 Much of the information needed by an organisation comes from within the organisation, and the organisation’s IT systems can be used to extract this information.  Many companies use information supplied from outside the organisation. For example, organisations that supply credit information about their customers. There are also organisations that collect marketing information about each one of us, such as our likes and dislikes, what we buy, where we take our holidays, etc.  Companies often pay for lists of customers who have certain requirements that could be met by the company.

 Much of the information management needs in order to make decisions can be obtained from on-line systems.  This information includes information from the organisation’s own systems as well as from the systems of others. For example, if a manager wants to know what percentage of goods have been returned by their customers as being faulty or damaged, then the internal systems will tell them this; If a large utility company needs to update its records with people who have changed address who have failed to tell them, then this can be brought from an external organisation that specialises in collecting this information.

 Many organisations use an intranet as an internal network to enable information to be shared.  Intranets use internet technology for internal networks used only by the staff of the organisations.  Users of the Intranets are able to use web browser software to access data in any database that the organisation want to make available. For example, sales staff could gain access to stock information using the intranet.  Intranets are good ways of making information available to lots of people, as they are used to using the Internet and they can quickly figure out how to search for specific information as the techniques are just the same.

 Huge amounts of information can be found on the internet and many companies subscribe to on-line services which provide them with the information they need. For example, high street travel agents have access to flights and holidays that are not available to book direct. They can access these system using Internet.  Here are some examples of information from the internet that could be used by managers of an organisation; o Tax information is used to see how best to use the tax laws to lower the amount of tax paid by a business. o Information of the Data Protection Act and other laws is used to ensure that the company is complying with the law. o Information from the government’s National Statistics Office can be used to find information useful for planning.

 The two main ways of finding information are; o Using the Intranet, and… o Using the Internet.  Intranet is used by big companies and corporations so they can share information internally.  Internet is used globally and is more advanced than the Intranet and is used externally to receive information.

Thank You for watching my Presentation on; How to find Information.