Determining Databases and Data Communications

Determining Databases and Data Communications

Scenario 1

Answer 01

There are a number of key stakeholders involved in the process of setting up the booths for trade shows. These include

Booth Components: They are the equipments that are going to be used to set the stage for showcasing the equipments in the trade show. The marketing supervisor is responsible for the procurement of these booth components from suppliers.

Equipment: These include the different electronic equipments that are going to be the highlight of the trade show. Delegates from around the globe are going to be visiting the trade show and show their interest in this equipment. Therefore, marketing assistant has to coordinate with the managers to choose the most technologically advanced equipments to engage the audience for future deals.

Shippers: These equipments have to be brought to the trade show site. This duty is met by availing the services of equipment suppliers. These are specialized logistics providers because a vast variety of equipment is going to be required for the trade show. The supplier must have the flexibility and agility to transport the equipment to the site.

Shipment: The shipment needs to be handled with care otherwise the goal of the trade show would be lost in the clouds. These marketing assistant has to coordinate with the logistics providers to ensure that the equipment are delivered in time and with care.

The typical fields in the aforementioned entities are as follows.

Booth Components

Component ID

Component Name

Component Type

Setup Time

Equipment

Equipment ID

Equipment Name

Equipment Type

Equipment Supplier

Shippers

Shippers ID

Shippers Name

Address

Contact

Shipment

Shipment ID Shipment Type

Shipment Delivery Time

Shipment Expected Del Time

The relationship between the Booth Component and Shipper needs to be tracked closely because there can be multiple shippers for the same component. While returning the component, the marketing assistant needs to track precisely who was the shipper of the equipment. Furthermore, the relationship between the equipment and shipment needs to be supervised because all the equipments will be delivered via a shipment. That shipment needs to have the resources needed to safely transfer the goods to and from the site.

Answer 02

Using a database would make things way more efficient and easy to handle in comparison to using Excel. Though Excel can be used to get the job done, but there are a number of things that a database can easily keep track of like generating reports regarding the current status of the shipment. Furthermore, there are certain limitations like number of rows in Excel that can affect the efficiency of the process. Database provides up to date information, and the data is in a consistent format (Kavanagh 2002, 7-11). This provides a consistent and coherent view of the data which takes a considerable effort to achieve when working in Excel.

Answer 03

For the purpose of this trade show, I would prefer using an enterprise database because it enables to integrate the various important departments like procurement, finance into the process. This would help in streamlining the process ...