Bristol Company has a high turnover rate among its employees. It maintains a very large computer system that supports approximately 225 networked PCs. The company maintains fairly extensive databases regarding its customers. These databases include customer profiles,
|
Application |
Field Name |
Field Length |
Example |
|
Invoicing |
Customer number |
6 |
123456 |
|
Customer name |
23 |
Al’s Department Store |
|
|
Salesperson number |
3 |
477 |
|
|
Invoice number |
6 |
123456 |
|
|
Item catalog number |
10 |
9578572355 |
|
|
Quantity sold |
8 |
13 |
|
|
Unit price |
7 |
10.50 |
|
|
Total price |
12 |
136.50 |
|
|
Salesperson activity |
Salesperson number |
3 |
477 |
|
Salesperson name |
20 |
Kathryn Wilson |
|
|
Store department number |
8 |
10314201 |
|
|
Week’s sales volume |
12 |
1043.75 |
|
|
Regular hours worked |
5 |
39.75 |
|
|
Overtime hours worked |
4 |
0.75 |
|
|
Inventory control |
Inventory item number |
10 |
9578572355 |
|
Item description |
15 |
Desk lamp |
|
|
Unit cost |
7 |
8.50 |
|
|
Number of units dispersed this week |
4 |
14 |
|
|
Number of units added to inventory |
4 |
20 |
|
|
Purchasing |
Vendor catalog number |
12 |
059689584996 |
|
Item description |
18 |
Desk pad |
|
|
Vendor number |
10 |
8276110438 |
|
|
Number of units ordered |
7 |
45 |
|
|
Price per unit |
7 |
8.75 |
|
|
Total cost of purchase |
14 |
313.75 |
past purchasing patterns, and prices charged. Recently, Bristol Company has been having major problemswith competitors. It appears that one competitor seems to be very effective at taking away the company’s customers. This competitor has visited most of Bristol Company’s customers, and identical products have been offered to these customers at lower prices in every case.
a. What do you feel is the possible security problem at Bristol Company?
b. What can be done about this problem?