Technology has slowly and steadily seeped into all aspects of our lives, big or small. Business is no exception to this trend. In the age of information technology, computers and the internet have become as necessary to businesses as capital, in some cases even more so. Use of specialized hardware and software has made things quicker and less prone to errors, simple and repetitive tasks have been largely automated or will soon be short, communication has been revolutionized, and the rapidly lowering costs of technology are allowing small companies to compete with and outsmart larger corporations. These benefits have not come free of challenges, however. The rapid pace of improvement in technology, which fuels its disruptive powers also makes the future that much harder for managers and business leaders to predict. Careful thought and planning are required if businesses wish to reap the benefits and mitigate the drawbacks. Ultimately, it Continue reading
Information Systems Basics
Charactristics of Business Information
Information is a fact, datum, observation perception or any other thing that adds to knowledge. In the words of Gordon B. Davis “Information is data that has been processed into a form that is meaningful to the recipient and is of real or perceived value in current or prospective decisions”. Information is obtained either by direct observation or by communication. Most of business information is obtained through communication. Even in the simplest responsibility center, the manager could not observe with his own senses everything that is going on, nor would he want to devote his time to doing so, even if it were possible. Instead, the manager relies on information that is communicated to him in various ways, ranging from informal conversations to formal reports. The characteristics of information used in business systems are: Purpose: Information must have purpose at the time it is transmitted, otherwise it is simply Continue reading
Major Types of Computer Systems
A computer is a programmable machine. It accepts information in the form of digitized data and manipulates it for some result based on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data is to be processed. It consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Computers are also categorized on the basis of physical structures and the purpose of their use. Based on Capacity, speed and reliability they can be divided following categories of computers: 1. Microcomputer Systems Microcomputers are the most important category of computer systems for end users. Though usually called a personal computer, or PC, a microcomputer is much more than a small computer for use by an individual. The Continue reading
Types of Software’s Used in Business
Software Trends Several major software trends. First, there has been a major trend away from custom-designed programs developed by the professional programmers of an organization. Instead, the trends is toward the use of off-the-shelf software packages acquired by end users from software vendors. This trend dramatically in creased with the development of relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use application software packages and multipurpose software suites for microcomputers. The trend has accelerated recently, as software packages are designed with networking capabilities and collaboration features that optimize their usefulness for end users and work grounds on the Internet and corporate intranets and extranets. Second, there has been a steady trend away from (1) technical, machine-specific programming language using binary-based or symbolic codes, or (2) procedural languages, which use brief statements and mathematical expressions to specify the sequence of instructions a computer must perform. Instead, the trend is toward the use of a Continue reading
Proxy and Reverse Proxy Servers
Proxy Server Proxy server is a computer system or application which works as an intermediary for clients searching resources which exist on other servers. It allows different users to access the internet at the same time on a single Internet connection. It aims to improve the speed of surfing the internet and reducing network traffic. It receives requests from a web user such as a web page or a file available on a different server, then it evaluates at responds to the request. It simplifies this process and controls it. A proxy server is also part of a firewall and helps to prevent hackers from using the internet in order to not let them gain access to computers on a private network. The main features of a proxy server are: Caching: This happens when a user requests for a file. The proxy first browses its cache and forwards it if Continue reading
Role of a Systems Analyst in Organizations
Who is Systems Analyst? A systems analyst is a person who conducts a study, identifies activities and objectives and determines a procedure to achieve the objectives. Designing and implementing systems to suit organizational needs are the functions of the systems analyst He plays a major role in seeing business benefit from computer technology. The analyst is a person with unique skills. He uses these skills to coordinate the efforts of different type of persons in an organisation to achieve business goals. What a Systems Analyst does? A system analyst carries out the following job: The First and perhaps most difficult task of systems analyst is problem definition. Business problems are quite difficult to define. It is also true that problems cannot be solved until they are precisely and clearly defined. Initially a systems analyst does not know how to solve a specific problem. He must consult with managers, users and Continue reading