You are an analyst for a firm that imports and distributes ...

[newyorker26]

You are an analyst for a firm that imports and distributes specialty oils and vinegars and your company wants you to evaluate their options for taking advantage of cutting edge business analytics. What are their choices? What will you recommend?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Which of the following is not one of the four types of customers described in the case study on Graybar?
 
  A) core customers
  B) opportunistic customers
  C) marginal customers
  D) service-drain customers
  E) niche customers

[makaylafy]

Answer to Question 1

There are two strategies for adopting BI and BA capabilities:
1. an integrated solution or
2. using multiple best-of-breed vendor software solutions.
The hardware firms want to sell you integrated hardware/software solutions that run on their hardware (the totally integrated solution). Software firms will want to sell you best of breed software that runs on any machine they want. In this strategy, you adopt the best database and data warehouse solution, and select the best business intelligence and analytics package from whatever vendor you believe is best. Student recommendations will vary: The first solution carries the risk that a single vendor provides your firm's total hardware and software solution, making your firm dependent on its pricing power, but it offers the advantage of dealing with a single vendor who can deliver on a global scale. The second solution offers greater flexibility and independence, but with the risk of potential difficulties integrating the software to the hardware platform, as well as to other software.

Answer to Question 2

E

[newyorker26]

Thank you

[makaylafy]

Happy to help you