Role of the Information Technology Department - Assignment Example

BUSINESS CONCEPTS 2 Chief Information Officer Job The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a popular title given to the leading manager of the Information Technology department in an organization. Relative to that among his major roles is controlling information technology and computer systems in the organization. The CIO is the technological-director of the organization hence he needs to make budget propositions of the best programs and upgrades as part of the role of presiding over all IT-related projects. Comprehensively, Clara, the human resources manager should include other roles as part of the CIO’s job description. The first role is the provision of technological supervision in the corporation, which does not only entail the supervision of the other IT specialists but also the information systems and the communications networks. The CIO also oversees the development and execution of an excellent customer service platform relative to the organization’s practices. He/she also liaises with management teams and organizational leaders on any IT-related alterations, advances or probable approaches to enhance communication. Additionally, still under communication, the CIO maintains the corporate network infrastructure for utter connectivity and remote access. Other roles of the CIO entail participation in vendor contract negotiations, assessing and anticipating technology projects, and establishing and directing strategic and tactical objectives, initiatives and practices in the IT department. Finally, the top-level management also requires the CIO to flourish in the identification of user needs and resolution of problems. Role of the Information Technology (IT) Department The core roles of the Information Department, relative to the name, entail dealing with most, if not all, of the organization’s information. The first significant role entails planning, where members in the department work with the Chief Information Officer in developing an IT approach supporting the corporate culture and objectives (Linton, 2015). The planning role of the department helps in building a resilient advantage over the rest of the competitors, which they achieve through customization of software and computer systems significant in meeting needs of other organization’s departments. Networking is also among the roles of the department as it is the backbone of efficient communication and collaboration between departments. The IT departments operations mostly relate to the organization networks and ways of making it more efficient. As modules of the network system, the IT department, through the different teams, engages in the development of technological equipment that facilitates the collection, storage, management, security and distribution of data (Linton, 2015). This is important for employees interested in latest information, which is useful in decision making and solving current or long-term challenges. Due to the increase in cybercrime and information systems insecurity, the IT department ensures the organization has excellent information security management. This facilitates their protection of the information technology infrastructure and organizational data against any cyber spasms. Finally, the IT department assists employees in the efficient use of the organization’s IT resources through user support. Difference between IT system and MIS system The main difference between IT and MIS lies in the nature of the systems. IT systems focus on the technical side of the information systems in a corporation (Linton, 2015). The IS experts deal with the IT systems when it comes to installing, maintaining and troubleshooting of the IT systems and other infrastructure such as network systems. On the other hand, Management Information Systems deal with data and its interactions with computing devices for the achievement of management goals. Typically, MIS systems apply in making decisions through correlating with the implemented management methods to ensure a company’s practices are successful. Even though IT systems can also apply in making corporate decisions, MIS systems are more prevalent because the purpose of their development emanates from the need to make informed and strategic decisions. A good example of a Management Information System (MIS) is the Geospatial Information System (GIS), which is very efficient and preferred by most professionals today. Typically, GIS, as used in many organizations describes computer-based systems specially designed in order to assist in the capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, as well as management and presentation of different kinds of spatial and geographic data. However, professionals could use GIS for an alternative purposes, which entails describing different technologies, methods and processes an organization can use to enhance effectiveness and efficiency from the initial results. Threats Challenging e-business Conducting business online is very advantageous because it offers entrepreneurs a variety of recompenses and is more convenient than other methods. However, despite the advantages e-business has multiple challenges relative to the multiple advancements in technology (Bortz, 2012). Firstly, entrepreneurs are predisposed to deceitful hackers that infiltrate their systems and steal customer’s private information even with deterrents such as creating a protected payment page for customer purchases and other money transactions (Joseph, 2014). The information illegally acquired applies in draining customer’s bank accounts or stealing their identities hence putting the service provider to a disadvantage since most people perceive making online purchases as a threat. Secondly, when it comes to conducting money transactions online the main challenge emanates from password management where the passwords most people put in place are likely to be broken or hacked easy. However, this is not only an educational challenge but also an administrative one since the company under which a person is doing their transaction should be able to counter such challenges. The main challenge is assurance that a certain person is conducting the transaction under their identity; additionally, with current authentication standards, often people take on faith that the “real” sender is contacting them as the message claims. Importance of Supply Chain Management Promptly, supply chain management enhances the basic strategies and initiatives that companies put into place to get their product to the consumers, retail and wholesale; moreover, the whole process covers extraction of raw material to the final delivery for the consumers, which augments organization in the company. Secondly, international and large companies like McDonald’s and automobile dealers have top-level managers and departments in charge of supply alone because, for any business, the supply chain determines its sustainability (Kate, 2012). The efficiency of supply chain management determines a company’s position among its competitors, and its improvement minimizes costs, increases benefits and saves time. Due to meeting customers’ needs, supply chain management ensures the products are in the right place, at the right time and in the right condition for the warehouses and supply chain to uphold efficiency, hence measuring performance is easier since the observed factor is the achievement of the set goals, relative to management and the supply chain itself. ISO Standards The ISO standards result from the International Organization for Standardization. The ISO standards implementation took place first in the late 1940s as the initial step to advocate for international standards of property, industrial and commercial practices. Currently, the ISO body entails different representatives from standard institutions around the world. Essentially, the ISO standards are in place to protect products simultaneously advocating for reliability and excellent quality. Business, industries and corporations use ISO standards to lessen expenses that normally result from waste and errors, which upsurges productivity. Moreover, the ISO standards act as strategic tools that organizations use to gain access into new markets. For the developing countries, they act as an assurance of fair competition or platform where states can engage in unrestricted and just trade. Consumer Behavior Consumer behavior is a common term in the modern world economy and most people use it as a description of a certain group’s probable needs as indicated by past evidence. As for organizations, consumer behavior is a study of consumers and techniques they use in selection, usage and disposition of certain products or services. The experiences and ideas a company can use in satisfying certain needs are the key influence since they reflect on the consumers or society (Perner, 2015). Typically, there are a number of ways that organizations apply consumer behavior. The most common application is as a marketing strategy and companies will advertise their products and services when they are sure consumers really need them i.e. advertising for umbrellas during the rainy season. Consumer behavior also applies as a tool on the social media platforms where businesses pass ideas across potential customers on what products/services best fit certain conditions or needs. Penetration Pricing Penetration pricing mainly applies as an attraction factor for customers towards certain products or services by organizations. It entails the idea of setting low prices for a new product or services at its first entrance into the market to get ahead of the competition. This applies under the notion that the consumers will take note of the product or service’s low price as a marketing strategy prompting them to buy it rather than that of the competitors. For instance, Company C has a new product but Companies A and B have already made an impact in the market due to their manufacture of a similar product earlier on. Company A could use penetration pricing to increase their market share and sales volume when they apply this strategy in the right way. Pricing Strategy of Bundling Bundle pricing involves the sale of products or services as a set for a lesser price than what the goods would cost if sold distinctly. Bundle pricing is also a marketing strategy that definitely attracts the attention of customers prompting most of them to buy the set of products/services. As for the corporations and companies, applying the pricing strategy of bundling permits them to augment their profits by giving their consumers such standard discounts. Bundle pricing is prevalent in most markets and most traders would agree it works. A good example of a company that uses this strategy is McDonald’s, where burgers, fries and cokes are less expensive in a bundle. In addition, Microsoft Office sales are in a bundle of computer software such as MS PowerPoint, MS Word and MS Publisher. Concerns faced by Women in today’s Workplace Women’s positions in the workplace have always been a topic of discussion and even with less attention given to stereotypes today; there are still concerns faced by the female gender. Firstly, very few people understand and value the discrepancies between men and women (Caprino, 2013). The perception of cultural training and neurobiology between men and women is very different; however, based on other characteristics, women still appear as inferior and incapable of certain tasks. Most boards of directors and management teams still argue that women cannot survive some of the extreme work demands prevalent in the corporate world. However, these results from the notion women have other activities outside the workplace that they prioritize more than their participation in the corporate world. The only aspect that women can appreciate in the workplace is the belief both genders are equally ambitious; otherwise, the rest of their lives in the workplace is full of concerns (Caprino, 2013). Finally, women in the corporate world have to balance between life, family and work urgencies making them less participative in their workplaces. Bibliography Bortz, D. 2012, ‘How Safe Are Online Payments’: Money Rankings and Advice. Viewed 18 June 2015, http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/05/02/how-safe-are-mobile-payments Joseph, C. 2014, ‘Problems of Doing Business on the Internet’: Business Technology and Customer Support. Viewed 18 June 2015, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/problems-doing-business-internet-328.html Kate, V. 2012, ‘McDonald’s Suppliers Vested for Business Success’: Global Chain Supply Cont. Viewed 8 April 2015, http://mhlnews.com/global-supply-chain/compete-mcdonald-s-suppliers-are-vested-success Linton, I. 2015, ‘IT Functions in an Organization’: Demand Media. Viewed 18 June 2015, http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/five-functions-organization-2102.html Perner, L. 2015, ‘Consumer Behavior – The Psychology of Marketing’: Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Viewed 18 June 2015, http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/ Caprino, K. 2013, ‘Top Reasons Why Women are Not Leading in Corporate America as We Need Them’: Forbes, Viewed 18 June 2015, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/02/12/the-top-6-reasons-women-are-not-leading-in-corporate-america-as-we-need-them-to/ Read More