Unit 3 - Getting It Right In the Leisure Industry

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Overview

You need to understand why it is important that the systems used by organisations are ‘customer friendly’ and easy for the staff to use.

You need to research the impact that advances in technology have had on the business systems used in the leisure industry. You need to analyse how technology impacts on the efficiency of your chosen
leisure organisation.

Advances in technology can be defined as any electronic or mechanical equipment or software that improves the ease, speed or efficiency of business systems. The impact of technology is how the industry changes to make use of this new technology and how the industry develops in the future as a result of it.

In larger leisure organisations, systems dealing with staff are usually administered through an organisation’s personnel department. You need to know about the legal requirements that regulate the confidentiality of staff records, i.e. the Data Protection Act 1998.

All organisations within the leisure industry need to have a sound financial basis on which to develop their business. You need to develop an appreciation of why it is important for organisations to create and maintain accurate financial records. In order to do this, you need to learn to use and understand the following:
• sources of finance
• budgeting
• break-even forecasts
• simple cash-flow forecasts
• projected profit and loss accounts.

You need to consider the types of staff record used within the industry that you are studying. It will be necessary to cover work records for:
• recruitment and selection
• personnel
• disciplinary and grievance procedures
• appraisal and training
• consultation and communication.

You need to understand that effective financial systems are a vital part of an organisation’s procedures and affect all aspects of its operation, including dealing with staff and customers. You need to understand the systems and technology used for:
• sales records
• stock control and purchasing
• staff payroll systems
• customer accounts, billing systems and receipts
• customer payment.

You need to understand how systems are used to plan, monitor, control and review the finances of the organisation. This includes information on cash flow, income against expenditure and contribution which is fundamental to any organisation’s liquidity and profitability.

How will I be assessed?

Level 1 - Limited research identifies some of the main business systems used in the chosen organisation. Technology is referred to in general terms, with a basic attempt to analyse how appropriate technology could affect the efficiency of the organisation.
Candidates use written expression which may be used in a non-specialist way.

Level 2 - Research from some different sources describes the main business systems used in the chosen organisation. Begins to analyse the impact of technology on the efficient running of the organisation.
Candidates use written expression with some specialist vocabulary to organise information.

Level 3 - Detailed research from a range of different sources describes the main business systems used in the chosen organisation. Detailed analysis of how the use of some appropriate technology impacts on the efficient running of the organisation.
Candidates use written expression with suitable specialist vocabulary to organise and interpret information.

Level 4 - Shows full analysis of the ways in which the main business systems are used to help ensure the efficient running of the organisation. Thorough research from a wide range of different sources. The impact of appropriate technology is fully considered, with a thorough analysis of how this affects the organisation’s efficiency. Candidates use written expression which uses appropriate specialist vocabulary to analyse information.

Assignment

1. Why are business systems important to your organisation?
2. Identify the business systems used by your organisation.
3. Give an overview of each of the business systems your organisation uses. You should cover the following:

• Sales process (What type of sales? How is payment made? How is payment recorded? How does the sales system record information?How are Data Protection Laws followed? What happens to the data? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Finance (how are targets set? / who sets budgets? / profits & loss - how is this data used? who uses it? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Intranet
• Payroll (what information is recorded? how is information recorded? what happens at the end of each week? Where does this info go? What is done with this info? How are staff payments made? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Booking system (how can booking be made? what information is recorded? what is done with this information? How are Data Protection Laws followed? Who can access this information? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Membership system (What is it? What information is recorded? How does it work? How become a member? How is information record? Who can access this information? Why? How are Data Protection Laws followed? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Customer database (What is it? What information is recorded? How does it work? How is information record? Who can access this information? Why? How are Data Protection Laws followed? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• RIDDOR Reporting (what is it? what system is in place? How is it used? why is it used? How are Data Protection Laws followed? How is ICT used? How important is ICT in this system? How does this system make the business run smoothly?)
• Business systems for staffing (how do they go about recruitment and staffing / disciplinary & grievance procedures / appraisal and training / consultation and communication) - select several and explain what is is / the system that is in place / how DP laws are followed / how ICT is used / how important is the ICT system? how does this make the organisation run smoothly?.
• Any other business system in place that your organisation uses.

For each analyse the importance of IT in running each business system at your organisation.

4. Produce a conclusion which evalautes the business systems of your organisation and the importance of IT.
5. Produce a bibiliography to identify all your sources of information. Give a brief review of each.

Learning Resources