Analysis Report Two - Systems Integration and Decision Support

Author

Olivia Mitchell

Executive Summary

This report explains how organizations use information systems to support better decision making through systems integration. The assigned readings show that TPS, MIS,ERP systems all play an important role in collecting, organizing, and sharing business data. Using the Northwind database, SQL joins were used to connect related tables and create visualizations that demonstrate how integrated information can provide useful business insights. The report concludes that organizations should focus on accurate, connected data and employee understanding rather than simply collecting more information or adopting new technology.

Introduction

Organizations use information systems to collect, organize, and share information so employees can make better decisions. Transaction Processing Systems record everyday business activities. That are customer orders and inventory updates. Management Information Systems organizes that information into reports that the managers can use to monitor performance and make decisions. Enterprise Resource Planning systems build on these ideas by connecting information from different departments into one integrated system.

The assigned readings explain that technology alone does not improve decision making. Instead, organizations need accurate data, systems that are connected, and employees who understand how to use the information given to them. The readings also emphasize that more data is not always better. Businesses should focus on collecting and sharing information that supports a specific decision rather than overwhelming employees with unnecessary information.

This report applies those concepts by using SQL joins and data visualizations created from the Northwind database. The analysis demonstrates how connecting related tables can provide more meaningful business information and support better organizational decision making.

Outside Research

One example of systems integration is the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in healthcare. According to IBM, ERP systems allow organizations to connect information from departments such as finance, purchasing, human resources, and inventory into one system. Instead of each department working with separate information, employees can access the same data, making communication and decision making more efficient.(IBM 2024) This also reduces duplicate work and helps managers make decisions using real-time information.

However, integrating information also creates challenges. If inaccurate or outdated data enters the system, it can affect multiple departments at the same time. This is why organizations must focus on data quality before relying on technology to support important decisions. Employees also need training so they understand how to interpret reports instead of simply generating them.

This outside research supports the assigned readings because both emphasize that technology alone is not enough. Systems integration is most effective when organizations maintain accurate data, connect information across departments, and provide employees with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions.(Microsoft 2024)

Data Visualizations

Visualization One - Two Table Join

--I've completed this for you as a placeholder. Replace this with your query.
--SQL code in this block

SELECT Suppliers.Country,
       Products.ProductName,
       Products.Discontinued
FROM Suppliers
INNER JOIN Products
ON Suppliers.SupplierID = Products.SupplierID
WHERE Products.Discontinued = 1
Important

For your required live edit this week, you must add a table to your two-table join, making it a three-table join LIVE, explaining why you are doing it at each step of the way and demonstrating what insights you can gain from adding another join and using the data it gives you access to in your visualization. Rerun your visualization to show how the new join extends your visualization in some interesting way.

#ggplot visualization in this block. I prettied this up with labels to show what is possible.
ggplot(data = myquery1, aes(y = Country,)) +
  geom_bar() +
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(
    title = "Discontinued Products by Supplier Country",
    subtitle = "Data taken from the Northwind Database",
    x = "Number of Discontinued Products",
    y = "Supplier Country",
    caption = "Source: Northwind SQLite"
  )

Visualization Two - Three Table Join

-- Include another three table join visualization here. This should be completely separate from your two-table join and show different tables, data etc.
--Put your SQL code in this block
SELECT Customers.Country,
       Shippers.CompanyName AS ShipperName,
       Orders.Freight
FROM Customers
INNER JOIN Orders
ON Customers.CustomerID = Orders.CustomerID
INNER JOIN Shippers
ON Orders.ShipVia = Shippers.ShipperID
WHERE Customers.Country IN ('USA', 'Germany', 'Australia')
AND Orders.Freight < 500
ggplot(data = myquery2,
       aes(x = Freight,
           y = ShipperName)) +
  geom_boxplot() +
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(
    title = "Freight Charges by Shipping Company",
    subtitle = "Northwind Database",
    x = "Freight Charge",
    y = "Shipping Company",
    caption = "Source: Northwind SQLite"
  )

Recommendations for Industry

  1. Improve data integration: Connect information across departments so employees can access accurate, up-to-date data when making decisions.
  2. Maintain high-quality data: Regularly review and update data to reduce errors and improve the reliability of reports and business decisions.
  3. Provide employee training: Teach employees how to interpret data and use integrated systems so they can make informed decisions more efficiently.

References

IBM. 2024. “What Is ERP Integration?” https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/erp-integration.
Microsoft. 2024. “What Is ERP?” https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics-365/resources/what-is-erp.