Information Through Technology And Computers example essay topic

Business 'IT' Opportunities Technology has greatly altered the structure and operation of all industries. For the management of any existing business, the central question is not whether technology will be relevant to your business, but rather what will we need to do to profit from that change. Technology is evolving many aspects of business and it creates many new business opportunities. During the last ten years, information technology has experienced unprecedented levels of change, this technology is not only influencing the way in which we conduct business, and it is changing the way in which we conduct our lives. We are a business-centered society. In today's competitive world, business professionals are increasingly aware of the value of managing relationships and communicating effectively, both within the work group and with their customers.

Information technology has become an important part of most businesses. Information technology is a system used to control, manage, process, and create information through technology and computers. In a survey written more than twelve years ago, John Browning wrote "Information technology is no longer a business source; it is the business environment" (Cited in web 1993). Presently, ongoing advances in information technology, along with increasing global competition, are adding complexity to the business organizational environment. Computers have enabled companies to produce more data in the last 30 years than in the last 100 years.

Companies make large investments in information technology to enable them to manage the large amounts of data and make it available to the people who need it. Information technology describes a large range of systems there are still some underlying common features. "An information system (IS) is a set of interrelated components that collect, manipulate, store, and disseminate data and information and provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective" (Stair & Reynolds, 2004, p. 4 chap. 1) which is viable for the success of a business. Information technology can improve a company's performance in a number of ways.

Increasing efficiency: if programmed correctly, computers can monitor the data collection processes very effectively, while also checking for human errors and providing help and guidance to the user. Access to internet for e-commerce, which expands the business globally, increasing the number of customers. Many companies success is dependent on the data that it is able to retrieve. Shared databases, enable companies to remove barriers between departments giving staff more accurate information and greater competency to serve customers. Internally, a company can use technology to stream line, integrate, and synchronize key operating processes such as procurement, order fulfillment, and customer service.

This can enable a company to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of supply and distribution channels. Benefits are achieved when a company harnesses information and knowledge located inside and outside the company to improve the performance of individuals and groups as they make decisions and take actions. Many computer software packages are specifically designed for business such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, and e-mail software packaged by Microsoft as Microsoft Office. There is also database software, which can record, update, and store information along with desktop publishing software allowing for the production of advertising such as brochures, catalogues, advertisement, and newsletters.

At Agilent Technologies, a former employer, in 2003 decided to standardize the accounting software system to the Oracle database throughout the organization. Completion of this process that had been scheduled in phases over a period of several months. As a contract employee, I was not included in the formal Oracle training but the software was easy to learn. Inside an organization, e-mail, groupware and intranets link employees around the world to information resources, internal work groups, and communities of inters. Outside the company, the same technologies used to establish a position at the center of the electronic market. A number of technology methods and techniques have the ability to incorporate into an overall business information system.

The techniques can be useful to develop and assist in management and decision-making. It is a fast and efficient way of sending letters and files to other enterprises and individuals. The use of technology in any business is a required tool that is utilized to continually provide better services to clients. Technology allows us to immediately obtain and trade information that is of mutual benefit to both individual tasks and corporate ventures. Technology has become an integral part of our daily business life. Should a business lose this capability, their success and marketability would immediately suffer due to lose of competitive edge.

Bibliography

Stair, R., & Reynolds, G. (2004).
An Introduction to Information Systems in Organizations. In Course Technology (Ed. ), Fundamentals of Information Systems (2nd ed., pp. 4). : University of Phoenix. Yog esh, M. (1993).
Role of Information Technology in Managing Organizational Change and Organizational Interdependence. [ document]. Retrieved August 29th, 2005, from web.