Which issues are involved in the organizational dimension of information systems?

  1- How are information systems transforming business and what is their relationship to globalization?

Describe how information systems have changed the way businesses operate and their products and services.

Increase in wireless technology use, Web sites and increased business use of Web 2.0 technologies by Cloud computing, mobile digital platform allow more distributed work, decision-making, and collaboration.

 Identify three major new information system trends.

Organizational dimension of information Systems, Management dimension of information Systems andTechnology dimension of information systems.

Describe the characteristics of a digital firm.

Significant business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled and mediated.

Core business processes are accomplished through digital networks spanning the entire organization or linking multiple organizations.

Key corporate assets – intellectual property, core competencies, and financial and human assets – are managed through digital means.

Describe the challenges and opportunities of globalization in a “flattened” world.

Customers no longer need to rely on local businesses for products and services.  They can shop 24/7 for virtually anything and have it delivered to their door or desktop.  Companies can operate 24/7 from any geographic location around the world. Jobs can just as easily move across the state or across the ocean.  Employees must continually develop high-level skills through education and on-the-job experience that cannot be outsourced. Business must avoid markets for goods and serves that can be produced offshore much cheaper. The emergence of the Internet into a full-blown international communications system has drastically reduced the costs of operating and transacting business on a global scale.

2-Why are information systems so essential for running and managing a business today?    

 List and describe six reasons why information systems are so important for business today.

Operational excellence, new products, services, and business models, Customer and supplier intimacy, improved decision making, Competitive advantage and Survival.

Information systems are the foundation for conducting business today.  In many industries, survival and even existence without extensive use of IT is inconceivable, and IT plays a critical role in increasing productivity.  Although information technology has become more of a commodity, when coupled with complementary changes in organization and management, it can provide the foundation for new products, services, and ways of conducting business that provide firms with a strategic advantage.  

3- What exactly is an information system? How does it work? What are its management, organization and technology components?

 Define an information system and describe the activities it performs.

Set of interrelated components that Collect, process, store, and distribute information Support decision making, coordination, and control activities of information systems: Input, Processing and Output.

 List and describe the organizational, management, and technology dimensions of information systems.

Organizational: Procedures for tracking packages and managinginventory and provide information.

Management: Monitor service levels and costs

Technology: Handheld computers, bar-code scanners,networks, desktop computers,

Distinguish between data and information and between information systems literacy and computer literacy.

Data are streams of raw facts. Information is data shaped into meaningful form.

Information systems literacy is a broad-based understanding of information systems. It includes a behavioral as well as a technical approach to studying information systems.  

Computer literacy focuses primarily on knowledge of information technology.  It is limited to understanding how computer hardware and software works.

Explain how the Internet and the World Wide Web are related to the other technology components of information systems.

The Internet and World Wide Web have had a tremendous impact on the role information systems play in organizations. These two tools are responsible for the increased connectivity and collaboration within and outside the organization. The Internet, World Wide Web, and other technologies have led to the redesign and reshaping of organizations. They have helped transform the organization’s structure, scope of operations, reporting and control mechanisms, work practices, work flows, and products and services.

 4- What are complementary assets? Why    are complementary assets essential for ensuring that information systems provide genuine value for an organization?

Define complementary assets and describe their relationship to information technology.

Assets required deriving value from a primary investment. Firms supporting technology investments with investment in complementary assets, receive superior returns.

Describe the complementary social, managerial, and organizational assets required to optimize returns from information technology investments.

Organizational assets, e.g.:

Appropriate business model and efficient business processes.

Managerial assets, e.g.:

Incentives for management innovation and teamwork and collaborative work environments.

Social assets, e.g.:

The Internet and telecommunications infrastructure and technology standards.

5-What academic disciplines are used to study information systems? How does each contribute to an understanding of information systems? What is a sociotechnical systems perspective?

A technical approach to information systems emphasizes mathematically-based models to study information systems and the physical technology and formal capabilities of information systems. Students should know the differences between computer science (theories of computability, computation methods, and data storage and access methods), management science (development of models for decision making and managerial practice), and operations research (mathematical techniques for optimizing organizational parameters such as transportation, inventory control and transaction costs).

List and describe each discipline that contributes to a behavioral approach to information systems.

A behavioral approach to information systems focuses on questions such as strategic business integration, behavioral problems of systems utilization, system design and implementation, social and organizational impacts of information systems, political impacts of information systems, and individual responses to information systems. Solutions to problems created by information technology are primarily changes in attitudes, management, organizational policy, and behavior

Describe the sociotechnical perspective on information systems.

A sociotechnical perspective combines the technical approach and behavior approach to achieve optimal organizational performance. Technology must be changed and designed to fit organizational and individual needs and not the other way around. Organizations and individuals much also change through training, learning, and allowing technology to operate and prosper.

List and describe each discipline that contributes to a technical approach to information systems.

A behavioral approach to information systems focuses on questions such as strategic business integration, behavioral problems of systems utilization, system design and implementation, social and organizational impacts of information systems, political impacts of information systems, and individual responses to information systems. Solutions to problems created by information technology are primarily changes in attitudes, management, organizational policy, and behavior 

 Describe the sociotechnical perspective on information systems.

A sociotechnical perspective combines the technical approach and behavior approach to achieve optimal organizational performance. Technology must be changed and designed to fit organizational and individual needs and not the other way around. Organizations and individuals much also change through training, learning, and allowing technology to operate and prosper.

Discussion Questions

 1- Information systems are too important to be left to computer specialists. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Although student answers will vary, this is a good place to reiterate that information systems are more than just technology. Information systems development and usage involves organization, management, and technology dimensions. It is important to understand who will use the information systems and how the information systems will be used to facilitate decision making and control within the organization.

2- If you were setting up the Web site for another Major League Baseball team, what management, organization, and technology issues might you encounter?

Organization:  Typical organizational problems include:

Outdated/poor business processes (usually inherited from the past)

Unsupportive culture and attitudes

Political in-fighting

Turbulent business environment/changes in the organization’s surrounding environment

Complexity of task

Inadequate resources

Technology: Typical technology problems include:

Insufficient or aging hardware

Outdated software

Inadequate database capacity

Insufficient telecommunications capacity

Incompatibility of old systems with new technology

Rapid technological change

Management: Typical management problems include:

Lack of employee training

Difficulties of evaluating performance

Legal and regulatory compliance

Work environment

Lack of employee support and participation

Creating, designing, and delivering new products and services

Redirecting and redesigning organizations.

3-What are some of the organizational, managerial, and social complementary assets that help make UPS's information systems so successful?

Organizational assets: Supportive organizational culture that values efficiency and effectiveness.

Managerial assets: Strong senior management support for technology investment and change.

Social assets: The Internet and telecommunications infrastructure.

What are the organizational dimensions of information system?

The dimensions of information systems include organizations, management, and information technology. The key elements of an organization are its people, structure, business processes, politics, and culture. An organization coordinates work through a structured hierarchy and formal standard operating procedures.
Information systems will have the standard operating procedure and the culture of an organization embedded within them. The organization dimension of information systems involves the organization's hierarchy, functional specialize, business processes, culture, and political interest groups.

What are the issues of information systems?

The information systems have created many ethical, social, political and moral issues related to data privacy, integrity, accessibility, ownership, accountability or control, cultural values, behaviors and identity, health and safety.

What are the challenges of information system in organization?

Typical information management challenges include a lack of strategy, digitizing documents, automating processes, controlling the expanding volume, securing information access, minimizing information silos, connecting with older systems, and eliminating low-quality data.