How do information systems support the major business functions?
a. Sales Marketing and Finance
b. Logistic and Human Resource
c. Describe with some examples that your familiar with
Answer
An information system (IS) is an arrangement of people, data, processes, and information technology that interact to collect, process, store and provide as output the information needed to support an organization. Information systems and organizations influence one another. Information systems are built by managers to serve the interest of business firm. At the same time, the organization must be aware of and open to the influences of information system to benefit from new technologies.
The interaction between information technology and organizations is complex and is influenced by many mediating factors, including the organization’s structure, standard operating procedures, politics, culture, surrounding environment and management decisions. As a manager, we need to understand how information systems can change social and work life in the company. We will not be able to design new systems successfully or understand existing systems without understanding the business organization.
Figure 1.0 – The Two-way relationship between organizations and information technology
This two-way relationship is mediated by many factors either it is a decisions made or not made by managers. Other factors mediating the relationship include the organizational culture, structure, politics, business, processes and environment.
As a Manager, we able to decide which systems to build, what they do, and how they will be implemented. However we may not be able to anticipate all of the consequences of these decisions. Changes in the new information system (IT) investments cannot be foreseen as a result it may or may not meet our expectation. Example emails and instant messages currently become dominant form of business communications.
A management information system