc. used by organizations to be able
to cope with changing markets, ensure a
competitive position in them and improve business
performance.
There are instruments relevant to the department of
each company that can be categorized for each
management aspect. For example, tools for
preparation, process tools, tools for documentation,
tools for staff, tools for decision-making, control
tools, etc. These general aspects will be regarded by
classification by function:
 Tools that are used in every department for
data input and validation.
 Tools used for business process management
and development.
 Tools used for the consolidation and
decision making of details.
Due to rapid technological advancements,
management techniques have now advanced rapidly
in the last decade. It has advanced so quickly that it
is now difficult to pick the right business tool for
any company situation. This is exacerbated by a
never-ending effort to reduce costs and raise
revenue, the desire to consider the needs of
consumers, and the struggle to produce the goods
they need in the way they need.
In this situation, instead of going for the latest
technology, managers should take a strategic
approach to business management instruments.
Managers typically rely on the instruments without
any modification, contributing to and unpredictable
situation. Tools for business management should be
carefully chosen and then tailored to the
requirements of the company and not the other way
around.
CLASSIFICATION OF BUSINESS TOOLS
There are several ways of classifying software tools,
each of which gives us a different perspective on
these tools.
1. A functional perspective where tools are
classified according to their specific function
2. A process perspective where tools are classified
according to the process activities that they
support.
3. An integration perspective where tools are
classified according to how they are organized
into integrated units that provide support for one
or more process activities.
BUSINESS TOOL CONSIDERATIONS
A significant phase in the performance testing
process begins before your company starts
gathering data is to choose the ideal testing method.
In matching a testing method to your web platforms,
there are many variables to consider. Here are 8 of
the most critical factors to consider when deciding
which instrument will help you build on your best
solution for testing:
A. Customer Preference Tool
If the IT employees are already familiar with the
method of load testing, it is important to consider
the instruments they have used in the past and the
ones they prefer. Familiarity is crucial and can
reduce the learning curve required to introduce the
instrument on the platforms of your organization
significantly. Elements such as ease of use of the
GUI and available plugins for analysis are relevant
here.
B. Availability of License within Customer
Machine
Consider if the instrument is compatible for
licensing with the existing testing machines of your
business. That would mean making additional
hardware transactions or rentals to conduct the tests
if the method is not compatible.
C. Availability of the Test Environment
To create a sufficiently accessible testing
environment, the performance tool needs to be able
to access enough hardware and network resources.
If a network test environment that correctly
simulates the desired amount of traffic cannot be
accomplished by the method, it will not work for
the needs of your business.
D. Additional Protocol Support
For your business, a tool that can support a wide
variety of protocols is more beneficial than one with
a more restricted reach. For instance, protocols that
are currently used may not be suitable for your
current setting, or changes to the infrastructure may
change which protocols are supported. Being able to
support extra protocols provides flexibility to the
instruments to retain support across adjustments to
the platform.
E. License Cost
Another substantial factor is the expense of using
this tool. Not all instruments are equally produced,
nor do they share the same price tag. The cost of the
license needs to fit into the IT budget of your
company, while providing your employees with the
necessary capabilities to conduct reliable load tests
on your system. Keeping ease of use in mind is also
important: One tool might be cheaper, but if it takes
your workers more time to study, implement, and
use, you may incur additional costs.
F. Efficiency of Tool
The efficiency of a testing tool refers to how many
current virtual users it can produce on a single test
operating system for a test. In order to create a
larger-scale virtual test, a more powerful tool
ensures that the organization can need less testing
devices.
G. User Options for Testing
Different tools provide different performance
testing user choices, the tool your organization uses
should include the ones that fit your needs best.
These options will vary from the maximum volume
of virtual users to the required local performance
changes to work around issues that inhibit the
accuracy of the test.
H. Vendor Support
In certain cases, the people behind the instrument
are as critical as the instrument itself. As with every
big purchase that your company will rely on in the
long run, the company needs to inquire if the
manufacturer will fund the instrument when you
need it. Other factors are important, such as aid
during the setup process and support for
troubleshooting.
USES OF BUSINESS TOOLS
A survey conducted by Bain & Company in 2013
revealed how business instruments are used across
the globe. These tools reflect how their findings
relate to the needs of each country, given the
downturn and the business situation of companies.
 Strategic planning
 Customer relationship
 management
 Employee engagement surveys
 Benchmarking
 Balanced scorecard
 Core competency
 Outsourcing
 Change management programs
 Supply chain management
 Mission statement and vision statement
 Market segmentation
 Total quality management
HOW TO USE BUSINESS TOOLS TO STAY
COMPETITIVE
Now that you know some of the advantages of
incorporating BI instruments in the work of your
organization, you might be wondering how to do so.
To get started, consider these general
recommendations by experts at Data pine.
 Define Your Objectives: You need to clearly
define your priorities before deciding what
Bl resources to use. Then think about what
exactly you want Bl to assist you with
 Assess the current situation: Figure out what
works, what does not work, and be
completely aware of operating procedures.
 Create a roadmap: Compile a practical
timeline outlining short- and long-term
priorities. When it comes to your BI efforts,
this timeline should serve as a path map to
follow.
 Clean Up Your Data: The realization of
actionable knowledge requires clean data.
So, make sure you spend some time tidying
up all the details that you have on hand.
 Employ Additional Support (if required):
Often, you cannot be able to navigate the
complexities of BI resources on your own
effectively. Consider hiring a Chief Data
Officer in the event that you are struggling.
And a small team that can concentrate
primarily on data and market intelligence.
 Select the right tools: Take some time to try
free trials, interview different providers of
Bl and analytics, and consider creating a
custom application. Consider factors such as
the ability to scale up and whether the
instruments should be cloud-based or on-
site. Don't hurry through this stage. The
more work you put into choosing the right
instruments, the better the results are going
to be.