Information and communication technology eb san iit 8 gett EIEN a en They ABR cre aS eAle about attractive sites and, ‘Sir Tim Berners-Lee (1 Management issues ‘The basic issues in information technology (IT) ‘management are: 4) increasing the stability of the system to reduce down-time ») ensuring that information is secure and backed-up (use of encryption firewalls to keep out hackers, viruses, spyware eto) Beyond that, the following may be important issues at different times: «© Tension between the IT department and other business units. How are business requirements translated into an TT solution? Fiow is the efficiency of FT spending ‘measured? Do the business people understand the technology? «© Should the software be a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) package ora tailor-made solution? If the later, then what degree of customization is needed? ‘© How well does the new IT integrate with the old (= legacy) system? ‘© How good is the documentation? Is training necessary? © What level of integration is appropriate? Should the organization use just one standard of software (ey, SAP Oracle) and or hardware (eg IBM/HP)? Trends Predicting the future of information and communication technology (ICT) is notoriously difficult, But several trends appear to be happening: © Computing power is moving away from the local PC to the network (delivered where and when it is needed), «© Software is also moving to the network: companies are leasing it online for a monthly fee instead of buying it. © Wireless connectivity is becoming possible between ‘more and more devices. ‘© Bandwidth is increasing. ‘© Processing power and storage capacity keep increasing, while prices keep going down. © Open-source platforms (designed and improved by users, owned by no-one) are becoming more common. © Profitability is becoming an issue for vendors as 1T Decomes widespread and standardized © Integrating and managing IT systems is becoming more {important than selling new products. © Backcoffice functions (eg payroll) and software development are being outsourced to low-cost countries In inventoF Of the World Wide Web © There is the development of an ‘Internet of things’ — pervasive computing - where everyday’ objects have embedded processing power with a connection to the Net © There is a convergence between traditionally separate media. E-business A business with no online presence is a‘bricks-and-moctar” ‘organization. At the opposite extreme, a fev ‘virtua? businesses exist only online. But most businesses are “clicks-and-mortar’ ~ they have some part of their business fon the web, but also physical premises ‘The phrase ‘e-commerce’ refers to the part of e-business related to buying and selling. Retailers set up an electronic storefront (Br£ shop front) and shoppers place items they want fo buy in an electronic cart (BeE trolley). Wren the shopper is ready, they go to the ‘checkout’ where their payment is processed For customers, key issues include: © Fraud (the safety of online payment systems) (© Merchandise dllivery and returns. (© The ditficuty of speaking directly to a customer services representative rather than getting an automated response For companies, key issues include: © The protection of intellectual property (piracy). © Website costs and maintenance © Maasuring the effectiveness of the website (click-through rates for ads, trafic counts, conversion rates to show percentage of visitors who make a purchase), In terms of the technology involved, e-commerce is a good example ofthe role of dedicated (reserved for a specific use) ververs: 11 A database server stores customer data and product information in tables. 2 An application server is responsible for calculations and rogram logic it retrieves data from the database server and feeds it tothe web server. J 3A web server is responsible for the intesface and agraphics; it presents the wed page tothe user. 4. & Abbrowser on the user's computer allows the customer to interact with the company’s web server, Further information wwwwebopedacom © wwwinfoworé.com ® wancio.com ® worwitmee com ® wwwibrintcomTransaction precessing: constant updating (of misfion-critical data such as orders, invoices, payuaents, parol, inventory, ee Maruatings CRM Casstoner relationdhip management Production / Operations: MRP Cuatarial requiremants planning’, CIM Computer intagraed watactring? Finence: financial planning and bacgeting Han resources: payroll tad anmloyens™ records ERP Centerurise resource planning) vnnages all Sages ta the syply ch Wireless LAN grovides zervice within a hotspot GPS Cobal positioning system Se aetarsdna bration ef ever Bluetooth to enable short-range ion betuten wireless devices Rarsonal services Contant induding news and antertainnent is aggregated in a mobile portal? Meconmerce € mobilerconmarce: shopping and Ieaynatnts fren your Ghonky perSon~tonperson paymants, advertising based on your location Intratusiness Coupgort for mobile workers, job ‘Sispatch, Access to intranet Gor sales SAKE “to get customer 7 preduct info, ete) © vowwuforbes combusinestech © wavs teed comencycloneda = hnip/Awhatstechtarget.com © wivw.tuto2u.net (> Revision Notesicd) 53 12 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 1. Raw operational data is kopt in datarasas, og Fales info, inventory info, chstomer info 2. All the databases and documents From across the organitation are collected together in a data 4. Information fron the data arthouse if retraves at "Miosaaton oyete eMC) sofa lasing “datamining’. NLS software supports decision making, identifies patterns ard trands, et LAN Clesal area network) allows single-user workstations to share date, a4 inside & conpany briding WAN wide area nebworis geograghically dispersed LAN Intranet Ccompany network? Extranet Cart of intranet with limited access for cartain peogle ‘outside the company) Collaboration tools (> greugmare) “that allow users at diffarent workstations to work on the Sana project Csereen sharing, Webconferencing, ete) Taleworking Cenmloyte can work at hens, Frome & castomers grenaiss, “fron 6 hotel, feone the beach) BIB “Electranic 4 marketplace Tor a spec iadhstry Supply chain managensent Extranet to work more closely with suppliers and partners Bic Online marketing Virtual store with online transaction processing and dlectronic funds transfor Onlin customer serviee Major areas include Financial services, reservations for travel and holidays, Sale of eta) actate, ete \