1

Club IT

Club IT - Part One

University of Phoenix

BIS219Introduction to Business Information Systems

Club IT – Part One

Club IT is a nightclub owned by Lisa Tejada and Ruben Keys. Club IT recently remodeled, its 6,000 square feet of space includes 600 square feet of dancing floor, seats for 220 customers, a kitchen for appetizers and a bar with four pourstations attract childless young professional, college students, tourists, and business travelers. High ceilings and energy lighting provide a fun and energy environment. Club IT’s music focuses mainly hip-hop, techno, electronica, MP3, and live (University of Phoenix, 2009).As any other organization, Club IT can use information technology to survive and thrive in today’s market. Many companies succeed because they were able to change their business models and strategies. More specifically, “organizationscan leverage their platforms to develop new Web-based applications, products, and services, as well as to provide superb customer service” (Rainer & Turban, 2008, p.5). This research paper will discuss Club IT’s mission statement,its primary clientele, its information resources, and customer orientation as the strategy to pursue in order to obtain a competitive advantage.

Club IT’s Mission Statement and its Primary Clientele

Club IT owners Lisa Tejada and Ruben Keys both have a degree in Business Administration. They learned about nightclub operations from their experiences in addition to general business principles learned from their studies. Lisa and Ruben’s nightclub was opened based on the following mission statement: "We, Ruben and Lisa, offer you live music, DJ's, dance space and refreshments that suit your lifestyle. You are our friends, and we seek to build a community that meets regularly at Club IT." (Wiley Higher Education, 2006, ¶ 1). Club IT’s community includes childless young professionals, college students, tourists, and business travelers.

The presence of entertainment structures (i.e. movie theaters) close bybrings many single adults and young couples into the area; therefore, Club IT appeals this clientele as they need a place to eat and drink before and after the movies. Furthermore, the nightclub allowsfor the switching of entertainment and it becomes more appealing as it gets later into the evening. The music offered by Club IT also attracts college students. Word of mouth allows Club IT increasing its revenues from this segment. Finally Club IT attracts tourists and business travelers who are visiting the city. This clientele can grow at very fast pace through direct marketing to local hotels (Palo Alto Software Inc., 2009).

Club IT’s Information Resources

Information resources include “all the hardware, software (information systems and applications), data and networks in an organization” (Rainer & Turban, 2008, p. 48). Applications play a remarkable role within an organization; indeed, oftentimes when they are not functioning properly, an organization may completely shut down. Information systems are truly expensive to acquire, operate, and maintain; therefore, it is crucial that information systems are managed effectively.The responsibility for managing information resources is split between the information systems department (ISD) and the end users. However, no standard menus are available to tell which responsibilities should go to the ISD and which ones should go to end users. The division is usually is determined by the size and nature of the organization, the organization’s attitude toward information technology, and the amount of IT resources.

Club IT is a small business which has one person who handles all the information systems functions(Rainer & Turban, 2008). Furthermore, Club IT’s information resources include intranet. An intranet is a private networkthat may exist within an organization. Intranet may include several interlinked local area networks and use leased lines in the wide area network. The Intranet’s main purpose is directed to facilitate team work, share company information, and teleconferencing” (TechTarget, 2008).

Customer Orientation as Competitive Advantage

Most, if not all,organizations have strategies that seek a competitive advantage in their industries. They seek to outperform their competitors in cost, speed, and quality. Competitive advantage allows companies to control a market and generate larger-than-average profits. Club IT’s strategy should focus on customer-orientation. More specifically, Club ITshould concentrate on making customers happy by using web-based systems that allow personalizing one-to-one the relationship with the club (Rainer & Turban, 2008).Customers’ happiness can be achieved by making Club IT a safe place to go. Installation of facial software to stamp thugs and known troublemakers along with the presence of metal detectors to screen customers for weapons would definitely leave violence out of the club and retain its customers. Databases to keep all customers information would be required along with a new right-to-privacy legislation directed to prevent any form of misuse of gathered information (Johnston, 2009).

Conclusion

As many organizations, Club IT should use information technology to survive in today’s market. More specifically, Club IT’s strategy should be directed to gain an competitive advantage over its competitors through customer orientation. Web based systems would allow the club to establish a one-to-one relationship with its customers who are primarily childlessyoung professionals, college students, tourists, and business travelers. Making the clientele happy by enhancing the security of the nightclub with metal detectors and facial software would definitely ban troublemakers from Club IT and retain its customers. The secured databases required by the new technology should be handled by one person considering the small size of Club IT.

References

Johnston M., (2009, April). Nightclub goes for face-scanning security. Retrieved November11, 2009 from

Palo Alto Software Inc. (2009). Nightclub saloon business plan. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from

Rainer, R.K. & Turban, E. (2008). Introduction to information systems (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

TechTarget (2008). Intranet. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from

University of Phoenix (2009). Introduction to Business Information Systems: Syllabus. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from

Wiley Higher Education (2006). Virtual company: Club IT website. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from

BIS219