Business Case

The main purpose of this proposal is to show how changing Party Plates current information system is beneficial. The sales department should consider a relational database such as Microsoft Access versus their current database, Microsoft Excel. Team B will explain the usefulness of converting data currently held in Microsoft Excel into a relational database using Microsoft Access. Team B will also introduce types of collaborative software; how this software can improve communications and streamline work processes.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is the most used spreadsheet program (Grauer, Poatsy, Mulbery, Hulett, Krebs, & Mast, 2011). In Excel, a worksheet is a single spreadsheet that typically contains descriptive labels, numeric values, formulas, functions, and graphical representations of data (Grauer, Poatsy, Mulbery, Hulett, Krebs, & Mast, 2011). A workbook is a collection of one or more related worksheets contained within a single file; by default, new workbooks contain three worksheets (Grauer, Poatsy, Mulbery, Hulett, Krebs, & Mast, 2011). Storing multiple worksheets within one workbook helps organize related data together in one file and enables you to perform calculations among the worksheets within the workbook (Grauer, Poatsy, Mulbery, Hulett, Krebs, & Mast, 2011). Business typically uses Microsoft Excel to store simple information.

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access consists of seven main components: tables, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules. Tables are the backbone of a database (Simply Access, 2012). They are look similar to a spreadsheet in Excel. Relationships are the bonds that hold each table together (Simply Access, 2012). Queries are the means of manipulating the data to display a form or a report (Simply Access, 2012). Forms are the primary place where data is entered (Simply Access, 2012). Reports are the outcome of the data you entered into the form (Simply Access, 2012).

Advantages of Using Access versus Excel

Spreadsheets are a great tool when organizing small amounts of information. Access takes these spreadsheets and turns them into tables. In Excel, the user has to change each individual record such as a customer's name. In Access, you change the single record and anything-related changes. This promotes productivity because of the time it saves in data entry. This also helps minimize errors because you are changing one record that will change all other related records. If you find an error you can easily fix the error versus having to change every error in Excel.

Collaborative Software

Software that is used in making our daily lives easier and more organized is one of the best tools we use in our everyday lives. It allows us to effectively communicate with others whether it's for work or