How Information Technology Influences the Success of Business Organizations - Case Study Example

IT Management IT Management Introduction Currently,advancements in information technology have been responsible for the globalisation wave in most business. These advancements have continued to make it easy for businesses and people to enjoy efficient and effective systems in the social and economic dimensions. Companies have also taken advantage of these developments by making technologies that enhance the efficiencies and effectiveness of various human practices and processes. Information technology has made it easy for people to pass various kinds of information from one part of the world to another. This development has seemed to cement the fact that the world has indeed become a global village. Not only in people’s lives has these developments made a great impact, they have also enhanced the manner in which businesses develop products and sell them. Information technology has been an important process that enhances the success of businesses in various ways. Companies that depend on these factors in the management and other areas of their business practice are expected to ensure that they develop better systems of managing the technologies used in the business. While information technology has led to the success of most businesses, it has also been the cause of failure of other business, which have not mastered the most effective ways of managing the technologies in their businesses (Mitnick 2011). This paper examines how Information Technology influences the success of business organisations, focusing on the different ways of how businesses can manage these technologies for their competitive advantages. Information Technology Information Technology refers to the use and application of telecommunication equipment and computers in the process of retrieving, transmitting and manipulating different kinds of data in the business for certain designated purposes (Tan 2002). In most cases, the term, information technology, is often used to describe computers and all forms of computer networks in the business; however, it is a broad term that encompasses the various kinds of data distribution technologies used in the day to day activities. Businesses have been relying heavily on computers and other kinds of computer networks in the process of creating and managing their various business practices. This is because; information technologies have been critical to the success of most local and international businesses. Information technologies have been making it easy for business managers to share information with their staff, thereby influencing the way businesses processes are conducted. In this case, businesses that use information technologies have always experienced efficiencies in information sharing and transfer. It is important to understand that the success of any business venture depends on the kind of information they have concerning the industry and all its players and stakeholders. In this case, the use of information technology in the search and management of this information has been the chief competitive advantage that most companies have been enjoying. Information technology management IT management refers to the kind of discipline where all the different IT resources in a business are effectively managed in respect to the various priorities and needs identified by the business. These resources comprise of the tangible investments like software, computer hardware, data and network facilities and the people that play the role of managing and maintaining these technologies. In a company the responsibility of managing information technology involves many of the fundamental management functions like staffing, budgeting, change management, controlling and organizing among many other aspects, which seem very unique to the information technology. The responsibility to effective IT management rests within IT managers, who often are supposed to design and implement the various strategies and approaches that can be used to ensure the achievement of goals and objectives in the IT department, in line with corporate goals and objectives of the entire firm. The main objective behind IT management is to ensure that the organisation can effectively generate value in the process of using information technologies. In the process of attaining this, IT managers are expected to ensure that they develop business strategies and various kinds of technologies, and then realign them effectively to achieve the corporate mission and company vision. It is important to note that information technology management is very different and distinct from the aspect of management information system, in as much as they seem to be similar. While the latter refers t methods of management that are tied to automation and support of the decision-making process by human resources, IT management describes management activities that are associated to information technology in business organisations. MIS pays more attention to the business aspects with a strong input from the phase of technology in the business organisation. The main focus of information technology management is value creation, which is facilitated and made possible through technology. In this case, the business is expected to align the available technology with the business strategies it thinks are suitable for its success and growth. In an organisation, value creation involves a multiplicity of associations and linkages between the internal and external business environment. In this case, technology plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining the entire value chain in the particular business organisation. However, for this to be achieved, there has to be a synergistic, creative and collaborative workforce and team, and not a kind of mechanistic span of business control as evident in some business organisations Does managing IT departments differ from other business departments? The IT department is one of the most important, especially for businesses that want to use information technology as part of their competitive advantages. In this case, this department becomes the centre of focus as other departments depend on it in the process of creating systems and strategies that can be integrated for the success of the business. However, it is important to understand that for the success of the business, all the departments that are created are of prime importance (Preston 2001). In this case, they have to be given equal attention and focus for them to be effective, business managers need to understand that the success of all the departments in the business play a leading role in the success of the entire business. In the same way, when one department does not achieve its set goals, then the whole business suffers heavily. In this regard, the IT department is not very unique from the marketing, production and other departments in the business. The only thing is that it plays a vital in the success of these departments; therefore it has to be effectively managed with IT managers that have a perfect understanding of all that concerns information and information technology management. The IT managers are expected to create a good relationship with other organisations in the process of integration the information technology with the strategies designed by these businesses for their success. The IT manager IT managers and project managers have many similarities; however, the distinguishing feature among them is where their put their center of focus. On one hand the IT manager is often accountable and responsible for the continuous program that comprises of services in the business. On the other hand, the responsibilities accountability for project managers are often limited to the kinds of projects they are meant to manage from the beginning, all the way to the end (Schwalbe 2000). Most of the management programs in IT are designed with the purpose of educating and developing managers that can handle the planning process, designing, selecting, implementing and administration and management of the various emerging issues in terms of communication technology (Vinaja 2014). Effective IT management is all about learning how to effectively handle and manage data in the organisation in the most effective and efficient way. In managing the data in organisation, IT managers are expected to ensure that they handle the various emerging difficulties in the business. One of the obstacles they have to meet and tackle is the increasing amount of data in the business because of the globalisation issue. IT managers are supposed to ensure that they collect this information, analyse it and disseminate it to the different departments in the business. Additionally, IT mangers needs to provide assurance the data being distributed and used in these departments is secure and reliable towards achieving the set goals and objective and the entire mission and vision of the business (Aguanno 2004). The IT department has a duty to ensure that the information it gathers can improve the work processes in these organisations effectively. In this case, it is evident that IT managers often have a bigger workload on their shoulder for the sake of business success. Are IT department workers different from those in other departments? Just pointed out initially, the IT department is not very peculiar compared to other departments in the business (Mohan 2005). The difference is just that in organisations that want to enhance their competitiveness in the market, this department plays a central role. However, on its own, the IT department cannot make an organisation successful; it has to collaborate effectively with other departments. In this regard, IT mangers are not very different or powerful in comparison to other staff in the business. The only different is that workers in the IT department have to ensure that they understand how other workers carry out their work responsibilities in the process of integrating IT information with the work they do for the success of the business (Gunasekaran 2003). In all businesses, the collaboration and association among its entire staff creates a synergy that cannot be broken. This is especially where the organisation emphasizes on team work in all its business processes. For this reason, the notion that IT members are the gurus and the pivot needs to be abolished (Palvia 2014). In a successful organisation, the success achieved is because of the unit efforts placed by each individual staff, irrespective of their work designation in the company. Silo mentality in IT managers In businesses, silo mentality often refers to the situation whereby some departments often refuse to share critical information that is needed for the success of other business departments in the same organisation (Aguanno 2004). This mentality is very dangerous for the success of the business because information is a critical for the success of not only business organisations, but also people in their social and economic dimensions. Sometimes, IT managers in some businesses tend to have this kind of mentality. They often want other departments to acknowledge that they are important and critical for the success of the business. In essence this is dangerous because it reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of these departments, something that often affects the overall goals and objectives of the business. Dealing with this mentality in the business As pointed out earlier, all departments and staff in the business are important and critical for the success of the entire business organisation. In this case, information arising from any department, which is vital for the success of other departments, has to be channeled effectively for use. In dealing with the silo mentality, the business needs to ensure that it creates an organisation culture that emphasizes on effective collaboration among all company departments and staff (Kangas 2003). Business managers, especially the human resource department has to ensure that it devises team building challenges and trainings where all the business staff can be made to understand the value of each other and every department in the business. All the workers in the business are supposed to understand that the success of the entire cannot be achieved by the IT, marketing or production department alone, but by all the efforts of each department and individual worker in the business (Pour 2000). For this reason, they are supposed to ensure that they collaborate effectively for the success of the entire organisation. The human resource department has a duty to ensure that it creates work responsibilities of each department and company staff, emphasizing the need for collaboration and team efforts. References Aguanno K. (2004). Managing Agile Projects. New York: Prentice Hall. Gunasekaran, A. (2003). Knowledge and information technology management human and social perspectives. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. Kangas, K. (2003). Business strategies for information technology management. Hershey, Pa.: IRM Press. Mitnick K. (2011). Ghost in the wires. New Jersey, NJ: Back Bay Book. Mohan, R. (2005). Information technology management. Jaipur, India: ABD. Palvia, P. (2014). Global Information Technology Management Research: A Reality Check. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 5(1): 1-4. Preston, P. (2001). Reshaping communications technology, information and social change. London: SAGE. Pour, M. (2000). Organizational achievement and failure in information technology management. Hershey, Pa.: Idea Group Pub. Schwalbe, K. (2000). Information technology project management. Cambridge, Ma.: Course Technology. Tan, F. (2002). Global perspective of information technology management. Hershey, PA: IRM Press. Vinaja, R. (2014). Purchasing and Financial Management of Information Technology. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 5(2): 71-72. Read More