In this blog entry, I would like to open up discussion about management of information systems and technology. I welcome your thoughts about the nature and use of information (in general or specific instances) and any ideas that you have about how we might effectively manage information systems and/or technology as individuals and in organizations.
Of course, as we are using a blog, it’s a great candidate for specific discussion or as an example under this broader topic.
Information is only as valuable as it is useful, so information system managers must strive for clarity and ease of use. Lengthy, technically-complicated, difficult to search information repositories are unlikely to be utilized. Managers can achieve user-friendly systems by evaluating user profiles, needs, and preferences along with organizational goals and designing content accordingly. Targeted user testing can help ensure usability.
With regards to blogs, as a user, I often find them difficult to navigate and too lengthy. Today’s professional is a busy individual with little time (or motivation) to sit in front of a computer screen (after a full work day of it), sift through volumes of information, and read. The imposition of clear organization and perhaps limited or catalogued response content space would help.
Thanks Mary, for sharing your insights into the usability of online sources of information, including blogs. Your suggestions about blog organization has me thinking more about how to organize the threads of my initial posts and the comments in reply.
You may have noticed that your comments in reply did not immediately appear on the blog for others to read. That is because I have elected to use the approval before publishing form of moderation. Sadly, that is because I am inundated with spammed comments and need a way to prevent them from automatically appearing.
I try to check the comments waiting for approval each week, but the amount of spam is so large that finding comments without spam is like the proverbial needle in a haystack. Nonetheless, I persist because of the need to explore this online form of communication with students, clients, and visitors to my web site that click on the Blog link and want to post their thougts on the issues I raise.
Then there are the limits of the blog software, but I maintain that like the situation posed by “Beethoven’s deaf ear” and the music composed during that period, there are workarounds to limitations we face in which we can organize information in more effective ways.
Thanks again for being the first to comment in this thread,
Doc
It is almost a cliché to say that information is currency to today’s businesses. However, due to its quantity, quality, variety of manifestations and expressions, degrees of granularity, mutability in terms of carriers, relativity in terms of context and state, timeliness, accessible ubiquitously, subjective and ambiguous to linguistic, cultural, educational, economical, social, and political backgrounds, easy and fast to create, disseminate, manipulate and control by people and technology, it has challenged the notion of problem solving and decision support for any business using MIS (Management of Information Systems) for the information age. As far as I am concerned, it is time to think about embedding a little touch of formal ontology that represents the truth of the universe into IT solutions.
Information Technology has enriched ourlives by providing Internet users access to vast amounts of data and resources. It’s hard to find a topic that hasn’t been written about or a web page created for. I remember when that wasn’t the case though. Many sites needed content (one of the reasons for the AOL – TimeWarner merger) to keep people returning.
I agree with Mary’s description of blogging. Being unsure of the source of data I’m reluctant to even bother to read most blogs. I have a friend who is blogging for & being paid by CNET. He wants to parlay this experience into being a tech writer for a newspaper. He sends me links to the blogs that he’s written that are good but otherwise I wouldn’t have the time to read them…
Perhaps it is the organization of the blogs. I used to use newsgroups occassionally. It was easy to find a topic and participate in a discussion thread. Newsgroups had moderators that kept the topic and threads in order. Blogs seem to be more personal in nature so you don’t get that level of organization. Perhaps I need to look at more Blog software, since blogging has not yet really caught my interest.
The old saying that knowledge is power has always held true. However, today information is power. We have seen all around us companies like Google and amazon.com gain enormous amounts of wealth based on the information they collected about businesses and customers. We all know that in IT we can get flooded with information. However if you take technology and information systems and develop systems that make that information useful then you have a gold mine. And this is what Google and Amazon have done.
For information systems to truly be effective. They have to be created in a way where they are useful to an organization and hold some value, whether it be a cost savings tool or a money making tool. Cause at the end of the day IT to an organization will always be looked at as an expense. It is up to IT to come up with ways to show that IT is a tool to increase an organizations profit.
As for the concept of blogging it’s a great way to learn what your everyday person has to say and sometimes learn from them. Blogging has been around for years under various technologies such as user forums, newsgroups, and discussion boards. The term blogging ust simplified those older concepts. The good thing is we have tools such as RSS readers to simplify the some times endless amount of information we see with blogging.
I have several friends that either currently blog or have blogged in the past, primarily, like Bob’s friend, to transition into or augment a career in journalism. I have posted on occasion, for topics that I can’t resist contributing an opinion. Personal blogging in a professional setting can be dangerous, however, when writers begin to get too personal and share things better left private.
I believe that in order to effectively manage information systems it is important to get feedback from the users, customers and clients. It is also important to keep the organization’s goals in mind when they are managing the information systems.
In regards to blogging I think when people think of blogs they think of online diaries. I personally feel that way as well. Even when I go to a reputable news site’s blog it still has the unprofessional feel to it. Mainly because they are trying to capture a certain type of audience that fits their stereotypical blogging audience. I do agree with Mary as well that blogs can have a tendency to be a bit lengthy but it depends on what kind of information you are looking for.
Most gossip blogs are short and to the point while business blogs have more content. In regards to navigating through blogs for the most part if they have a search button then it is not that hard or if they utilize the widgets in their side bar that allows a user to see what are the most frequently visited posts or a listing of recent topics.
I remember when I was younger and I always wanted more information to be on websites to avoid having to go to the library (lol) now there are such sites as Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britanica etc. Without information technology we would not have this endless pool of resources of information to do research.
Last year I interned for a blogger who showed me that blogging is not just putting up a picture and writing a couple of sentences about it. People actually make money hosting blogs. They can add advertisements from companies like google, linkshare etc. Every time a person clicks on one of the ads the blog owner gets paid. They actually have seminars and classes to show you how to word posts to get more hits on your site. More hits = more revenue. With that said I think that is why some sites have more content to keep the user engaged so they do not have to go to another site to find the information they are looking for.
What are we today without information?
By experience, I came to realize that in today’s competitive markets, information is the foundation that either makes or breaks companies. Today, for any company to succeed it must have knowledge – knowledge about its customers, its suppliers, its competitors, and its own employees – and thankfully Information Systems are there to support the needed knowledge. Today, no business decision is made without information, whether to introduce new products, to restructure product lines, or to determine pricing models – Information must be available to executives so that they can make strategic decisions.
For me as an IT industry participant, it is truly rewarding to see how much we have progressed in such short period of time. We have become a great society merely by utilizing our acquired knowledge. Knowledge that is now available via the Information Systems that have helped stored and improved Information that has been translated into knowledge at all levels: in the schools, in our businesses, and in our own homes.
Without information, we may as well not be!
Well, I can’t imagine a world now without high end applications, e-commerce, online banking and bill payments, online shopping and all of that. As a matter of fact, I would not have the job that I have now as a Systems Developer. The use of information technology has taken us to such high levels, and I believe will continue to so. I also think that this advancement was and always have been inevitable. However, one of my concerns with technology has always been that as we advance and everything gets automated, we may lose alot of pleasure in doing some things old fashioned.
The use of information technology and systems improves the timeliness and accuracy of the information flows across the value chain enabling managers to make prompt operational and strategic decisions. Therefore, in my opinion, managing information systems effectively means fine tuning the available technology to guarantee the continuous, timely and accurate flow of information across and outside the organization. I think focusing too much on IT development and using of latest technologies may distract the organization from its strategic goals. For this reason, managers have to be careful in balancing the real technology needs and the financial impact of technological investments.
Regarding blogs, I personally do not believe in the information from blogs, product reviews, discussion forums, etc. Communication among people using blogs or forums is difficult since it doesn’t happen in real time and there are no moderators. Besides, the people who respond to blogs many times use bad language as well as other forms of aggressive behavior. Specially, when responding to news blogs or political issues. The internet is full of “misinformationâ€. I think consumers have to be careful when using blogs, I believe blogs are not trustworthy sources of information.
Information Technology, the Internet and e-commerce has a huge impact on everyone’s life, changing the way people communicate worldwide. We spend more time in virtual reality and communicate more using the internet than any other sources.
Although blogging is lengthy and it does not provide a well-organized information it is quite useful when you are interested in particular topic discussion as a process compared to the information as a product.
Technology and Information Systems can be a great asset to a company and its employees. The ability to quickly share information between management and line workers, between groups and teams, especially those located across vast geographic locations can be a real asset.
Information technology can also be used as a means of increasing flexibility in the workplace which can, if used properly, lead to better employee retention and increased productivity. The trick is to prevent tools like blackberries and remote access from becoming an addiction, or worse, a requirement that keeps employees on call 24/7.
I also agree with Bob and Mary in that blogs lack credibility. I do not trust any information unless it is credentialed. Generally, if information is not from a peer reviewed journal or other non-subjective and reviewed source; I do not consider it to necessarily be valid.
The use and management of information in pursuit of competitive advantage has been the focus of many organizations for many years. For many organizations, having information that others do not have means the ability to move faster and capture opportunities as they arise. However, a new phenomenon is starting to emerge as large organizations are starting to realize the greater potential benefits that they can achieve through mass collaboration.
The web is under the process of transformation from being a source of information to a platform for participation and the use of blogs is a great example of this. The great thing about blogs and other social software tools is that they enable network effects to take place. Therefore, the more people participate in the process the more likely creativity and innovation will occur. However, at the same time, mass collaboration can also lead to mass amateurization and the possibility of dumbing down effects. Thus, I believe that the effective management of information systems in the new information environment requires organizations to be able to control the quality of information without discouraging participation.
As people above already mentioned, it’s clear that Information Technology is vital to doing business today for convenience, cost savings, and general improvements to the efficiency of business practices. No matter the size, industry or geographic location of the organization, information is one of the fundamental elements at the heart of every business. Successful organizations use information to streamline operations and maximize efficiency. IT can be managed in multiple ways within an organization depending on the importance of the data and reliance on technology. Organizations who view IT as a core competency usually staff their own technology teams and develop software solutions in-house. Other firms use 3rd party vendors to host and support IT as part of an outsource plan. There are some firms that use a combination — they choose to operate some IT functions in-house while other aspects are outsourced. This can be done purely for financial reasons or other strategic reasons. Company leadership must analyze their organization’s information needs and determine the value of this data. They must weigh the value of this information versus the cost of the technology infrastructure used to support it. What is the true cost to the organization if the information flow ever stops or is disrupted? We must weigh the cost benefit of technology investments and not invest in technology just for the sake of staying on the cutting edge. Technology by itself can’t solve organizational problem, they need to understand the aspects of the problem or need first and then create the IT to resolve the problems and satisfy the needs. That’s what the management of IT is about.
Information Technology is one of the most important assets to maximize leverage and gain competitive advantages over the competition. It is important that the Organization analyst have some working knowledge of management’s Information Strategy Plan.
Organizations today are rightfully pursuing alignment of technology with the business, and that in itself is no small achievement. But for some, the right level is really synchronization, where technology shapes (not just enables) strategic choices. And at the highest level of achievement, business and technology leadership actually converges, reflecting an executive and management team that has achieved an extraordinary level of cross-understanding and vision for the future.
Information system and technology supports Organization at all levels. Assembling the components of Business Technology Management yields unprecedented capacity and opportunity for success in a marketplace where competitive advantage is increasingly defined through technology.
I have mix feeling about blogs… I believe blogs are effective when there is a clear purpose. Bloggers must be able to identify that their posting will have a direct impact on a particular issues, or will provide benefits for individuals viewing and responding to the blog. People are just too busy in today world with a responsibility to focus on their day-to-day jobs to partake in a discussion forum that does not have a clear purpose. I believe that a greater participation is gained when the use of the blog directly benefits all individuals viewing the blog.
Like other classmates, I too use blogs for product reviews. However, I agree that the opinions on blogs are misleading because they do not represent the majority. Even if 10 people out of 11 give a product a positive review, it does not necessarily mean the product is good since the number of reviewers are far less than people who actually own the product. In addition, one must also take into the consideration the type of people who tend to use blogs, which can definetley skew the opinions.
As an individual, how to manage technology is by turning on the computer only when I need it as I’ve become quite addicted to the internet.
At an organizational level, the best way to manage technology is to ensure employees are not inundated with data. I try to minimize my mass emails as much as possible and try to encourage others to prudently use the “reply all” button.
Information is only useful if it can be synthesized to produce business intelligence that will translate into an increased top line or a decrease in bottom line costs. It is only logical that any sort of technology that furthers that end is of utmost importance. Although I cannot comment on the technical/managerial aspect of IT and technology, I can say that from a Human resources/ end user standpoint — Information technology not only increases overall efficiency and per person productivity but effectively incorporating and taking advantage of technology translates to an economic advantage for the only non-scarce factor of production (Land, labor, capital & technology).
When it comes to the nature and use of information, my biggest concern has always been security. I think that no matter how effectively IT systems are managed or how great your technology is, if the information contain within gets compromised, the damage caused can have tremendous repercussions. Thus, when it comes to information and IT – security of all systems should be the #1 priority.
IT is not vital to all businesses, it is vital to reach mass market in a 21th century business where competition is fierce and time means the difference between survival and failure.
Managing IT can and is a challenge. The job itself is expecting the unexpected while furthering time-saving measures to increase efficiency. It seems that every time a new system is created and implemented there are compatibility issues that are overlooked somewhere along the way. The most common is human compatibility. Most people who design systems are engineers or other technical types. These systems are designed to work for itself without the consideration of what is easiest for individuals. Over time the systems are managed into better systems that work better and easier for everyone. For instance, when personal computers were first created in the 70s they were a box you either A. built yourself, and/or B. plugged into a television and then wrote your own software. Over time, PCs shipped with a command line operating system which allowed you to run or write your own programs. Then the system evolved into GUIs which made the system much more simple for humans so more people used the systems.
Today the GUI system is almost a requirement for any IT system. The management question comes up often whether or not to hire a designer to build the GUI or to have the engineer who designed the back end create it. Will the engineer’s design be enough in the 21st century? Not even close.
For organization, how to find useful information is a critical task because profits may hide in it. For example, marketing strategies are made based on the sales transaction information for many websites. I would like to talk about information management in manufacturing industry.
Based on my work experience, I had seen some companies have failed to implement information system when I did system analysis with them. The first problem is that top level managements do think that they need IT to manage information. Perhaps they don’t understand how IT can effectively dig money from information, or they think that focusing on production is more important. The second problem is that sometimes end users are reluctant to adopt new technologies. They feel comfortable for what they have and they do and want to remain the current status.
Thus, educating the importance of information management might be needed for many companies. People may know that they can make more money from information management, but they may not know that in what degree IT is able to assist a company.
Management Information Systems – Today’s business environment is borderless making national and global competition fierce. Management Information Systems are imperative to an organization’s ability to operate efficiently, remain competitive, gain business intelligence, gain marketshare and lead in its industry.
Economic growth in most countries across the world today is driven by knowledge based industries in the financial and professional services sector. Knowledge workers in these industries work with both basic and complex form of information from the past and present to build a likely forecast for the future. Information technology plays the role of a ‘facilitator’ in gathering, analyzing, storing and reporting this information in an appropriate manner.
It is important for organizations today more than ever before to understand the need for managment of information systems and technology so that information is readily accessible and available even 20-25 years from now when the knowledge workers of that time sit down to do analysis based on past trends.
Information technology is fast, cheap and from point to point, allowing users all of the conveniences which before were only available through postal and telecommunication services. Furthermore, Information technology is starting to become a competitor of broadcast media. Allowing users to watch missed shows online and with the click of a button enabling one to read what is happening on the other side of the globe. The ease with which information technology allows citizens of the world to keep in touch with people and events elsewhere unifies the world profoundly. Personally allowing me to share stories and pictures instantly with my family in the Netherlands.
As technology evolves and more and more people are meeting online through virtual meeting points as Facebook, Myspace, blogs etc. All of these allow individuals to find others with similar interests without leaving their house. Possible negative effects of this phenomenon are alienation since “friendships” formed can be more superficial than those formed through face-to-face interaction. In addition, the time spent in front of a screen reduces normal interpersonal contact.
In today’s world, information is power and knowing how to manage information will help companies reach their goals. In today’s fast-paced environment, management information systems are necessary to remain competitive. Yes, the cost of implementing a new technology system is high, however the benefits will exceed the cost. The ability to share information with your colleagues faster will allow you to focus more on your business goals. Plus, allowing customers to process transactions on-line (online banking) will help build a stronger clientele.
As for blogs, I think in some situations they can be very helpful, but you must understand that not everything you believe in a blog is true. They are usually just opinions. For example, if you want to get people’s opinions on a specific topic, a blog can be a good source, however if you are looking for facts and figures, you can’t depend on the information you are obaining in a blog.
With the advent of the global marketplace and the resulting proliferation of competition that transends national boundaries, the need and ability to operate a business in a multitude places around the globe and across time zones has made the management of information systems and technology essential to an organization’s ability to survive and thrive in the market today. An organization that allows itself to fall behinid in the ability to use and manipulate information systems and technology to enhance its business is vulnerable to losing market share to its competitors.
Although the need to stay ahead of the technology curve is important, businesses must be sure that they use the right information systems/technology for their business. For example, I worked for a large entertainment company that started using an application that was supposed to enhance financial reporting, marketing and customer relationship management. The problem was that the application was so complicated that most people had a very tough time learning how to use it. The application may have been an innovative product but because it wasn’t user friendly, its potential could not be realized. The moral of the story: choose the RIGHT application for your business and don’t underestimate the importance of user friendliness!
The use of IT and management information systems has proved to be vital in today’s businesses. By having these applications available online, many people can take advantage of services during non-business hours. Things like online bill pay, online banking, and online shopping have made our lives a lot easier, not to mention the fact that they are helping businesses grow and expand their services. All aspects of having these applications available online are proving to be positive; however, I feel the only problem a business may run into is whether or not a service is user-friendly. Many young people are taking advantage of these services because they are technologically-savvy, but others may not use services like these because they may feel it is too complicated.
Even blogging has become an important part of business technology. For instance, one of my friends is an aspiring music journalist. Until she gets her big break, she keeps a blog and writes reviews for shows, albums, and bands online. Not only is she documenting her own experiences, but she is also keeping an online portfolio of all her articles. In the future, a music journalist may come upon her blog and see her skills, or she could also use the blog in an interview to show her talent, both on and off of the computer.
In the long run, IT can only help a business as long as it is carefully planned out and properly used.
Faster, better and more flexible and reliable IT service has become a business-critical part of the agenda for almost any successful organization. For example, a big organization needs a perfect IT solution to be better equipped to perform IT due diligence activities for mergers and acquisitions. A small organization also needs to assess which IT services should be provided internally and which should be outsourced to third party service providers.
To effectively manage information systems and technology, an organization needs 1) high-availability system technology and infrastructure architecture; 2) operations management software to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the IT infrastructure; 3) skilled resources to deliver and sustain a comprehensive, effective solution.
For an individual, effectively managing IT is also very important. Some software such as “Quickenâ€, which helps individuals to track incomes, cash flows and different credit cards account, has become a great hit in the market. As for blogging, I think it is a good way to communicate, especially for people like me, who are far away from home. Rather than sending out many duplicated emails, blog can keep all the friends and relatives updated by a single thread.
While i think that information technology systems are helpful in everyday life, they are only as efficient as the people who use them. I greatly appreciate my online banking and the ability to follow my fedex packages as they ship. However, at my office we use MaxHire to track companies we work for (open roles) and candidates who we place. Unless the system is updated, it is completely useless. Recruiters can spend hours trying to qualify someone for a role only to realize it isn’t open anymore or admins can spend a long time trying to figure out a person’s salary if it is entered incorrectly. Either of these problems can be solved my going directly to the account manager or recruiter… .. at least a person is always there when technology fails.
Blogging is a very useful tool. We are currently planning to implement blogging at work to tap the energy and new ideas of our 500+ employees with a wide variety of experiences. Personally, I use it to promote my husband’s science thriller book Neitherworld.
Knowledge is power. I am so glad that we are living in an era that information is so easily obtainable by anyone from anywhere. You can be a llama shepard in the Peruvian Andes and still attend on-line classes at Oxford University in England. How great is that! Blogging is an excellent way to let others see your views. You can freely share your ideas while communicating with people all around the world. Again, I am so glad that I live in this Internet era.
All of the advantages/benefits associated with blogs in general inherently carry some draw backs.
The free flow posting of information, opinion, and data while insightful at best does not guarantee that this same posting be accurate, relevant, and/or non-repetitive of previously posted comments.
I see blogging as commonly done today, both professionally and recreationally, as the beginning of what in the future will be enchanced areas of communication that will have built in search, sorting, and linking tools to allow readers of blogs to go beyond the original postings and more easily find the information they are seaking.
I began my professional career just as the technology age really went KABOOM!!! It was soo exciting and different as companies began to embrace and apply technology to their operations and business models.
I agree with many that information technology has completely revoluionized the world and I wonder what we as businesses and individuals would do without it. I am certain that the face of business and global markets would be completey different today without information technology.
Information technology has made an impact on many daily routines and encounters. It has made things easier and more accessible along with being less time consuming and tedious. The fact that services may be accessed anywhere and at almost all times really has made the internet a wonderful assett.
I do appreciate blogging in the sense that it allows one to see other personal views. I believe blogging will soon pertain to things such as consumers views on the quality of care of a particular doctor or hospital and so on.
There is no escaping the efficiencies and possibilities that information systems and technology provides businesses of all sizes and industries. As much as I personally believe that information tecnology as a whole is responsible for personnel downsizes worldwide, indeed, there are so many pros for management to embrace information systems and technology and as a means to fully comprehend and interpret data from headcount to compensation metrics by region, by segment, by product, etc.
I have never personally blogged or spent a fair amount of time reading a blog as they have resulting in firings for some people in corporate America. My personal view is that they provide a medium to share information with others that normally would not be reported by the media or any other corporate-owned enterprise, so they are valuable.