Information Technology for Business An Introduction to Information Systems in Organizations

Key Resources in a Business 1.P 2.I 3.T (a set of used to work with information) All three working together can help a company achieve a competitive advantage Information systems are the way that businesses operate  New ways to perform old tasks (new way of doing things) ßDo things that were never done before. ßBusinesses are forced to rethink how they do business.

A of business are affected by Information Technology. You are preparing to be a Knowledge Worker. Knowledge Workers work with and

INFORMATION AS A NEW BUSINESS RESOURCE Information is a key business resource, but what is information? DATA - is any that describe a particular phenomenon. - is simply data that has a particular meaning within a specific context. Information is data that has been

Information ????? For information to be truly valuable, it must appear in the

INFORMATION IS A KEY RESOURCE ßInformation is good to have, but that is not what businesses want. They want……….. ßB (BI) – knowledge about customers, competitors, suppliers, business partners, the competitive environment you are operating in, and your own internal operations, etc.. ßCombined forms of information to create real knowledge ßEncompasses ßHelps you make ßBI involves gathering enough of the right information in a timely manner and usable form and analyzing it to have a positive impact on business strategy, tactics or operations.

Dimensions of Information ßTime: having access to ßLocation: having access to your information (but it still must be). ßForm: it has to be in a form that you can use and it must also be ßGranularity: info becomes more as it moves the organization, and more

PEOPLE AS A KEY RESOURCE ßThe single most important resource in any organization is its. Your greatest asset is your brain/mind (your ability ). ßInformation technology (IT) is simply a ßTechnology Literate Knowledge workers know technology. ßInformation Literate Knowledge workers ………. ßD what information is needed. ßKnow ßUnderstand information ßAct appropriately based on information. ßWhen working with information, you can never forget your

Computer-Based Information Systems ßHardware: computer ßSoftware: that run the computer. ßDatabases: organized and info ßTelecommunications: of communications signals. ßP involved with the system. ßProcedures for using the system.

Business Information Systems ßElectronic Commerce Systems ßE between parties ßT Systems (TPS) ßSystems that handle day-to-day business-related exchanges ßEnterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) ßAn consisting of integrated applications with a common database which coordinates business activities and (Examples include PeopleSoft, Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains Dynamics) ßD Systems (DBMS) ßDatabase: Most common information repository in use today ßDecision Making Tools/Systems ßD (DSS) : An interactive decision-making tool that provides support for non-routine decisions or problems where ßA (AI): A decision-making tool where all of the decision-making expertise is because the system can simulate human thinking and/or behavior.

IT ( ) in Support of Business ßBusinesses use IT to give themselves a : customers value their product or service more than the competition’s product or service. ßIT helps aid ßdoing things right, in the least amount of time ßwith the & optimizing the use of resources. ßTransaction processing systems, customer self-service systems, databases and database management systems ßIT supports ßHelps you a situation and ßDecision support systems and artificial intelligence

IT in Support of Business ßIT can be used to support ßC Management systems use info. about customers to gain insights about them in order to better meet their needs. ßS Management systems automate the tracking of inventory & information among business processes & across companies. ßSales Force Automation systems ßEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Microsoft Business Solutions/Great Plains ßK Systems to capture, organize, and disseminate knowledge (organizational memory and expertise) throughout an organization. ßIT can be used for : using technology to evolve and transform itself into new modes of operation, market segments, and so on.

IT in Support of Business ßIT can be used to ßReach new customer segments, offer new products and services, offer complimentary products ßIT can be used to ßOptimize manufacturing processes, decrease transportation costs, reduce the costs of human capital, minimize errors, do things more efficiently. ßTelecommunications enables ßDatabases and database management system software can be used to ßIT systems can be used to support decision making by and sometimes

Pervasive Computing (aka Ubiquitous Computing) ßP computing – computing and technology support anytime, anywhere, with access to any needed information 1.D computing 2.S information 3.M computing

ßDecentralized computing – Distributes to knowledge workers by placing the processing power on their desktops and within the functional areas. ßShared information – allows anyone access to needed information because the information resides in a ßMobile computing – your ability to use technology to to and use centrally located information and/or application software. Pervasive Computing

The slides that follow this slide provide more detailed information regarding topics found in this presentation and/or chapter. They will not be covered in class, but reviewing these slides would be beneficial because they help provide a deeper understanding of the topics covered in this presentation.

Electronic Commerce Systems ßElectronically executing business transactions between parties ßBusiness to Consumer ßBusiness to Business

Transaction Processing Systems ßProcess business exchanges ßMaintain records about the exchanges ßHandle routine, yet critical, tasks ßPerform simple calculations

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems ßAn ERP system is a set of integrated programs that is capable of managing the operations of a business spread across multiple sites. All business functions built into one integrated software package. ßIntegrated manufacturing, accounting/financial, marketing and human resources system. ßSAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Microsoft Business Solutions /Great Plains Dynamics ERP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) ßA decision-making tool where all of the decision- making expertise is programmed into the system because the system can simulate human thinking and/or behavior. The system makes the decision for you. ßThe primary types of artificial intelligence we will see in this class include: ßExpert Systems ßNeural Networks ßGenetic algorithms ßIntelligent Agents (many kinds of these) ßRobotics

Decision Support Systems (DSS) ßInteractive support for non-routine decisions or problems where there may be several answers that work. ßMust directly interact with the system to build and/or select the most appropriate model to solve the problem. ßYou use the tool and make the ultimate decision, as opposed to artificial intelligence where the system makes the decision and tells you what to do.