Information Systems 1 Digital Firm one in which nearly all of the organization s significant business relationships with customers suppliers and employees are all digitally enabled and mediated Offer greater flexibility in organization and management o Time shifting business being conducted continuously 24 7 rather than in a narrow work day time o Space shifting work takes place in a global workshop as well as within national boundaries Key Corporate Assets ex Intellectual property core competencies and financial and human assets are managed digitally Business Processes refer to the set of logically related tasks and behaviors that organizations develop over time to product specific business results and the unique manner in which these activities are organized and coordinated Ex Developing a new product generating and fulfilling an order etc The ways organizations accomplish their business processes can be a source of competitive strength Information System a group of interrelated components working to collect process store and disseminate the information needed to support decision making coordination control and analysis in an organization IS enables o A level playing field small company can use internet to look as formidable as a big company o New relationships with customers one to one marketing vs mass marketing customized products and o New ways to provide service ex Ability to track individual package status o Elimination of intermediaries in the value chain ex Travel financial services etc Using IS effectively requires an understanding of the organization management and IT shaping the systems Creates value for the firm as an organizational and management solution to challenges posed by the services environment Information Technology consists of all the hardware and software that a firm needs to use in order to achieve its business objectives Any computer based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information processing needs of an organization Important enabler of business success and innovation Computer Literacy focuses primarily on knowledge of IT Information data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human beings ex Report which can be used to assist in decision making Data streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organizations or the physical environment before they have been organized and arranged into a form that people can understand and use 3 Activities in IS produce information Input captures and collects raw data from within the organization or from its external environment Processing converts this raw input into a meaningful form Output transfers the processed information to the people who will use it or to the activities for which it will be used o Feedback an output that is returned to appropriate members of the organization to help them evaluate or correct the input stage Dimensions of IS 1 Organizations Senior Management makes long range strategic decisions about products and services as well as ensures financial performance of the firm Middle Management carries out the programs and plans of senior management Operational Management responsible for monitoring the daily activities of the business Knowledge Workers design products or services and create new knowledge for the firm ex Engineers scientists etc 2 Technology Data Workers assist with paperwork at all levels of the firm ex Secretaries clerks etc Production or Service Workers produce the product and deliver the service Computer Hardware the physical equipment used for input processing and output activities in an information system ex Computers storage devices telecommunication devices etc Computer Software consists of detailed preprogrammed instructions that control and coordinate the computer hardware components in an information system Data Management Technology consists of software governing the organization of data on physical storage media Networking and Telecommunications Technology consisting of both physical devices and software and links the various pieces of hardware and transfers data from one physical location to another Network links two or more computers to share data or resources Internet a global network of networks that uses universal standards to connect millions of different networks with more than billion users in over 230 countries around the world Intranet internal corporate networks based on IT Extranet private intranets extended to authorized users outside the organization Information Technology Infrastructure encompasses all these technologies along with people required to run and manage them which represents resources that can be shared throughout the organization and provides the foundation or platform on which the firm can build its specific information systems 3 Management Management Information Systems MIS the business function that plans for develops implements and maintains IT hardware software and applications that people use to support the goals of an organization o Deals with behavior issues as well as technical issues surrounding the development use and impact of information systems used by managers and employees in the firm Economic Consequences of IS Shifts power from sellers to buyers by providing consumers information Reduced transaction costs Steps eliminated in the value chain Refocused business leverage from physical to knowledge assets Information Systems 2 Collaboration occurs when two or more people work together to achieve a common goal result or work product Involves coordination communication feedback and iteration Information Systems are used to facilitate collaboration Communication systems resource sharing systems project management systems Collaboration Drivers Communication Content Management and Workflow Communication Communication skills and the ability of the group members to give and receive critical feedback Availability of effective communication systems Information systems facilitate different types of communication written verbal video Synchronous Communication occurs when all team members meet at the same time ex Face to face meetings or conference calls Asynchronous Communication occurs when team members do not meet at the same time ex Employees who work different shifts at the same location employees who work in different time zones around the world Virtual Meetings participants do not meet in the same place and possibly not at the same time ex Conference