EMPOWERING A TUCSON SMALL BUSINESS WITH MIS

Abstract

The aim for this thesis was to apply my learned MIS skills for a small business in Tucson. This was accomplished by applying the principles and concepts I learned in my studies. I researched Tucson small businesses and connected with Antigone Books because of my passion for reading. I felt their website was a prime candidate for improvement. I dedicated hours to learning how to navigate their Drupal system with no prior experience and collected data on the most important focus areas through online research on current usability trends. I applied principles and practices from my courses to address their concerns. While many modern technology solutions and features were proposed for this company, the owners do not have the capacity or need to implement all ideas. Antigone Books made selective decisions to prioritize design to encourage in person book shopping. By adapting the website’s user-friendliness, I completed my MIS goals and fulfilled the three owners’ site goals. This research is significant because I am directing attention to a widespread problem: the lack of time and resources that many small businesses experience with respect to technology. I assisted an organization in identifying their priorities for their online presence and in-store experience. My thesis makes a significant contribution to the small business community by dedicating attention to the fast-paced technology industry.