As you further reflect upon your discussion entries, consider the following.
IT Impact upon Business Operations.
Information Technology (IT) is shaping the structure, process and environment of business. A quick examination reveals:
More sophisticated information systems and collaboration processes, including technological infrastructure.
• Business enterprise as an intelligent, knowing and learning organization.
• Integrated IT infrastructure is critical component of business structure.
• Integration of functional units.
• Lowering cost of operations.
• Cloud computing tools and resources
Expanded Information Access and Information Processing:
• Organization as knowledge ecologies, linking people with information and experienced people with practical wisdom.
• Timely information with increased accuracy and depth.
• Quicker dissemination of information.
• Easy networking of internal and external talent and knowledge sources.
• More up-to-date and informed decision making.
• Improved recruiting, evaluating references, and hiring of personnel.
Nationally and Internationally Distributed or Dispersed Organizations and Worldwide Supply Chain:
• More adaptive and flexible business and workplace structures and practices.
• The breaking down of distance as a barrier to business operations, customer service, worker collaboration, sales and marketing, etc.
• Business enterprise is a web or network of organizations—collaborations, partnerships and alliances, etc.
• Exploitation of system in a manner that mutually benefits all members.
• Outsourcing and Off Shoring.
24/7 Business Operations and Accessibility for Customers and Clients:
• Follow the sun mentality with businesses continuously in operation.
Telework Work Environments and Processes:
• Wherever the employee is is his/her workplace.
• Telepresence .
• 24/7/365 Connectivity with Professionals and Team Members.
Global Workforce:
• Access to worldwide professional expertise, knowledge and talent.
Internet Marketing and Global Markets:
• Increased in depth knowledge of target markets—demographics, preferences, etc.
• Marketing information more global and accessible to potential customers.
• More informed customers.
• Customers become employees: Offloading of business/operational tasks to customer.
• B2B and B2C business ventures and configurations.
• Personalized products and marketing practices, and customized customer service.
• More accessible and convenient shopping venues.
• Customer feedback aid in refining or designing new products and services.
In many ways IT in it many forms is improving industries, the human experience, living and working standards, and national and global economies.
Technology Integrated in Business Structure.
When thinking about a business enterprise one must keep in mind that business enterprises have a structure (e.g., roles, responsibilities, lines of authority, etc.), are comprised of human resources (e.g., personalities, workforce dynamics, motivation, etc.), have power systems (e.g., politics, negotiation systems, conflict resolution processes, etc.), utilize communication processes (e.g., way of self-organizing as a business, social networking, information flow, knowledge sharing, etc.), and have a culture (e.g., world view, beliefs, values, rituals, taboos, etc.) . When understanding an enterprise one must not only critically understand the basic functional units (e.g., management, human resources, manufacturing, finances) but also its behavior as an organization. So there are organizational dynamics to take into account as well as business principles and operational processes when developing an understanding of ebusiness.
So, when developing your vision and practice of the business enterprise keep in mind that it is a complex sociotechnical entity, an adaptive living network that weaves people and technology, creating a dynamic web of relationships and conversations so it can achieve its strategic goals and mission. This web is comprised of many stakeholders: business owners, shareholders, employees, business partners, external resources, suppliers, customers, and the civic community, to name a few. There are evolving relationships and conversations with each of these entities. Information is flowing throughout the organization, knowledge is being generated, decisions are being made, activities are occurring, and transactions are taking place in these relationships.
It can be said that organizations are: sociotechnical systems, diverse societies with cultures, and dialogical networks that are continuously evolving and learning in order to provide a product or serve a segment of the local or global community. Organizations exist as a tension between being a static entity with a clear identity and an emerging process of formal and informal, planned and spontaneous conversations and relationships.
This holds true for “brick/click-and-mortar” enterprises and virtual organizations. So, when developing your vision of enterprises and their structures, business processes and IT infrastructures ground them in a sociotechnical model. The IT infrastructure and human resource infrastructure when operating are actually one integrated infrastructure. Information systems are people and digital technology woven together so information flows, knowledge is generated, problems are solved, decisions are made, and action taken. Managers and teams are networked so collaboration takes places and tasks completed. Vendors, suppliers and logistic providers are linked with the business enterprise, forming a consistent collaborative information-driven supply chain or system so all the needed functions are provided and “raw materials” supplied. In this manner the business enterprise actually is a network of organizations and internal and external human resources created into a dynamic web of agreements, partnerships and alliances that function as one entity.
IT network systems help create the needed organizational structure, business processes, and work environment. They are to reflect and facilitate the human dialogue and work dynamics of the organization, the need to manage operations, share knowledge, make decisions, innovatively think and problem solve, make decisions and collaborate with whomever is needed whenever needed. In this process people interact with people, people interact with various types of data repositories and through digital systems, and digital systems interact with digital systems. In this manner, the “organization as an entity” is actually the database where information is stored and accessed. Databases are just one component of the organization’s overall “information processing and knowledge sharing system.”
Lastly, markets and the customers that comprise them, are conversations. While dialogue occurs among them, there is also two-way communication taking place—information gathering and knowledge sharing—taking place between the business and the clientele that they serve. In this manner ecommerce is not just about sales transactions, it is about customer relationship management (CRM)—identifying markets, gathering information, developing relationships and loyalty, plus customers sharing ideas that they have about product/service evolution and the creation of new products/services.
Thus, the technological infrastructure of an business venture not only has to be appropriate for the business goals, but also the employees and customers. Further, the IT aspect must also be understood in light of information systems, communication, and collaboration needs and processes. Human resources management, customer relationship management, supply chain management and information systems must be woven into one sociotechnical infrastructure.
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