1 Why did Nationwide need an enterprise-wide data warehouse?

Most of the organizations have invested heavily in technology to have adequate data essential for decision making. Nation Wide insurance requires an enterprise-wide data warehouse that is critical for decision-making and problem-solving within the organization. The success of strategic alignment largely depends on the ability of the body to store information and to make it available to the end users.

Data warehouse forms an integral part of business intelligence since it provides the source of data about the insurance company. This data is of great importance in assessing the company performance management in the organization. With the presence of the data warehouse, the organization is capable of carrying out effective analysis and make informed choices. The data warehouse has also been essential in risk management within the organization. Various activities such as fraud detection and customer segmentation have been made possible through the presence of the warehouse. Nationwide Insurance used business intelligence to enhance customers’ service.

2. List some capabilities of computing that can facilitate managerial decision-making.

Managers in an organization are obliged to make decisions that improve the performance of an organization. The decisions made must improve the current level of performance to the desired level of performance. Decision-making support systems are essential in making managerial decisions. The computing capabilities help in extending the capacities of the decision makers with the aid of the computer. It has the ability to help the managers to utilize data and models in solving the unstructured problems in an organization.

Additionally, computing abilities are also critical in improving the quality of decisions in a semi-structured problems. An organization may have a knowledge management system to guide in managerial decision making. Various departments in an organization such as marketing, finance, and accounting systems may have such systems critical in decision making. In essence, the support computing system has four distinct components that include; data, models, users and the user interface. These elements make it possible to fulfill the role of helping managers in decision making.

3. What are some of the key benefits of the forecasting model in the ECO system implemented by CSAV?

The forecasting model used by the CEO in the CSAV depot has serious benefits. For instance, the exercise enabled [proper coordination of the activities in all regional centers and at the same time observed flexibility and creativity. The forecasting model also reduced the chances of error thus enabling the depot to maintain lower safety stocks. It is also worth noting that there was increased the efficiency of operations since the model helped in optimizing and repositioning of empty containers.

4. Describe how new technologies can provide decision-making support.

Use of new technologies has been of great importance in the decision-making process. Effective decision making involves making a choice between two or more alternatives. Computers have been the dominant technology in the modern economy which helps in extending the capabilities of decision makers for the best interest of the organization. The networks provide support for decision making in various ways;

Intelligence: computers have the capabilities of scanning a large amount of information to identify problems such as the decline in profits.

Design: design is another important aspect in decision support.  For instance, to boost profits through increased sales can be through proposing different advertising proposals.  A computerized design such as Excel and linear programming can be useful in helping decision makers to make correct decisions.

Choice: the computer can assist in generating different alternatives from which problem solution can be derived. Sorting out of the different options is made simple through various criteria such as cost-benefit analysis or any other criterion.

Implementation: A detailed “what-if” analysis can convince management that the proposed alternative is indeed the best. A computer can be used to generate graphics that can ease the implementation process.

In essence, decision support can be realized through different computer software such as ANN, ESS, ERP, and SCM just to mention a few.

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