DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTERIZED PRICE DETERMINING SYSTEM FOR SHOP WARES

1.1 Introduction

Computerized Price determining system is a system that uses computers to input, process, store and output accounting information in form of financial reports. Price determining systems are composed of interfaces (Network, Marketing, Customer Care, Finance, etc.), computers, software programs and databases of information. Computers are the hardware (computer servers) and operating systems are used to run the programs and process. Computerization of the store can remove wastage, guarantee quick service at service points of vital importance to the public and improve productivity. Such computerization effort often costs for less than the money and time it will save both the public and the organization.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Computerization of the store can remove wastage, guarantee quick service at service points of vital importance to the public and improve productivity. Such computerization effort often costs for less than the money and time it will save both the public and the organization. Price changes combined with public education campaigns and other regulations affecting the food environment in institutional and home settings may have a multiplicative effect that could significantly improve diets, particularly among at-risk population groups. Although demand for food is relatively inelastic, the power of small price changes, especially applied to foods most responsive to such changes, should not be underestimated given that their effects accumulate across a population.

With the write of their great capacity and speed, computers have been extremely effective in processing massive quantities of accounting transactions and producing essential documents and reports. It is no wonder, insecure, that many managers, planners administrators, educationists, researchers, chief executives and business men now feel an urgent need for computer in their respective organization. in the save view, the objectives of this project is to incorporate computer into the processing of information at ROBAN STORES. As a result of their negative effects on nutrition and their current taxation status, soft drinks offer a possible target for public health tax policies. On average, sugar-sweetened beverages contribute 301 kcal (1260 kJ) per day per capita (13% of total daily energy values) to the diets of American adolescents. Assuming no substitution of soft drinks with other caloric beverages and no change in other factors affecting purchasing behavior, our estimates of the price elasticity of soft drinks suggest that a 10% tax on soft drinks could lead to an 8% to 10% reduction in purchases of these beverages.

Small changes add up. One USDA study that estimated potential weight loss from various tax rates on salty snacks under a range of price elasticities predicted that a 10% price increase from a national sales tax could reduce body weight between 0.2 and 0.99 lb (0.1− 0.5 kg) per year while generating approximately $1 billion in tax revenue.State governments already target sales taxes at soft drinks and selected snack foods. As of January 2009, 33 states taxed the sale of soft drinks at an average rate of 5.2%. importance to policymakers, recent surveys show that the public is willing to pay increased taxes if the funds generated are used to address childhood obesity. Although the potential public health benefits of price changes in specific food categories can be estimated, it is essential to assess changes in consumer behavior as price changes occur. For example, in the event of higher prices resulting from increased taxes, consumers could increase their caloric consumption from fruit juice to compensate for their reduction in soft drink intake, or, more positively, they might generalize the healthy changes they make to other categories of foods.

It is also important to consider how governments use revenues generated by changes in economic policies such as taxes. For instance, regressive food taxes could be offset by using revenues to lower the costs of healthy foods, particularly for low-income population groups. Such policies are under consideration. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (known as the “Farm Bill”) authorized a $20 million pilot study examining the use of price incentives to promote consumption of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods among food stamp recipients . On the basis of our mean price elasticity of 0.70 for fruits and 0.58 for vegetables, a 10% reduction in the price of these foods would increase purchases on average by 7.0% and 5.8%, respectively. As such, changes in prices alone would probably not increase consumption of fruits and vegetables to the levels recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

In every organization (ROBAN STORES) encounter numerous problems, which include keeping goods, maintaining, checking and having goods account records for gods in stock.

Despite the good maintenance in the manual stock control system at ROBAN STORES, there will arise great inefficiency in its accounting system, as well as its record updating system.

However, the main aim of this study is to incorporate computer into the daily operations of the store with reference to mainly it's accounting system, as well as its stock control system and its day to day commercial operations. With introduction and application of computer into the operations of the STORE the organization will be able to improve dramatically on its daily information and accounting system.

The above problems discovered therefore prompted to a software design to be able to add to existing stock and delete goods in stock collectively referred to as updating, as well as producing an accurate accounting system for the STORE.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to Design and Implement of a Computerized Price Determining System for Shop Wares using Roban Stores as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were laid out as follows to design and implement an application software that will:

1. Eliminate the above problems such as misplacement of vital information, documents, records, duplication of efforts etc, and a lot of time is wasted or taking when locating and processing of vital files.
2. Reduce the duplication efforts due to in-accuracy in activities and time taken in locating of files when it is required for processing.
3. Record, store, and retrieval of large volume of documents in Roban Store

1.5 Significance of Study

The relevance of the study will inform and guide customers and the general public on the kind of services offered by ROBAN STORES as regards their commercial operations, goods and stock available for sale and the benefit and preferential treatments given to the customers who buy goods in bulk or in large quantities.

1.6 Scope of Study

The researcher is limited to the study of computerized price determining system (ROBAN STORES, ENUGU). The study is also limited to the limitation that is being acquired from (ROBAN STORES, ENUGU), more information were gathered from the write-ups of the existing system of back-up the study and design of the new system.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies:Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent Power Failure:This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.8 Definition of Terms

Algorithm:

A logical of instructions, which are carried out in a fixed order to find the solution to a problem.

Computer:

A system software package that converts a problem oriented language to the language a computer understands. It's an electronic data processing machine which can store and process information at very high speeds.