Business Computing 1
ISYS2059

Sheereen Teo Su-Lin (S3304205) presents

Workshop Lecturer: Dr Lawrence Sim

Software Used:

* Microsoft Excel 2007 (Home edition) * Microsoft Word 2008: (License No: 92464-513-2506215-12994) * Microsoft Expression Web (Student version)

Attached Files: * Business Report.docx * Spreadsheet Assignment.xlsm * Website files * home.html * about.html * sit.html * work.html * registration.html * locate.html * contact.html * Formulae sheets

Attempted the High Distinction Level

Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 3 2.0 Business Problem Opportunity 4 3.0 Recommendations (based on ‘What-if’ analysis) 5 3.1 Production targets 5 3.2 Fixed costs 5 3.3 Sales 6 4.0 Appendices 7 4.1 User instructions 7

1.0 Executive Summary

Classic Offices is a company that manufactures and sells chairs. The recent recession of 2009 had a negative global effect on markets all over the world and Classic Offices was adversely affected too.

Along with vital information such as income and commission figures, the increment of fixed costs and reduction of profits have been captured in the form of this user-friendly spreadsheet. This spreadsheet has been designed with the consideration of Classic Offices’ internal users in mind.

To make interpretation of the spreadsheet easier: * Different years have been colour coded * Appropriate command buttons (e.g. ‘Home’, ‘Print’) are accompanied with icons

Internal users of Classic Offices (mainly employees) will be able to view this data for work purposes. This data will also help to influence decision-making for internal users based on ‘What-If’ analysis. Essentially, the ‘What-if’ analysis serves as a prediction function.

For instance, if fixed costs were to increase, profits would be negatively affected and decrease as a result. Hence, with ‘What-if’ analysis, internal users will be able to view these predictions instantly.

Besides the spreadsheet, a prototype website has been created for Classic Offices. The site has a variety of information, from information about Classic Offices and the range of products available, to purchasing methods.

Like the spreadsheet, the website aims to be user-friendly by incorporating icons into the navigation bar and using more graphics instead of text.
2.0 Business Problem Opportunity

The economy is volatile and unpredictable. In 2009, the world was hit with yet another financial recession. As a result, markets all over the world were affected, and Classic Offices was no exception.

For the year ending 31 December 2009, production amount for Classic Offices was expected to be 60,000 chairs. However, because of the recession, the company decided to produce 55,000. Eventually, they sold only 50,000 out of the 55,000 chairs.

Economists forewarn that the economy may still be sluggish into 2011. As such, we have to make cautious predictions to protect Classic Offices during the recession period as sales are expected to drop by 5%, while fixed costs will increase by 3%.

3.0 Recommendations (based on ‘What-if’ analysis)

Essentially, the ‘What-if’ analysis allows for exploring all the various results using several different sets of values.

In this context, ‘What-if’ analysis has been used to predict possible figures under the scenarios of possible fixed costs increments/reduction and its impact on sales figures and profits.

3.1 Production targets

Based on the assumption that as 2010 transitions into 2011, the economy is still experiencing a slow-down, the figures for sales and profits will decrease linearly.

As such, the amount of chairs sold and chairs produced will remain at 50,000 and 55,000 respectively for all three years.

However, in the event that the economy picks up in 2011, Classic Offices would benefit by producing more chairs since consumers would be more willing to buy.

3.2 Fixed costs

It is predicted that fixed costs will increase by 3% in 2010 and this increment is also expected to negatively impact profits in the very same year.

Based on this prediction, and on the assumption that the economy in 2011 will still be sluggish, it is estimated that fixed costs will have increased linearly.

Alternatively, to consider the optimistic but cautious approach, there may be hope that while the market will still be slow, fixed costs will increase by only a little bit (1 or 2% instead of 3% or more).

Since inflation is inevitable, we may want to consider raising the selling cost of chairs in order to counter rising fixed costs. In turn, this would help Classic Offices to meet the profit targets achieved in 2009.

If we are unable to absorb rising fixed costs, then we are faced with two decisions: Either we source for more affordable alternatives or we sell more products in order to meet our profit targets.

3.3 Sales

Sales are generated from multiplying the number of chairs sold by the selling cost of one chair.

In 2009, the sales figure was $3,500,000. However, due to a 3% increase in fixed costs in 2010, sales dropped by 5% and net profit fell from $425,000 to $258.540.

Some economists also predict a gloomy outlook for 2011 as well. As such, net profit dropped further and fell from $258,540 in 2010 to $100,810 in 2011.

However, there are also optimists that believe the market may pick up slightly in 2011. If this were the case, fixed costs may only have increased slightly by 1% (as opposed to 3% in 2010). The net profit would then have been higher than $258,680 (as opposed to $258,540 in 2010).

Ultimately, sales should always be on the rise instead of going down.
4.0 Appendices

4.1 User instructions

Guide to accessing and navigating the spreadsheet:
Step 1: Log onto personal work account
Step 2: Search for the file ‘Classic Offices Spreadsheet Report’
Step 3: Double click the file ‘Classic Offices Spreadsheet Report’
Step 4: Once you are on ‘Main Menu’, navigate using the icons. There will always be a ‘Home’ button (shape of a house) to bring you back to the ‘Main Menu’.

Guide to accessing and navigating the website:
Step 1: Launch Classic Offices website
Step 3: Navigate using navigation bar at the top of the page. There are seven buttons in total – ‘Home’, ‘About’, ‘Chairs’, ‘Desks’, ‘Registration’, ‘Locate’ and ‘Contact’.

The spreadsheet was designed with both a layman user and an expert user in mind. Upon accessing the spreadsheet, the user is brought to the main page. From there, directions are straightforward because icons with the indicative words labeled beneath them serve as navigation.

For instance, a button labeled ‘home’ accompanies the ‘home’ icon, and a button labeled ‘calculation’ accompanies the ‘calculator’ icon.

Important notes are indicated with permanent comments so as to provide the user with additional information. Also, the figures for all three years (2009, 2010 and 2011) have been colour coded for easy reference.