Analysis

Collaboration

Collaboration is one of four key skills for nonroutine cognitive thinking, and is the activity of multiple people working together to achieve a common goal through feedback and iteration. Our group used many collaboration tools. The most useful and effective ones were Google Drive for sharing and editing documents, SmartSheet for our Gantt chart, email and text messaging for basic communication, and in-person team meetings.

Information Silos

An information silo is a condition that exists when data in information systems is isolated. One example of this within Bed Bath & Beyond is within the JDA Workforce Management software. When an employee wants to request a day off, they use the JDA software to do so. After sending their request, it sends a notification to all store managers and must be approved by at least one. However, the problem with this is that after one manager approves it, the notification disappears for the other managers. This is an at store #252 in Bridgewater, since all managers have access to approve requests, but only one manager is in charge of making the schedule. The scheduling manager only knows of the requests that he approves, not the ones that other managers approve, so this leads to employees being scheduled on requested off days very often.

Information System Components

Hardware

Any physical tools used within the information system is considered hardware. Bed Bath & Beyond has many different forms of hardware, such as cash registers, phones at the customer service and manager desks, and the computers located around the store for employees to use to quickly look up product information. The company has security cameras installed all around the stores for security purposes, and also gives every employee on shift a walkie talkie so they can easily communicate with each other from anywhere in the store.

Software

One of the information system components is software. Software is simply instructions for computers. Bed Bath & Beyond uses two different types of software. The first is Bednet, which is the software installed on all in-store computers and registers. Bednet allows employees to perform many different tasks, such as checking inventory of your store or any other Bed Bath & Beyond location. It also connects you to The Beyond Store, which is an employee-only online store that allows employees to quickly order out-of-stock products for customers.

The other software used by Bed Bath & Beyond is JDA Workforce Management. This is used for employee scheduling, employee availability, punching in and out for shifts, and for tracking employee hours.

Data

Any recorded facts or figures are considered data. Bed Bath & Beyond collects and uses data from the inventory in stock in each store, inventory sold or returned each day, and inventory in stock in the warehouses. This data is very important, because without their inventory and products, Bed Bath & Beyond would have nothing to offer to their customers. Other data the company collects is customer information. Whenever a customer makes a purchase with a credit card, returns a product, or signs up for mobile coupon offers, BedNet collects this information. Credit card information can usually be accessed up to 2 years after a purchase.

Procedures

Procedures are instructions for humans. Bed Bath & Beyond does their best to avoid human error in the daily procedures and operations in their stores. For example, the BedNet software run on the cash registers gives step by step instructions to employees throughout the checkout process. These instructions include reminders to remove security tags, if a customer needs to show their ID for a certain product they are purchasing, and telling the cashier exactly how much change is due to the customer.

People

The people component includes those who operate or use the information systems. All Bed Bath & Beyond employees fall under this category, since everyone contributes to and needs to use the information systems to properly execute their job. Employees must punch in and out for their shifts, maintain accurate and up-to-date inventory counts, and accurately input customer data into the system. This is all very important, because if somebody does not properly enter data, it will cause a chain reaction of problems and confusion within the store.

Social Media

In today’s world, social media is one of the most important and influential aspects for a company. Bed Bath & Beyond uses several social media applications, most noteably Facebook and Twitter. They use their social media accounts to promote sales, reveal new products, and offer coupons to their followers. They also use it as a means to communicate with their customers and respond to any feedback. This customer feedback can also be used to help improve any issues with stores, employees, or the information systems.

At Bed Bath and beyond, the business process is both Structure and dynamic process. The dynamic process of Bed Bath and beyond can be shown when the company is promoting different deals and promotion. Through social media customer can sign up through bed bath and beyond website and get different coupons and special offers to bring to the store and use them for a special discount price.