Book review
Abstract
The rise of the use of information systems has been an issue of concern and has attracted much attention by many business entities. The development of competitive advantage has been enhanced and developed with the use of information systems. Many organizations have adopted the use of information systems and enhanced the undertaking of business processes. In this paper, a review of information systems in the business context will be looked and assessed. The paper will focus on the content that the authors have focused and done research about. It will help to bring the issues that are of concern in the current world of information technology. The paper will also help to come up with the challenges that are faced in the use of information systems. Most of the paper will be done through a review of the text. The paper will be done on a per-chapter process. The paper will also focus on the developments and what will be achieved with the use of information systems. With the use of information systems, there is better learning in the use of information systems. The things that have been done manually with the use of information systems have been enhanced with the introduction of information systems. It is a significant development that need to be enhanced and the current information system are being enhanced to ensure that there is better management and use of this strategy. In total, there are ten chapters that handle the different aspects of information use in business. It will be useful to look and have ways in which the use of these technologies will be useful in the management of the business.
Introduction
Information systems play a crucial role in the management and enhancement of information systems in business. There is a rich literature that has been developed that is geared at ensuring that there is proper management of information systems. It will enhance the growth and the competitive advantage of the organization. In their book, Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World, Joseph Valacich and Christoph Schneider focus on what to undertake in the management of information systems. They are concerned about the need to have better management of information systems. The book focuses in management of information systems in order to bring the best from a business. The authors are concerned about the needs of the business and what needs to be done in order to achieve the requirements that have been stated. This paper will review the book of the two authors. It will focus on what the two authors wanted to pass (Rosenberg, 2001).
Book review
The two authors were concerned about the issues and the role of information systems in the world today. They handle the aspects that come as a result of the use of information systems. From the title of the book, the authors were concerned about the management of information systems in order to have better understanding of the role and the management aspect of information systems in an organization.
In the first chapter, the authors analyze the changes that have been seen in the world about the adoption of information systems in business processes. The authors bring this out clearly when they talk about the rise of the use of information systems. The authors are concerned about the changes that were seen when the global village and the rise of information systems were seen with the adoption of information systems. The author focuses on the role of information systems and how information became a vital part of the management of business processes. The authors then give a case study of how Starbucks have installed information systems in their enterprise in order to manage business processes. The authors are on point when they focus on the needed aspects of information systems and how have been vital in the development of business. There are efficiency and reliability in the provision of services to clients. There are five IT megatrends that are seen to be arising and taking place in the use of IT. It is a developing aspect in the use of information systems in the world.
There is a significant development that the author concerned on with the rise of mobile phones. The authors focus on the role of mobile devices in the enhancement of business processes. The authors talk about the mobility of the provision of services to the world and how this mobility has helped in the enhancement of services in the world. There is some rise and some concern on the use of mobile devices in the business and how this has posed a great threat to information management. It is one of the concerns that the authors are keen on developing and expounding.
Globalization and security
Still in chapter one, there is an important aspect of globalization and how globalization has enhanced the management of information systems. The authors then talk about the factors that have led to globalization and how the internet has played a key role in the enhancement and management of information systems in the entire process. There is a need to understand the role that mobile devices and the ease of communication have had on globalization. The authors mention on the challenges that come as a result of operating in the digital world. These are the factors that include security threats and the rise of data overload.
There is the dual nature of information systems where the authors talk about the issues that have arisen and have been solved with information systems. The point on the focus in this perspective is the rise of the leap year global bug. There were issues that had been raised and had been seen to be challenges that would affect the use of information systems in the world. There are many benefits that come as a result of information systems, but the challenges cannot be ignored. These are the issues that the authors refer to as a dual nature of information systems. It is important to understand how information systems can bring havoc to the business and at the same time bring the competitive advantage that is desired. They are issues that need to be understood by the adopters of information systems have ways in which to integrate the systems. Although these are the issues of concern for the authors, FedEx has been mentioned by the authors as information systems that have been seen to work and function effectively. It is a case in point that has been taken in place and has been seen to be working effectively. It is one of the concerns that need to be integrated ad enhanced in the whole process (Andal-Ancion et al., 2012).
There is a significant trend that the authors mention on the use of cloud computing. The authors mention the importance of cloud computing and the requirements for the cloud. The authors also describe the need for privacy in cloud communications. It is an issue of concern that makes the current information systems an issue to consider. Cloud communications bring an important and significant aspect about privacy. With the fact the cloud framework is shared by many users, the very important aspect of privacy arises. Company information is becoming exposed to third parties with the use of cloud computing. Also, cloud computing brings a significant problem because of the process in which information is shared between the data owners and the cloud service provider. The authors state that there is the rise of privacy concerns because of the security nature.
The book also mentions the ethical dilemma, a significant parameter in the handling of cloud computing. When the current ethical dimensions were developed, the current technologies had not been developed. It is out of the current developments and the current trends that make information and communication technologies to be a significant part of todays’ information systems and ethical dilemma. In this development and significant subject, there is the rise of the development of the ethical code of conduct. It makes the developers of the code understand the current developments that are seen in the world today. Also, the digital divide did not escape the analysis of the authors. They have given a clear and deep analysis of the ethical issues that arise because of the lack of equality in the access of information systems.
Competitive advantage with the use of information systems
Competitive advantage has been given a chapter of its own in the book. The authors show the role of information systems in the management of business processes. It is important to understand the need to have better and enhanced information systems in the whole process. The function areas of the business information systems are mentioned in the entire process. With the use of information systems, there is better learning in the use of information systems. The things that have been done manually with the use of information systems have been enhanced with the introduction of information systems. It is a significant development that need to be enhanced and the current information system are being enhanced to ensure that there is better management and use of this strategy. Apart from doing things better, there is also the issue of doing things smarter. Doing things smarter will enable businesses to achieve an edge over the competition. With the competition that is seen to be taking place in the world with the use of information systems, smart ways of undertaking business processes has been developed and provided with the use of information systems. It is the edge that is needed in order to come on top of the competition in the world (Bharadwaj et al., 2013).
International business strategies are an issue of concern that has been seen to develop with the use of information systems. The platform and environment of competition have been taken to the international arena where information systems have enabled businesses to go global. The authors bring a significant aspect of innovation where businesses are coming up with innovative solutions to the business problems that they have. It I important to understand these processes and have better management aspects in order to enhance the development and enhancement of information systems.
IS information infrastructure and services
Business models and social media
In chapter four and five, there is a significant description of the business models that have come up in the use of information systems. The authors state all important aspect of e-commerce and the different perspectives with which they have been developed. There is also the all-important aspect of business intelligence with the use of social media. Business and knowledge discovery brings a significant development that needs to be developed. The authors state the important of social media and business intelligence (Valacich, Schneider, & Jessup, 2014).
Security and supply chain management
References
Andal-Ancion, A., Cartwright, P. A., & Yip, G. S. (2012). The digital transformation of traditional business. Image.
Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital business strategy: toward a next generation of insights. MIS Quarterly,37(2), 471-482.
Davenport, T. H. (2013). Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business Press.
Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2011). Essentials of management information systems. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Rosenberg, M. J. (2001). E-learning: Strategies for delivering knowledge in the digital age (Vol. 9). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Schneier, B. (2011). Secrets and lies: digital security in a networked world. John Wiley & Sons.
Valacich, J. S., Schneider, C., & Jessup, L. M. (2014). Information systems today: managing in the digital world. Pearson.
