Business Information & ICT - ICT In Business

PM 2000PM 2000 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - HBUSINESS MANAGEMENT - H 11

EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

Computers are used in order to facilitate data collection, storage, Computers are used in order to facilitate data collection, storage, retrieval processing and output, with the necessary speed and retrieval processing and output, with the necessary speed and accuracy .accuracy .

•Computers Computers

•NetworksNetworks

•Information communicationInformation communication

•Multi-mediaMulti-media


COMPUTERSCOMPUTERS

Computers are used in order to facilitate data Computers are used in order to facilitate data collection, storage, retrieval processing and collection, storage, retrieval processing and output, with the necessary speed and accuracy .output, with the necessary speed and accuracy .

• Mainframe computersMainframe computers

• Personal computersPersonal computers

• Laptop and handheldLaptop and handheld


NETWORKSNETWORKS

This is a number of computers connected to one (server)This is a number of computers connected to one (server)May be “wired” using traditional cables or using wireless technologyMay be “wired” using traditional cables or using wireless technology

Benefits of networksBenefits of networks

• Files can be sharedFiles can be shared• Security of information can be controlledSecurity of information can be controlled• Information can be posted on networkInformation can be posted on network• Peripherals can be sharedPeripherals can be shared• Speed of accessing data improvedSpeed of accessing data improved• Able to monitor and control any branchAble to monitor and control any branch


TaskTask

• Read pages 47 – 51 in your text book then Read pages 47 – 51 in your text book then answer the following questions in your jotteranswer the following questions in your jotter..

1.1.What are the key differences between mainframe What are the key differences between mainframe and mini computers?and mini computers?

2.2.What is a computer network?What is a computer network?

3.3.Describe the main characteristics of a Local Area Describe the main characteristics of a Local Area Network.Network.

4.4.Describe the main characteristics of a Wide Area Describe the main characteristics of a Wide Area NetworkNetwork


INFORMATION COMMUNICATION INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY•ICT is the term used to describe all the technologies involved in ICT is the term used to describe all the technologies involved in using IT to communicate.using IT to communicate.

•As the internet has grown more organisations are using ISDN or As the internet has grown more organisations are using ISDN or ADSL to increase speed rather than the telephone network.ADSL to increase speed rather than the telephone network.

•At the same time the cost of accessing the internet has fallen.At the same time the cost of accessing the internet has fallen.

•By registering with a service provider organisations can access:By registering with a service provider organisations can access:

– specialist business and economics databasesspecialist business and economics databases– systems such as JANETsystems such as JANET– company information, eg financial datacompany information, eg financial data– access to e-mail facilities world-wideaccess to e-mail facilities world-wide– Internet banking facilitiesInternet banking facilities


The internet The internet

The Internet is made up of 3 distinct areas:The Internet is made up of 3 distinct areas:

• EmailEmail

• News groups and bulletin boardsNews groups and bulletin boards

• The world-wide webThe world-wide web


Using the Internet in BusinessUsing the Internet in Business

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Vast quantities of Vast quantities of information available information available 24/724/7

• Access to competitors, Access to competitors, government statsgovernment stats

• Can use website to Can use website to advertise relatively advertise relatively cheaply and access a cheaply and access a global marketglobal market

• Easy to up-date websiteEasy to up-date website

• Sell products using e-Sell products using e-commercecommerce

• Use internet banking Use internet banking servicesservices

Disadvantages

•Can be time consuming to access suitable information due to the quantity available

•Staff may use the internet unnecessarily

•No guarantee information accessed is up to date

•Company must be capable of meeting the demands from e-commerce (availability of stock, delivery etc)

•Up-date and Maintenance of site and equipment


Using E-mail in BusinessUsing E-mail in Business

E-mail is a global electronic postal service supported by the E-mail is a global electronic postal service supported by the internet.internet.

Advantages

•Fast

•Relatively cheap

•Files can be attached

•24/7 – not dependent on time zones

•Messages can be tracked

•Distributions lists

Disadvantages

•Mail boxes need to be checked regularly

•Junk mail

•Impersonal

•Need for “netiquette”

•Employees my use e-mail inappropriately


MULTI-MEDIA SYSTEMSMULTI-MEDIA SYSTEMS

Multi-media - an interactive combination of text, Multi-media - an interactive combination of text, images and sound where the viewer has some images and sound where the viewer has some control over the delivery of informationcontrol over the delivery of information

USES OF MULTI-MEDIA TECHNOLOGYUSES OF MULTI-MEDIA TECHNOLOGY

•interactive training videointeractive training video•Computer/video conferencingComputer/video conferencing•cd-romscd-roms•dvdsdvds


OTHER IT IN BUSINESSOTHER IT IN BUSINESS

• Fax machinesFax machines

• TelexTelex

• EPOS AND EFTPOSEPOS AND EFTPOS

• Satellite technologySatellite technology


EPOS and EFTPOSEPOS and EFTPOSEPOS – Electronic Point of SaleEPOS – Electronic Point of SaleAllow an electronic record to be kept of all items purchased and Allow an electronic record to be kept of all items purchased and

returned.returned.• Used in retailingUsed in retailing• Uses barcodes to scan items at point of saleUses barcodes to scan items at point of sale• As item is scanned stock level is automatically reducedAs item is scanned stock level is automatically reduced• Automatic ordering takes place when minimum stock level is Automatic ordering takes place when minimum stock level is

reachedreached• System can be linked to suppliers to generate ordersSystem can be linked to suppliers to generate orders• ““loyalty cards” can be used in conjunction with EPOS as a way of loyalty cards” can be used in conjunction with EPOS as a way of

gathering information on customers’ buying habitsgathering information on customers’ buying habits

EFTPOS – Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale.EFTPOS – Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale.This system has all of the characteristics of EPOS but alsoThis system has all of the characteristics of EPOS but alsoencompasses payment in the form of debit cards such as Switch, encompasses payment in the form of debit cards such as Switch,

DeltaDeltaor Maestroor Maestro


USING ICT FOR DECISION- USING ICT FOR DECISION- MAKING MAKING Using IT has given businesses the ability to handle and process vast Using IT has given businesses the ability to handle and process vast quantities of information in the following areas:quantities of information in the following areas:

Decision makingDecision making

•managers able to gather information from a wide variety of sources. managers able to gather information from a wide variety of sources.

•Decisions taken more quicklyDecisions taken more quickly

•Data can be processed into sophisticated presentations.Data can be processed into sophisticated presentations.


COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ITCOSTS AND BENEFITS OF IT

• Business has to decide exactly what it wants from ITBusiness has to decide exactly what it wants from IT

• there is a high capital investment involvedthere is a high capital investment involved

• However businesses need to be proactice and able to respond However businesses need to be proactice and able to respond quickly to customer demandsquickly to customer demands

• Decision makers benefit greatly from the speed and the amount of Decision makers benefit greatly from the speed and the amount of information that can be accessed via ITinformation that can be accessed via IT


Costs of ITCosts of IT

• hardware - hardware - lease or buy, insurance,maintenancelease or buy, insurance,maintenance

• software - software - ability to up-grade packagesability to up-grade packages

• installation - installation - alterations to premises, comply with alterations to premises, comply with HASAWHASAW

• training of staff – training of staff – cost ofcost of training, time and practicetraining, time and practice

• alsoalso

• loss of efficiency, errors/glitches in system, the need to loss of efficiency, errors/glitches in system, the need to constantly up-date, possibility of commercial espionageconstantly up-date, possibility of commercial espionage


Benefits of ITBenefits of IT

• The speed of information handlingThe speed of information handling

• flexibility of integrated systemsflexibility of integrated systems

• increases in labour productivityincreases in labour productivity

• decrease in customer complaintsdecrease in customer complaints

• enhances reputationenhances reputation

• may give a competitive edgemay give a competitive edge


Business softwareBusiness software word processing packagesword processing packages

databasesdatabases

spreadsheetsspreadsheets

desk top publishingdesk top publishing

personal productivitypersonal productivity

business graphics and presentation softwarebusiness graphics and presentation software

decision making packagesdecision making packages