Modern multinational corporations thrive on their ability to collect and process data in an attempt to improve themselves continuously over the years. As their corporation branches are spread over a large geographical distance, their information system infrastructure cannot simply be confined to data collection and data processing or mining components. These multinational corporations need a global information infrastructure that is detailed with both human as well as technical components. These components are mainly 1.Hardware 2.Software 3.Communication and Networking 4.Human Resources and 5.Data Management and Knowledge (Jessup).
Each component indicate a certain aspect of Information Infrastructure. Hardware: They include both computing and networking components such as standard personal computers, routers, client servers, server machines, etc (FEUP). Networking components include the servers, high speed transmission cables (such as optic fibre), routers, switches, cooling system, etc. Software: Software components include the system and application software components of a working information system. System softwares include the operating system used to optimize the whole user experience while application software are intended for specific purposes such as word processing, accounting, video editing, cloud client services, etc. Communication and Networking: These include communication medias (such as optic fibre cables, twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, etc) and all networking support components (such as connectivity hardware, software, data resources, etc) (UOTechnology). Data Management and Knowledge: MNCs need an integrated and promptly kept database management system to facilitate knowledge extraction from collected data (such as consumer data). Human Resources: Maintaining all database, networking, implementing hardware and software components, etc requires a certain level of skilled human touch. And for this reason, human resources are also an integral part of a typical GII.
GII Architecture and Multinational Corporations
Modern Global information infrastructures are designed to meet the requirements of a company. With a slight change in the hardware or software architecture, companies can now accommodate any desired variation of computational requirements. For instance, solving complex mathematical problems, which could have only been solved by supercomputers, can now be solved by integrating simple personal computers in a grid-computer architecture (Jessup). In a similar way, during system upgradations, all activities of corporations had to be shut down without an alternative. But now with on-demand computing architecture, MNCs are able to add or subtract components without causing unnecessary disruptions.
The biggest difference can be seen database management and knowledge extraction systems. These are the core components of the relatively new concept Business Intelligence. If an MNC has a well-crafted database system and related infrastructure, data mining and knowledge extraction can become relatively easier. For instance, if Amazon can extract information regarding the products that have more sales during the month of december, they will be able to boost advertisements or promotional programs for these products in next december as well, triggering even more sales. But this is only possible if consumer data is well organized for easy extraction; stressing on the need for a sound information infrastructure.
Also, well organized networking architecture can help corporations communicate with their clients productively and promptly. In a world where competitions in businesses are a daily routine, companies that can reach customers faster has the edge over others. In this regard, if the architecture of the company is designed to use one service provider for Internet connection, then when one network is down the company shall need a backup network to pick up almost suddenly. Unlike the past where businesses considered it normal to shut down operations for system upgradation or abandon complex problems due to computational difficulty, the modern corporations can overcome such issues by adopting a well-crafted information infrastructure and associated components.
Calculating the Business Value of GII and their Management
Most often major corporations have claimed that their global information infrastructure is not as productive as expected. This is because of the immense costs of investments as well as human resources needed for developing and implementing an information infrastructure. If the corporation has only little to benefit from such systems, the best solution is to avoid their implementation. But the case of most modern MNCs are different. The advancements in technology have opened a lot of opportunities for these companies but only little information to use with. Unless and until the managers evaluate their requirements and choose the information technology appropriately, this venture can be rendered fruitless.
The first step in this task is assessing requirements of the company corresponding to each component in information infrastructure. For instance in Hardware, the computational requirements of the company, the kind of networking architecture that is needed, most effective storage units (such as cloud storage, hard disc drives, etc), etc. The second step is to allocate facilities to manage them effectively. If information infrastructures are not maintained promptly they shall work against the interests of the company. For instance, if databases are not maintained promptly, gradually redundant data may fill up the database storage units which will ultimately render all collected data useless. The third step that managers need to understand is the fickle nature of technology. While implementing any information infrastructure, they should leave a provision for its upgradation in the near future to avoid resource wastages caused during system upgradation processes. Analyzing requirements, avoiding unnecessary implementations, and a prompt management system are the few necessary steps that Managers need to take care of before implementing a global information infrastructure.
Works Cited
FEUP. “Infrastructure Components.” Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2016.
Jessup. “Managing Information System Infrastructure.” Prenhall. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 May 2016.
UOTechnology. “Management Information System.” uotechnology. N.p., 2012. Web. 25 May 2016.
