Has the UK Become a Digital Nation - Assignment Example

 Table of contents Introduction............................................................................................................................3 Analysis and findings..............................................................................................................3 Information systems and their contribution to digitalization...................................3 Functions of information systems............................................................................4 Information technology.............................................................................................5 The internet and digitalization...................................................................................6 Role of internet...........................................................................................................7 Recommendations....................................................................................................................8 Conclusions...............................................................................................................................9 References................................................................................................................................10 Appendices..............................................................................................................................11 Introduction An information system is the business utilisation of a computer. Information Systems within a certain organisation can be seen as links between the information technology assets and the business of an organisation. An information system does not only serve the purpose of providing information, it also helps conduct business transactions. Information systems moreover, serve as data and business transaction processing systems (Tan & Hunter 2007). This paper not only seeks to investigate information Systems and Information Technology in the UK, it also seeks to investigate the extent of digitalisation in the country. Analysis, findings, and methodology Secondary sources were used to gather information behind digitalization in the UK. Questionnaires were also set. The questions in the questionnaires were how early one started using the internet? how often they use it and what purposes they use it for? Information Systems and how they Contribute to Digitalization in the UK. Organisations rely on a number of central systems for effective operations. Some of the systems will include formal information systems and will usually utilise standard desktop packages. The central systems of an organization are usually supported by extensive IT infrastructure. Organisations such as the large multiple retail shops are such examples. In such organizations, the employees will usually interface with the main information system. An information system exists as an interface between the organization and the IT infrastructure. The functions run by an organisation are, therefore, mainly assisted or controlled by the use of Information technology and an information system. The employees in organisations therefore need expertise on the use of IT. In the case of large and complicated requirements that may require linking to other departments, IS specialists come in handy. Functions of an Information System The IS role is to help analyse various business operations, design information systems that will be put into use in the business and to suggest how IT can be used to speed up the functions in the organisation. The IS helps in project management. Any development in IS that is significant will usually have a project team ready to tackle the task involved. Such a project would have to be planned and the activity of the project team should be monitored to ensure appropriate progress. The function of a project manager would be to run the project team, plan for the project and ensure timely delivering of the project at hand. The IS also ensures that the project that is to be delivered is of a high standard or quality. Apart from the project being handed in time and fully satisfying its purpose, the aspect of its quality also matters. To meet up the high-quality test, the project has to be inclusive of the business objectives set, it has to operate efficiently and be readily updated and maintained. The project manager takes up the role of ensuring that a quality system is delivered. Once a system is developed, the project team must ensure that it works. The system is required to cope with any possible inputs, give the correct results and ensure efficient performance in the operational environment. Once the project team has accepted the system, the users have the chance to assess it too. The acceptance test is an opportunity for all to ensure that the system does the required job. Apart from ensuring the system is ready for the users, the users on their part have to be ready. A new system would demand radical changes in working practice, and, therefore, it needs careful planning to make sure all goes as planned and that its users are well- trained on what is new, enhanced, or introduced to a system. Despite the testing and specifications of the system being IS functions, the development of the system entirely relies on the programmers. They take the technical speciation from the system analyst and translate it into the programming instructions the computer needs to perform the task. Programmers will also unit test their modules before handing them in for system and acceptance testing. Information systems have become interactive, integral and online tools majorly involved in time to time operations, as well as, decision- making processes in large organizations (McHug & Thompson 2009). The emergence of a global economy has elevated the dependence on imports and exports. Information Systems provide analytic and communicative power that is needed by organizations to manage businesses and run trades. Major economies are also transforming into knowledge and information based service economies. Information and knowledge-intensive products are getting to be the foundation for several services and products. Information Systems have also made it easier to work locally and manage globally. Workers can remotely work from their home places or cars. IS has also made it possible to run collaborative team tasks across miles. Organizations have also managed to coordinate their geographically scattered capabilities and coordinating with other companies has been made easy, courtesy of Information Systems. Information Technology: Information Technology, in conjunction with Information systems is an important tool in running organizations. Most businesses in the UK will use Email to communicate between employees, customers and suppliers. Email has been a major driver of the internet since ages ago. Over the years however, other tools of communication have evolved allowing communication among staff. Online live chat systems, Video conferencing systems and online meeting tools are all IT structures used to run organizations in the UK. IT also, has been of assistance in the management of inventories in various organizations (Smahel & Subrahmanyam 2010). Inventory management systems follow up the period of maintenance of assets in an organization calling for re-stocking when the quantities fall-off. Most organizations in the UK will connect such systems to the Point-of-Scale systems that ensure every time an item is sold, one such item is extracted from the count on the inventory, creating a closed information loop between all departments. Organizations are quickly adopting the digital version of documents on storage devices and servers. Such documents can be availed to anyone in an organization almost immediately irrespective of location. Employees usually benefit from the access of data they need, making IT an essential tool for the management of data. Finally, needless to say, Information Systems require Information Technology to store all the information related to the organization. The Internet and Digitalization: For the first time in the UK, the number of people who are aged sixty- five and over and have accessed the internet has exceeded those who have never used it. Around 5, 489,000 persons have used the internet in the UK while around 5, 030, 000 have not. Additionally, internet- enabled television sets and access to the web designed especially for the aged is yet to be availed in the UK (Hand 2012). If the age bracket between 55-64 is included, a different picture where twice the number of those who are 55 and over will have used the internet. Currently, around eleven million have used it against about six million (Rattle 2010). In the year 2012, it was reported that about 69% of the households have accessed the internet. About 90% of those aged 65 and above, in the last three months, have accessed the internet. Different ages, self- perceived health statuses and levels of income have all contributed to the use of internet in the UK at an older age. Educational attachment is also a possible factor, though it has not been given a lot of heed in the study of the level of digital endowment in the UK. The study reveals that there is a diminishing likelihood of using the internet as one ages. Those at older ages are less likely by five times to be found using the internet than those at younger age-groups. Monthly income is also a factor determining the usage of the internet in the UK. People with a lower monthly income have lower chances of being internet users compared to those who earn decent salaries. The self- perceived health generally is also associated with the usage of the internet in the UK. Individuals with good health are more likely to be users of the internet than people with bad health (Cashen & Gardiner, 2009). It was also found that females in the UK are less more exposed to the internet than men. Role of the Internet: The internet supplies information that has not been available in traditional mass media, by organizations in the UK. The internet is also used by organisations as a tool that helps to immediately connect with other organisations, to enhance effective operational activities. The organisations would require information that would help its employees to run their work, and coordinate with other organisations. Research has proven the value of the internet as a tool for flow of information, as well as, a way of communicating with operators from different geographical areas. Internet- based organizations are deemed well capable of offering a strong potential for delivering and receiving information that will later serve as a tool to help run the organizations. The internet may have its wrong side, such as providing avenues for terrorist communication, but it is undeniably a tool of value where running an organization is involved. Other than that, between 25%-50% of the organizations find that going digital has come with major positive impacts in terms of creative output, operating efficiency and audience development. However, a few organisations have reported a small shortage of technical skills, which include data management. Organisations that have embraced technology are getting higher digital audiences; they are likely to report positive results when compared with other sectors. The importance of digital exhibition and distribution is variant across organizations. The use of technology is quickly changing, despite several organizations claiming to have adopted new practices. The art and cultural organisations such as museums for instance have reported that gong digital has had major impacts on their fields, for example, capturing existing work, creating new work and altering or enhancing pieces f work. Going digital has, however, been found to have more influence on operations than on revenues. While about 31% of the organizations in the UK are reporting that digital technology has enhanced their operations, about 11% report it having any impacts on revenue. Organizations that use digital technology undertake a wider range of activities especially in terms of distribution and digital creation. Such organizations have been able to introduce new digital activities. The use of blogs such as twitter and face book have provided good audiences for the organizations. Such organizations have higher chances of reaching people. They will mostly use mobile platforms, as well as, data-controlled techniques of marketing. Digital technology, has not only influenced the activities of organizations in the UK, it has also had impacts on the culture and arts section. Forms of digitisation such as development of computer games are merely existent due to technology. Others, which include the music, film and literature industries are now made and distributed through digital technology. Use of the internet for consuming media and cultural experiences is mainstream in the UK, with about 47% of the internet users watching television and videos online, and about a third downloading music or video clips (Brooks & Carter 2010). A certain researcher suggested that technology can be used to generate revenue, target new audiences, develop new forms of artistic experiences and cultural values and improve the efficiency in running operations. This has had an effect of collaboration of the cultural and technological organisations to support culture related projects. Recommendations The UK is looking to expand its digital endowment to an international level. The UK’s digital economy currently stands at almost 10% of GDP at 145 billion pounds. The UK has created emphasis on their cities becoming global leaders in digital matters. Almost more than half the organisations in the UK regard Digitalism as an essential tool for marketing. Others view it as significant for the sake of archiving and preserving their work and operations (Kawalek 2010). Conclusion Innovation of the digital world has helped different people to re-imagine whole industries, create new jobs and spark economic growth. The innovation has helped capture the imaginations of the future or next generation who are clearly displaying an entrepreneurial spirit (Wheelers & Gelinas 2014). A recent analysis has proven that about eighty percent of people aged between 16-30 years have faith in starting their own businesses. UK is believed to be on its way to becoming a digital powerhouse. In a span of the past three years, commendable growth in digital and technological businesses has been experienced in the UK. New technology and industrial jobs have been created while, on the hand, the total of digital and tech companies has doubled. The continual inspiration of the next generation and creating emphasis on digital skills is necessary. Addition of computer programming to schools curriculums will also be of great aid to the future digital generation, not only in the UK, but also in other states in the globe. References Tan, F B & Hunter, M G 2007, Strategic Use of Information Technology for Global Organizations, Idea Group Inc (IGI), Hershey. Smahel, D & Subrahmanyam, K 2010, Digital Youth: The Role of Media in Development, Springer Science & Business Media, New York. Rattle, R 2010, Computing Or way to Paradise?: The Role of Internet and Communication Technologies in Sustainable Consumption and Globalization, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham. McHug, D & Thompson, P B 2009, Work Organzations: A Critical Approach, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Carter, B & Brooks G 2011, Digital Marketing for Dummies, UK Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken. Hand, M 2012, Making Digital Cultures: Access, Interactivity and Authnecity, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Farnham. Gardiner, H & Cashen, T 2009, Digital Visual Culture: Theory and Practice, Intellect Books, New York. Great Britain, 2010, Digital Switchover of Television and Radio in the United Kingdom, The Stationery Office, London. Kawalek, P J 2010, Rethinking Information Systems in Organizations: Intergrating Organizational Problem Solving, Routledge, London. Reynolds G & Stair R 2013, Principles of Information Systems, Cengage Learning, Boston. Information systems. Accessed from http://www.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~sklar/teaching/s08/cis20.2/papers/is-ch1.pdf- Gelinas, U., & Wheeler, P., 2014, Accounting Information Systems, Cengage Learning Boston. Appendices Government’s digital strategy Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Household internet access Year Households (millions) Percentage 2006 14.3 57 2007 15.2 61 2008 16.5 65 2009 18.3 70 2010 19.2 73 2011 19 77 Northern Ireland excluded from 2011 survey Read More