Monday, March 22, 2010

Technology

1. What are some files used in your company? What databases? What brand of database software?

Jenny Craig uses an Oracle as the brand of the database. As it was mentioned in the article, “Jenny Craig is deploying Oracle Database 10g, an Oracle-based data warehouse, Oracle Partner Portal and Oracle Business Intelligence applications [besides using Oracle-Siebel as CRM]”. Jenny Craig has more than 120,000 clients through a Web-based system and therefore they need to use database software that they could rely on. Jenny Craig uses files such as sales/ transaction files, counseling files or client history files.“Jenny Craig executives wanted sales representatives and diet counselors to have the right information about client histories at their fingertips. Reaching this goal would help Jenny Craig employees identify up-sell and cross-sell opportunities, as well as help to improve the customer's overall experience” as Shoukry Tiab mentions who is Jenny Craig’s Vice President of Information Services and a Chief Information Officer.

2. Who is responsible for the database? How do managers get reports? What types of reports?

Oracle DBA (Database administrator) is responsible for the database. His responsibility is to provide database administration to support for all Oracle-based Corporate Systems. DBA also reports his/her work to Senior Database Architect who then informs managers and gives them reports as requested by managers. The types of reports that are often used are financial reports, customers’ history reports, inventory reports, and/ or purchasing reports.

3. Is OLAP used? Is a data warehouse used? Are data marts used? Explain.

Yes, Jenny Craig uses OLAP to conduct decision making process, to better target markets by introducing new products and services, and to collect information from its customers and weight-loss centers around the world. Jenny Craig and its data warehouse is designed to help providing company with better understanding of its clients’ needs. “As a result, the company will be able to orient its customer relationships more around clients' weight loss success than their product purchases. Marketing staffers will be able to better study client purchase patterns, trends and product line performance.” Data warehouse will be able to support company’s “financial management, financial reporting and purchasing.” IT manager Sophia Ruiz and her team “used software tools from Ascential Software Corp. to assemble the data warehouse, including Ascential's MetaRecon software to profile the data, its Integrity tool for cleaning up the data and putting it into a consistent format, and DataStage software for moving the data. The data warehouse runs on a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database and uses Business Objects SA reporting tools”. Data marts are used by configuring each centers sales and products each month. The system allows the warehouse to see how much of each product is sold and in what center is there a higher demand. This information allows inventory to be controlled and manipulated to each centers needs. Data marts allow on valid and useful information for each centers needs. For example, managers of Jenny Craig centers do not need to know marketing information, instead financial and inventory reports would be more useful to them. Jenny Craig able to manage and keep record of over 3 million clients while continuing to provide a top customer service experience.

4. What types of data mining is used? Who is responsible? What software?

Data mining tools are the software tools that a company uses to query specific information in a data warehouse. Jenny Craig uses Query-and-reporting tools as a type of data mining. The company uses Microsoft SQL Server 2000 databases and Business Objects SA as a reporting tool. These tools are used in order to generate simple queries and reports. Sophia Ruiz who is an IT manager is responsible for using these data mining tools. Her team decided to use Ascential Software Corp as software that helps to build the data warehouse. Jenny Craig is also furthering their need for data mining by launching new software in May of 2010 called Sonic. This software will allow each consultant to gain more knowledge on their clients by having an easier way to query information and specifics.This software will allow managers and employees a quick and easy way to approach each client’s needs with a simple query option.

Hardware/Software

  1. What are some hardware categories used in (or sold by) your company?Jenny Craig uses many types of hardware categories that help run the business. Jenny Craig uses Input devices to enter information and commands, output devices to see, hear, or otherwise recognize the results of information processing requests. Jenny Craig also uses storage devices to save and store information on clients that consultants can use at a later time. The company also uses CPUs to help coordinate the operations of other hardware being used. To speed up their computers Jenny Craig makes sure there is a lot of RAM to temporarily hold information, which makes the computers, work faster. Finally, Jenny Craig uses telecommunication devices to send and receive information to and from their corporate centers based out of California. Jenny Craig does not use much of connecting devices because most of the information is shared with corporate through the network that Jenny Craig runs on.
  1. What brands of computer? What types of computers? Jenny Craig Co. uses ViewSonic brand name computers in all of its centers. The company finds it important to be environmentally friendly with all of the hardware they use in center, which is why they also use Energy Star. Energy Star is government backed program that helps businesses protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
  1. Who is responsible for the hardware and software? What types of system software is used (sold)? Is Linux used? What types of application software is used (sold)? What brands? Jenny Craig replaced their “old bulky” PC to the new Wyse thin client software, Microsoft Windows, and XP Embedded. Microsoft is responsible for Jenny Craig’s Wyse thin Client software and Microsoft Windows and XP. “Wyse thin clients also help reduce IT administration costs because software patches and upgrades can be managed remotely” (WYSE.com). Jenny Craig uses application software called ICAN. ICAN allows consultants to query information on clients while also invoicing orders, running financial reports, and checking inventory. This application software allows the center to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks to help business run smoothly. Jenny Craig does not use Linux; instead it uses Microsoft operating systems such as Windows XP, and Wyse Thin Clients.

•What type of network do they have?
In 2007, Jenny Craig upgraded its Wide Area Network (WAN) to integrate new servers, technology, and product servers. The upgrade was also due to facilitate management throughout the franchisees located worldwide. Then, the company’s IT staff would be able to provide assistance and support to all store locations. Jenny Craig also uses a Virtual Private Network, to make sure that all client information is stored and private.

•What kind of interface do they use?
Jenny Craig will be introducing a new software system May of 2010 which will be a new interface web applet called Sonic. This software will allow all the centers in the country to access client information and all other reports from different locations.

•What kind of media?
Jenny Craig uses Wireless Access Point (WAP) to access information into their vast network. The routers are devices that transmit information through radio waves. These radio waves reach long distances that make easy the exchange of information, files, and software among networks. This also incorporates itself into the telecommunications aspect of media technology.

•What kind of communication software?
Jenny Craig uses Avaya IP Office communication system, which is a web user applet. This software allows Jenny Craig employees to login in from any location and access client information and financial reports.

•What kind of connecting devices or components?
Jenny Craig uses USB ports, and Ethernet cables as connecting devices for the corporate center, which is located in California, to access any information needed from a specific center. These connecting devices allow the technical support team, which is based out of California, to access any centers information and also to handle any issues concerning the business.

How do they connect to the Internet and at what speeds?
Jenny Craig connects to the Internet using a T1 line, which allows each center to access specific web sites. Jenny Craig centers are limited to a certain number of websites through the Internet due to an Internet block that has been set up. Such websites would include whitepages.com, yellopages.com, JennyCraig.com, and the centers home page.

•Do they use Voice over IP?
No, Jenny Craig does not use Voice over IP.

•How do they apply the four principles of network security?
Jenny Craig maintains client’s records as high privacy. Thus, only assigned staff members are able to make changes to any client status account. As mentioned above, Jenny Craig uses a virtual Private Network to make sure that client and employees information are safe and can only be accessed by certain administrators. All the transactions on client’s accounts are recorded as well as maintained into the database. They also make sure the information registered on the system is authentic. It’s fundamental to maintain the sources from where the information is coming from, so there is evidence to the use of information. Also, the network availability is usually checked to allow the system to function properly without many inconveniences.

•What is their domain name?

The domain name is jennycraig.com
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Conclusion:

First, the most interesting information that we found in our company regarding the technology is that Jenny Craig is using Oracle as its brand for the database. It is interesting how a weight management company can benefit from a huge company such as Oracle. Oracle database software helped the company be organized and more time efficient towards its customers; using oracle brand improved the customer’s service.

Another useful information about Jenny Craig was about its data warehouse and OLAP. Jenny Craig uses OLAP in order to provide decision making to its managers based on the inputted information that is stored in the data warehouse. The data warehouse runs on Microsoft SQL Server, which is also very known server that is used among other companies. Because of the technology that is provided to Jenny Craig, the company is able to manage records of more than 3 million clients worldwide and satisfy every customer.

In addition to database software, Jenny Craig uses lot of superior energy efficient hardware such as Energy Star. We think that was interesting information that nobody would expect from a company. It is great that Jenny Craig not only care about its client’s health but also the environment outside the company. As for its software, Jenny Craig uses Wyse Technology that provide thin client software but also Microsoft Windows.

On top of everything, Jenny Craig as a company upgraded its Wide Area Network that was updated in 2007 according to our technology department as well the article that is provided to you at the end of the report. It is also interesting that Jenny Craig tries to be on top with new technology that is coming out almost every day today. They are about to introduce a new software in May 2009. Jenny Craig’s customers should be satisfied with the company’s technology department and may rely on it because they are trying to be up to date and secure the best way they can. They are using Virtual Private Network that is responsible for privacy of the clients and its customers.



Wyse Technology Article
Trend Micro Technology Article


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