Introduction to IS and Computers

Week 1
[[[

Dr. Rana Singh

Professor in Management and
Asst. Dean
www.ranasingh.org
88 66 97 11 03
Agenda of the Presentation

 Introduction
 Why Information Technology
 Information Systems
 IT versus IS
 Uses of Information
 Organization and Management
 Functions of Manager
 Management Roles
Contd..

 Types of Information Systems

 Management Information Systems
 Decision Support Systems
 Executive Support Systems
 Expert Systems
 IT Trends
Introduction
Information Technology
Business Process Outsourcing
Why Information Technology
Knowledge Process Outsourcing
Information Technology (IT):

 Computer technology (hardware and

software) for processing and storing
information

 Communications technology (voice and

data networks) for transmitting
information
Building Blocks of Information Technology

Building Blocks of Information Technology

Hardware Software Network Data

MANAGING IT IN A DIGITAL WORLD
Managing Information Technology
Part I
• Technologies available today and emerging technology trends for
hardware, software, networks and data
Part II
• Software applications to support business operations and business
intelligence, as well as e-business applications
Part III
• “Best practices” for acquiring and implementing new systems and
managing IT projects
Part IV
• Planning and managing an IS department’s resources, as well as
managing information security; social/ethical/legal issues
 RECENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Computer Hardware: Faster, Cheaper, Mobile

- Computers have become smaller and faster
- Hardware prices have dropped
- High growth in small, mobile devices for
communications and access to the Internet
Personal Laptop Smart
Microco IBM Digital Computer Phones
Personal Assistants
mputers Computer [PDAs]
s outsell introduce
(1970’s) (1981) introduced desktops d
(early 1990s) (2005) (2007)
RECENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
• But it can be hard to predict long-term IT trends….
 RECENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Computer Software: Integrated, Downloadable, Social
Integrated
 Standardization has enabled more integration
 Many “standards” are just de facto standards (Microsoft
Windows, Office, Internet Explorer)
 Many companies have benefitted from “Enterprise
Systems” investments (e.g., electronic health records in
hospitals)
Enterprise Systems:
Software packages with integrated modules that pass common
business transactions across groups, divisions, and geographic
locations in “real time”
 RECENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Computer Software: Integrated, Downloadable, Social

Downloadable
-Bit-size software programs for smart phones downloadable
from App stores
-Download speeds have increased so that even large files
can be downloaded by users
Social
-Growth of Web (social media) applications (such as
Facebook, LinkedIn)
-Used by companies for marketing and branding activities
-Collaboration tools connect employees across distance
Computer Networks: High Bandwidth,
Wireless and Cloudy

- High demand for high speed Internet access

- Wireless technologies to replace hardwired lines;
support for mobile devices anytime/anywhere
- Use of Internet to access remote hosts, data storage,
and other IT capabilities from the “Cloud” Wireless
Consumer
ARPANET Introduction Number of
high-speed Internet
of the World Internet
created Internet access
Wide Web connections users tops common in
(late (early widely
1 billion many
available locations
1960s) 1990s)
(early 2000s) (2005) (today)
 NEW WAYS TO COMPETE

New ways for businesses to use IT to

compete on:
Low Cost – Competing with other
businesses by being a low-cost producer for a
good or a service
Automating transaction time
Shortening order cycle time
Providing operational information for decision
making
• New ways for people to work using IT:

• Telecommuters: Individuals who use mobile

technology and/or network connections to work
remotely
• Pros
- Flexibility
- Work-life balance
• Cons
- Feelings of being isolated
- Concerns about job promotion opportunities
• Differentiation – Competing with other
businesses by offering products or services that
customers prefer due to superiority in product
innovativeness, quality or customer service
• Giving sales personnel information to better serve
customers
• Providing just-in-time supplies for customers
• Creating new information-based products
• Allowing product customization by the consumer
• OR Both Low Cost and Differentiation,
enabled by IT
• New ways for people to work using IT, continued:

• Virtual Teams: Geographically separated work teams

whose members communicate through the use of IT

• Pros
- Workers can be located anywhere
- Teams can be composed of members with specializ
skills from different business units or companies

• Cons
- Coordination across team members more difficult
 NEW WAYS TO WORK

New ways for people to work using IT, continued:

Free Agents: Individuals who choose to contract out

their services and are not tied to an organization

Pros
- Work may change more than when an employee of a single
organization

Cons
- Lack of benefits
- Unpredictability in scheduling and work
MANAGING IT IN ORGANIZATIONS
Information Systems (IS) Department:
The organizational unit or department that has the primary
responsibility for managing IT

Information Systems departments can vary greatly

across businesses, depending on the organization’s
dependency on IT for:

-reliable & secure business operations and

-competitive advantage based on new
technologies
MANAGING IS
Example: IT IN ORGANIZATIONS
Organization in
Support Mode
• Example: IS Organization in Support Mode

- Low Need for New

- Low Need for New Information Technology for competing
Information Technology for
- Low Need for Reliable & Secure Information Technology
competing
for business operations
- IT-Low
used Need
mostlyfor Reliable
to support &
back-office support functions
Secure Information Technology
for business operations
- IT used mostly to support
back-office support functions
MANAGING IT IN ORGANIZATIONS
• Example: IS Organization in
Strategic Mode

- High Need for New Information

Technology for competitive
advantage
- High Need for Reliable & Secure
Information Technology for
business operations
Strategic
- Strategically dependent on IT to
enable new business strategies
MANAGING IT IN ORGANIZATIONS
- Technology Infrastructure: Computers, software and
networks that enable an organization to conduct business
and share information across organizational units as well
as business partners.
- Human Resources: IT professionals and managers who
have the needed mix of technology, business and
interpersonal skills to plan for, design and manage the
other IT resources.
- Business/IT Relationships: Established relationships
between business and IT workers to ensure that the other
IT resources are aligned with the business needs.
 IT LEADERSHIP ROLES

• IT leaders have to work closely with the senior managers o keep the
company’s IT resources aligned with the business goals
Chief Information Officer (CIO):
A firm’s high-level general IT manager with both technology
and business leadership experience. Together with the
organization’s executive management team the CIO ensures the
alignment of IT resources with business goals and plans for
integration of IT for strategic advantage.
• In many organizations, the senior IT leader is a CIO.
• Two primary responsibilities:
• - Computer and communication operations
• - Acquiring and maintaining applications software
 IT LEADERSHIP ROLES
• Example: IS Organization Chart