Healthlite Yogurt Information Technology Plan

Business Plan

Healthlite Yogurt Co.

Danbury, Connecticut

Table of Contents

1.0 Organization Overview 2

1.1 Organization Structure 2

1.2 Organization Products 2

1.3 Major Business Processes 2

2.0 Problem Statement 3

2.1 Existing Problems with the Current Processes 3

2.2 Factors Contributing to the Problem 5

3.0 MANAGEMENT PLAN 6

3.1 Overview of Management Plan 6

3.2 Objectives 6

3.3 Timeline 7

3.4 Major Milestones 9

3.5 Cost and Benefit Assessment for Plan Implementation 9

4.0 Business Process Change Drivers 10

5.0 Technology Plan 12

5.1 Goals and Technology Vision 12

5.2 Current Technology and Resources 13

5.3 Priority Needs and Solutions 13

5.4 E-Commerce and Web-Based Order Processing System 15

5.5 Database Warehouse and Database Management System 16

6. DATA ENTRY REPORT 17

6.1 Consumer Web site 17

6.2 Customer Extranet Site 19

6.3 Company Intranet Site 22

7.0 Proposed Project Plan for New System 26

7.1 Phase 1- Web Strategy / Architecture and Development 26

8.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES 29

9.0 SUMMARY 30

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 - Current Order Processing System 4

Figure 2 - Revised Company Hierarchy 7

Figure 3 - Timeline 8

Figure 4 ÐŽV Milestones 9

Figure 5 - Web-Based Order Processing System 16

Figure 6 - New Web-Based Ordering System 28

Table 1 ÐŽV Program Cost 10

Table 2 ÐŽV Priority Needs 14

Table 3 - Quality Assurance Performance Measures 29

Abstract

JMC consulting has established that the Healthlite Corporation has a need to improve their current order processing systems and communication methods. This need is brought about by the limited technology that is employed by Healthlite. What JMC proposes is that the company invests in a new system that will solve their order processing dilemmas and also the communication issues from the company headquarters to the regional offices. The new system includes new software and hardware and will also allow for the use of the Internet to provide a better experience for the customers and allow Healthlite to market new products and services. All of these functions will be integrated to provide a seamless experience for the customer and also will provide detailed reports to the management. When implemented, these systems will provide the means for the company to achieve greater growth and profitability.

1.0 Organization Overview

1.1 Organization Structure

Healthlite Yogurt Company, a leading yogurt manufacturer in the United States, is based in Danbury, Connecticut. The companyÐŽ¦s senior management and marketing department are located at the companyÐŽ¦s headquarters. The marketing department is staffed with 12 associates.

Seven processing plants manufacture and ship all of HealthliteÐŽ¦s product line. The organizationÐŽ¦s manufacturing and shipping facilities are strategically situated in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Colorado, Illinois, Washington and California.

The company has 20 sales regions and receiving warehouses through out the United States. Each sales region employs a sales manager and approximately 30 sales representatives. The sales representatives are responsible for taking sales orders from HealthliteÐŽ¦s customers. Some sales representatives manage as many as 80 customer accounts.

1.2 Organization Products

Healthlite manufactures and commercializes yogurt and yogurt-based products. The companyÐŽ¦s product line includes:

1. Yogurt

Varieties- low fat, low sugar and regular

Flavors- lemon, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, blueberry, strawberry, plain

2. Yogurt-based snacks

Varieties- Yogurt covered peanuts, pretzels, raisins

3. Frozen desserts- Frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors

4. Yogurt-based salad dressings

1.3 Major Business Processes

A mainframe computer located at Healthlite corporate headquarters supports the companyÐŽ¦s business processes databases. Credit verification is done at the central office, where all orders are processed. Customer files are stored and managed at this location. Sales representatives in each of the sales regions can access or input customer account information through terminals linked to the corporate mainframe computer.

Information pertaining to marketing and product shelf life is managed manually using a paper process system at each of the regional offices. Sales reports, information requisitions and promotional information is printed and mailed to the sales force from the regional office. The communication within the organization is