CSCM1101 – Fundamentals of Computing and Information Systems
Chapter 2 – Information Systems in the Organization
Activity / Case Scenario
Direction: Read the following case study or scenario below and answer the
following questions afterward.
MegaMart is a chain of hypermarkets located in key cities across Oman.
It sells groceries such as fresh produce, meat, dairy products, and packaged
foods, as well as household items like cleaning supplies and kitchenware. In
addition, it offers clothing, footwear, electronics, appliances, toys, furniture,
and services such as a pharmacy, bakery, and ready-to-eat food counters.
MegaMart employs staff across different functional areas. Fatma Al-Kindi
manages financial records, prepares sales reports, and ensures supplier
payments are processed on time. Ahmed Al-Farsi handles promotional
campaigns, loyalty programs, and digital advertisements. Sara Al-Balushi is
responsible for recruitment, training, and employee performance evaluation.
Omar Al-Shehi analyzes customer buying patterns and seasonal trends to
recommend new products and promotions, while Layla Al-Mamari oversees the
in-house bakery to ensure fresh products are produced daily.
The hypermarket industry has high entry barriers due to the large capital
required. Supplier power is moderate because MegaMart sources products from
multiple suppliers, although electronics suppliers have stronger pricing
influence. Buyer power is high since customers can easily switch to competing
hypermarkets or online platforms. Industry rivalry is intense, with MegaMart
competing against large chains such as Nesto, HyperMax, and Lulu through
aggressive promotions and pricing strategies.
MegaMart creates value through its activities. MegaMart receives goods
from various suppliers and manages proper storage. Then, products are
displayed and bakery items are produced daily. At checkout, the POS system
records transactions and updates inventory in real time. Marketing and sales
activities include loyalty programs and targeted promotions, while customer
service handles returns and after-sales support. Support activities such as
finance, human resource management, procurement, and technology systems
strengthen these operations. By integrating these activities effectively,
MegaMart improves efficiency, remains competitive, and enhances customer
satisfaction. There are information systems that
generate daily sales and performance reports for its managers and help marketing teams in
analyzing loyalty card data and designing targeted promotions.
Q1. Identify which function/department of the organization the
following employees belong.
Name of Employee Function or Department of the
Organization
Ahmed Al-Farsi
Fatma Al-Kindi
Layla Al-Mamari
Omar Al-Shehi
Sara Al-Balushi
Q2. Identify the Porter’s Five Forces Model and provide a short
description for each force.
Five Forces Description
Q3. Identify the primary activities in value described by the following
statements:
Statement Primary Activity
Handles returns and after-sales support.
Receives goods from various suppliers and
manages proper storage.
Activities include loyalty programs and targeted
promotions.
Records transactions and updates inventory in
real time.
Products are displayed and bakery items are
produced daily.
Q4. Identify the type of information system used in the following
task/activity.
Task / Activity Type of Information
System
Records transactions and updates inventory in
real time.
Help marketing teams analyze loyalty card data
and design targeted promotions.
Generate daily sales and performance reports for
its managers.