The Dilemma Of Dairy Farm Group Between Redesigning of Business Processes and Rebuilding of Management Information Systems

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Dairy Farm Group of Companies (DFG), is a leading food and drugstore retailer in the AsiaPacific Region. DFG and its associates operated supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and drugstores in nine territories and had sales of US$6.9 billion in 1997. However, the profit margin of DFG was low compared to its competitors in Hong Kong and China and other retailers in Europe and the U.S. Consequently, a new chief executive officer was hired in June that year. The new management team hired the services of two consulting firms to independently carry out a preliminary investigation of existing systems at DFG and to recommend solutions. Firm A stressed primarily the development of a management information system and use of emerging trends in technology and firm B focused on the re-engineering of crucial business processes with supporting technology. If you are the management team, which firm will be awarded the contract?