Introduction:
The use of technology and the internet in business process has gone a long way from the simple usage of just typing to the full-scale use of complete dependence on IT. This has been mainly achieved due in part to the fact that the use of technology in a business gives it a competitive advantage over other businesses. The use of IT in a business provides a business with advantages that they would otherwise not accrue if not implemented. The use of IT also provides the individuals who use it with the disadvantages that come with it. This has however been overcome and measures put in place to prevent such events occurring.
The use of Internet in the business systems in this day and age has become the new way to gain access to individuals that are far away in term of geographical location. This has helped expand business boundaries and has led to the development of even better systems than was expected. The use of IT coupled with the use of the internet has completely revolutionized businesses. A transaction can be completed in a short while over the internet to provide the services that are very much needed by the people involved. The process of finding a product, paying for it and having it delivered to you has never been easier. Just about anybody with a computer, a connection to the internet and the basic computer skills can perform such a transaction and obtain the good or service they are after. This provides them with the capability to comfortably get the good without the hustle of having to move about looking for that object.
It has become inevitable that any business that really wants to reach out to clients, it has to embrace the IT culture that comes with modern business systems. They will have to use websites, social media and rich media to make their goals known to the target groups and thus have their business goals achieved.
Aims and Objectives:
Managing, controlling and structuring the IT function have never been more hectic. This is because of the fact the social nature of the IT infrastructure that has been experienced with most systems in this day and age. The IT infrastructure has now been used as a means for sharing experiences among pears. In the business system, this can be an advantage and a disadvantage. This is because the people involved could diverse from the real business talks and move to other things that will definitely not benefit the business. This can be seen by the use of social networks in the office. Social networks can help market and grow the business, but when workers use it for personal sharing and communication, their attention in digressed and they find themselves involved in a communication that involves people who are not part of the group. The business structure can be crippled by such a nuisance. This has led to most companies limiting the time their workers can have access to the social networks by using their network firewalls. They mostly program the firewalls to allow access to the social networks at lunch breaks and after working hours. This gives the management the confidence that their worker’s are not only involved in the business of social networking but are also performing their own business objectives fully.
The key concepts involved in the structuring, managing and controlling the IT infrastructure in a business system revolves around the system itself. The people involved will from the top be a manager who is basically technically versed and has managerial skills. Bellow him is the IT team. These are the individuals that make the system work seamlessly. The team varies in size depending on the size of the company. If the company is small, then they are going to be few. In the case the company is self owned all an IT company may need is one individual who will perform the functions regarding such a department by alone.
However, in most cases a team is always in place to manage the IT infrastructure of any company that is being taken into consideration. The team is well versed and divided so that they can perform their daily roles efficiently. They are usually divided into smaller teams depending on their skill set and the goals that are being targeted to be achieved. This provides the client with the necessary means by which he or she can really depend on the system. For example, in a company that uses the business model that is heavily reliant on the web and the IT infrastructure, it is very logical that he or she be acquitted with the people involved. The IT team would be at the fore front of the business and will thus have the upper hand when trying to connect with the client. It is the IT team that will have to explain themselves in the event that business front is failing. This has led to the need to train the IT experts in many other skills such as marketing to enhance their performance with the business products.
The Control of the IT infrastructure in a business system is highly dependent on the hardware that has been put in place. The team that has the work of maintaining such a system has the ability of putting up in place systems that will allow them to control the system. This provides them with the power to channel the infrastructure towards the goals of the business. Without this control the system may be abused by the people interacting with it, these include the workers, clients and any anonymous people who may come in contact with the system.
The controlling of such systems is not only geared towards achieving business goals, but also to prevent the occurrence of a situation whereby the business gets paralyzed by a small mistake on the part of the system. The internet comes with its own shares of issues. When an internal business network is connected to the internet, it is quite possible that the system could fall victim to an external attack. The systems are thus used to control the possibility of such an even occurring and thus safekeeping the goals of the business.
Key Concepts, Constructs and Debates:
The web-based systems that are being used in the modern day world are reliant on the use of internet business deals to be achieved. This is because the system will depend on the use of the physical hardware for internet connection and the use of the software connection for the complete connection to the internet and full functionality. The use of websites has become heavy. This has led to the need of initiating the use of such systems as those that will allow the user the chance to fully understand the system while receiving the services and goods from the business in a manner that satisfies his needs. The websites may use the online means of payment. This means that the individuals involved would have to implement systems that are easy to understand and that are in compliance with the law.
The use of online payment means has been in use by most business for close to ten years now. This makes the business process faster and easier to close. This has been due to the fact that the process of obtaining the product is also as fast, and therefore it would make sense to apply a payment means that is equally fast and reliable as well.
The web has become a thriving ground for people looking to apply their business ideas such that they are now able to implement them fully. It provides them with the powers and means to reach their client faster, and at much further geographical distance as compared with the other means of business. The use of the IT infrastructure is also quite easy and allows the student the capability to grow his or her knowledge on the subject. Regular interaction with a business model that can allow the client the chance to learn provides the client more than a business transaction. The client is able to receive the lessons of working such a system the hard way. They experience it from themselves by interacting with it, which gets far much better over time.
Conclusion:
The user of the internet and the technological equipment is here to stay. If anything, such elements in the network have greatly increased the means through which the internet has been seen in the eyes of the people. The internet and the technology behind it is slowly becoming a necessity. They are slowly becoming a necessity that needs to be available to use by the client and the business. The use of the internet is slowly changing from just an information portal to a business window. It is growing at a fast rate on a daily basis providing the proof that the limits are not coming any time soon. Any business that is looking to withstand the drastic changes that are happening in the market today, they would have to embrace technology and the web. Because where the two interact, a bigger and wider means for doing business is always invented. This in itself is a lot of money that will certainly judge how a business will perform.
The use of technological devices and the internet has its own share of problems without a doubt. IT also however has its own advantages that have by far outweighed the disadvantages. With proper management and control of the systems that will have been put in place, it is quite possible that the parties involved can minimize on the problems that might arise from such networks. The managing team would be advised to employ the best means of minimizing such problems and therefore maximize on the benefits that come to their business as a result.
Bibliography:
Berinstein, P. (2003). Business statistics on the web: find them fast-at little or no cost. Medford, NJ, CyberAge Books.
Brynjolfsson, E. & Hitt, L. 2000, Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organizational Transformation and Business Performance' , Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 23-48, Fall. Available through the Swinburne Library at:http://ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=3836822&site=ehost-live
Cagnin, C.H., Loveridge, D. & Butler, J. 2005, "?? An Information Architecture to Enable Business Sustainability', Proceedings of 2 nd International Congress Sustainable Management in Action, University of Geneva . September 2005.
Cagnin, CH, Loveridge, D & Butler, J 2005, An Information Architecture to Enable Business Sustainability, presented at SMIA05.Available at: http://www.smia.info/19-septembre-2005--morning-en154.html (note: last morning session
Choi, C. J., Hilton, B., & Millar, C. (2004). Emergent globalization: a new triad of business systems. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan.
Earl, M. & Feeney, D, 1994, "??Is your CIO adding value?' Sloan Management Review, Spring, pp 11-20. Available through the Swinburne Library at: http://ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/login?url=http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC- Documents&docType=IAC&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A15440103&userGroupName= swinburne1&version=1.0&searchType=PublicationSearchForm&source=gale
Gallaugher, John. 2011 Information Systems: A Manager""?s Guide to Harnessing Technology, Flatworldknowledge.com [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/pub/1.2/information-systems-manager""?s-/621498#. [Accessed 15 November 11]
Koellinger, P 2005, Why IT Matters : An Empirical Study of E-Business Usage, Innovation, and Firm Performance, DIW Berlin Discussion Paper.Available at: http://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/43300/dp495.pdfReferences
Lee, I. (2009). Selected readings on information technology and business systems management. Hershey, Information Science Reference. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=225724.
Leondes, C. T. (2005). Intelligent knowledge-based systems business and technology in the new millennium. Boston, Mass, Kluwer Academic. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10386933.
Lucas, HC, Jr. 2005. Information Technology: Strategic Decision Making for Managers.John Willey and Sons. USA Other materials
Lytras, M. D., Damiani, E., & Ordóñez De Pablos, P. (2008). Web 2.0 the business model. New York, Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85895-1.
Mulgan, G., Tucker, S., Ali, R.and Sanders, B. (2007) Social Innovation: What it is, why it matters and how it can be accelerated. Working Paper. Oxford: University of Oxford, Said Business School, Skoll Center for Social Entrepreneurship, http://www.youngfoundation.org/files/images/03_07_What_it_is__SAID_.pdf [Accessed 15 December 11]
O' Neil (2011) 'Consumerization of IT' taking its tool on IT managers http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220060/_Consumerization_of_IT_taking_its_toll_on_IT_managers?source=toc [Accessed 20 December 11]
Whitley, R. (2007). Business systems and organizational capabilities: the institutional structuring of competitive competences. Oxford, Oxford University Press.