Impact of Mobile Computing in Information Management - Coursework Example

Information Management Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Mobile Computing 3 Role of Information Management in the Modern World 5 Advantages of Mobile Computing in Information Management 7 Conclusion 8 Reference List 9 Introduction In the recent times, management of information plays an important role in the development of information technology. Information management is a crucial part in the performance of any organization. Information is viewed as an asset in the current times as it helps organizations to draw insights about future performance and assists in planning the appropriate business strategy to be implemented in the future (Cox, 2014). Mobile computing is done using small size portable computers and other small wearable devices through wireless networks by nomadic and mobile users (Goswami, 2013).The purpose of the report is to evaluate the impact of mobile computing in information management and also the importance of information management in the modern world. Discussion Mobile Computing Global access and management of information has been one of the influential forces in the evolution of information technology. The development of central computing facilitated the computation of complex calculations and in the manipulation of advanced information. Further, the discovery of the web technology helped in providing hyper-linked information and global technology. However, the access to the information was restricted to the physical location of the individuals. The achievement of the real global network by accessing information anywhere and at anytime in the world is the fundamental motivation behind the development of mobile computing. This advancement in technology is the result of the development in the both the hardware and software parts at various stages motivated by tangible application needs (Cox, 2014). The design and implementation of data management applications for the wireless mediums which facilitates the mobility of data resources and computation is equally important. Wireless communications allow users carrying portable devices to retain their network connection even when they are moving. This type of communication is called mobile and nomadic computing. Mobile computing adds a new dimension to distributed computation with universal access to the required information anywhere and anytime (Pitoura and Samaras, 2012). The importance of mobile computing is increasing continuously due to the rise in the variety of available portable devices and the desire to have a constant connectivity to the network irrespective of the physical location of the individual. Mobile computing is a resourceful and possibly strategic device that improves information accessibility, band quality, increases management effectiveness and enhances operational efficiency. Mobile computing is an essential part of the daily human lives which operates through its huge range of devices stating from wireless laptops to cellular phones. It is the discipline for creating an information management platform which is free of temporal and spatial constraints. The power of mobile computing is maximized when the hardware, software and communications are optimally arranged and used to accomplish a particular mobile task. Mobile computing operations can be divided into horizontal and vertical applications. Horizontal applications include the software which performs tasks such as email, contact management, to- do lists, web browsing scheduling and word-processing. Vertical applications are industry-specific and thus are mostly used in retailing, warehousing, shipping, public safety, utilities and law enforcement. The other areas of using vertical applications are mining, forestry, surveying and agriculture (Goswami, 2013). Role of Information Management in the Modern World Information is defined as organized or interpreted data or data endowed with relevance and purpose. This indicates that information involves human participation in useful organization of raw data. The role of information management is defined as the ways in which it helps an organization to maximize the efficiency with which it collects, organizes, uses, disseminates and stores data. It also ensures that the organization uses and exploits the value of the information to the maximum extent possible. The role of information management is to focus on the creation of value from data and it involves the aspects of people, process and technology (Willcocks, 2013). A good information management system will be beneficial if it assists the companies to get perceptions to better align the vision of the enterprise and recognize critical relationships and gaps along the four key dimensions of an organization which includes the people, the process, the organizational cultures and infrastructure (Kim, 2007; Chaffey and White, 2010). By analyzing their performance along these four dimensions, the enterprise can maximize the impact and value of information as a strategic asset to gain competitive advantage in the market (McNurlin, Sprague and Bui, 1989; Hislop, 2013). Some of the benefits of information management to an organization operating in a competitive market are as follows: Controls the Creation of Growth of Records: The presence of good information management systems reduces the increase in the creation of records maintained through paperwork over the years. It helps in limiting the creation of unnecessary records or copies of the same records and also helps in retaining accounts. Thus, it addresses both the problems of record retention and creation control (Chaffey and White, 2010; Stair and Reynolds, 2011). Reduces Operating Costs: Maintaining records entails costs and it also occupies a large portion of the office area and also needs the appointment of workers to organize the filing system. However, with the implementation of information management system with advanced technologies such as mobile computing, enterprise can save costs and space and also utilize its human resources more productively (Willcocks, 2013). Improves efficiency and productivity: Information management saves time in maintaining records. It increases efficiency by improving the accessibility of the required information. Also, it acts as corporate asset which helps the organizations to plan their future business strategies and follow the path which maximize the profit of the organization. Safeguards Vital Information: Protecting the important records of an organization is extremely important as information acts as an asset to the enterprise. Losing the information will be a disaster for any organization as this will affect its competitive advantages. Thus, information management systems ensure the confidentiality and integrity of vital records, particularly financial information (Hall, 2012). Supports better management decision-making: In current business environment, it has been observed that managers with better access to the information about the competitors and its own performance variable are successful in making more suitable decisions than those who are not well informed. Moreover, the organizations with better information management systems facilitate the decision makers by providing instant access to the required information (Alexander, 2013). Ensures Regulatory Compliance: Government regulations may pose a problem in the operation of organizations. So, the way in which the company can ensure to adhere to all the regulations is to implement a good information management system which takes the responsibility of regulatory compliance and also operate closely with local authorities (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). Advantages of Mobile Computing in Information Management Mobile computing is utilized in various fields in this modern world. Moreover, the storage capacity of the available mobile devices has encouraged low-cost mobile computing. The various advantages of mobile computing are as follows: Improvement in Accessibility of Information: Mobile computing enhances the accessibility of information and the degree of improvement is directly dependent on the communications and hardware technology in use. This improved accessibility facilitated by mobile computing results in better information flow both from and to the central information system. Mobile computing removes the delay in the data collection process. In the absence of mobile computing, data is stored in the central information system when the employee returns to the office and submits the paperwork. However, in the presence of mobile computing, data is directly transmitted to the central information system and thus are instantly accessible to the other users of the central information system. Thus, mobile computing accelerates the access to information and ensures availability of information within the specified time (Goswami, 2013; Burton and Obel, 2012). Increase in Operational Efficiency: Organizations which incorporate the mobile computing technology into their fixed information systems experience an increase in the operative efficiency of the organizations. It helps in aligning the work flow of the employees to the availability of the network connections instead of altering the mobile employees’ work flow to the presence of network connections. Thus, mobile computing helps in saving time and accelerating the work process. It also reduces wastage of resources and saves rework, permits reengineering of business processes. It also decreases the time spent on customer complaints and reduce unnecessary travelling (Goswami, 2013; Davenport, 2013). Increased Management Effectiveness: Mobile computing facilitates the availability of current and accurate information to both the mobile worker and to the fixed information system to which the worker is connected. Thus, the technology can improve effectiveness of management by improving the quality of information, ability to direct the mobile workforce, and the flow of information (Goswami, 2013; Jeston and Nelis, 2014). Conclusion Information management has become an essential part of the operations of an enterprise. Organizations invest in information technology as it has proved to deliver economic value to businesses. Advanced information technology has helped the organizations to develop effective communication systems within its structure. Technologies like mobile computing facilitate the interaction of workers through the intranet and also help in disseminating useful information to the employees. Thus, it saves time and also increases the operational efficiency and thus, the productivity of organizations. Mobile computing allows both mobile and remote access to information and information systems. The usage of mobile computing has increased due to the widespread availability of mobile devices supporting wireless network connections at affordable costs. This is also due to the rise in the desire of people to remain connected to the internet irrespective of their location and time of accessing information. It helps in maintaining records of the company which is an important part of the operation of a business. Thus, more organizations must incorporate good information management systems in their organization and also make it more efficient by introducing mobile computing and increase the productivity and gain competitive advantage. Reference List Alexander, K., 2013. Facilities management: Theory and practice. London: Routledge. Burton, R. M. and Obel, B., 2012. Design models for hierarchical organizations: computation, information, and decentralization. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. Chaffey, D. and White, G., 2010. Business information management: Improving performance using information systems. New York: Pearson Education. Cox, S., 2014. Managing information in organizations: A practical guide to implementing an information management strategy. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Davenport, T. H., 2013. Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Boston: Harvard Business Press. Galliers, R. D. and Leidner, D. E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and strategies in managing information systems. London: Routledge. Goswami, D., 2013. Mobile Computing. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering, 3(9), 846-855. Hall, J., 2012. Accounting information systems. Boston: Cengage Learning. Hislop, D., 2013. Knowledge management in organizations: A critical introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jeston, J. and Nelis, J., 2014. Business process management. London: Routledge. Kim, W., 2007. On Challenges for Information Management Technology. Journal of Object Technology, 6(4), 25-32. McNurlin, B. C., Sprague, R. H. and Bui, T. X., 1989. Information systems management in practice. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall International. Pitoura, E. and Samaras, G., 2012. Data management for mobile computing. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. Stair, R. and Reynolds, G., 2011. Principles of information systems. Boston: Cengage Learning. Willcocks, L., 2013. Information management: the evaluation of information systems investments. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. Read More