Lec 2

• Operations : can be seen as one of the many functions within the organization ; are purposeful activities - done methodically - as part of a work plan designed to achieve the predecided objectives
• What are the Levels in a firm : senior management , middle management (scientists and knowledge workers) , operational management (production and service workers ; data workers)
• BUSINESSES :

  Can be seen as collection of business processes

  Business processes may be assets or liabilities
• BUSINESS PROCESSES :

  Workflows of material, information, knowledge

  Sets of activities, steps

  May be tied to functional area or be cross-functional
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - means the technology involving the

  development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data
• Advantages of Technology in Business :

  -Increased productivity and efficiency

  -Effective communication

  -Automated business processes with the help of software and

  apps

  -Reduced business costs

  -Mobility
• 2 Parts of IT: Computers & Communications

  -Computer Technology.

  -Communications Technology
• Communications Technology - also called

  telecommunications technology, consists of electromagnetic

  devices and systems for communicating over long distances.

  ex. telephone, radio, satellite, televisions, cable TV

  communication among computers - when one goes

  ONLINE on the internet
• IT in Hospitality Industry

  -The use of information technology in hospitality industry has grown very fast over the past 20 years. The hospitality industry was revolutionized due to advancements in innovation and information technology.

  -Many problems within the hospitality industry were solved as a result of the IT revolution.

  -Reduce costs, Higher productivity and efficiency, improved service quality, increased customer satisfaction, better organizational integration, higher profitability
• IT in Education

  Education has become heavily involved in information technology

  allow students to personalize their education

  automate many tedious and rote tasks of teaching and managing

  classes

  reduce the teacher’s workload per student, so that the teacher can

  spend more time on reaching individual students
• Health: High Tech for Wellness

  Computers are now often used in the fields of health and

  medicine

  Telemedicine

  Robots

  Computer apps
• Money: Towards the Cashless Society

  Information Technology is reducing the use of traditional money

  Virtual means that something is created, or simulated, or carried

  on by means of a computer or a computer network

  ex. debit cards, credit cards, online accounts

  other things that serve as “money” - cash-value cards, train

  cards, digital money, ID cards
• Leisure: Infotech in Entertainment & the Arts

  Information Technology is transforming entertainment and

  the arts

  downloading - transferring data from a remote computer to

  one’s own computer animation

  digital editing
• Government & Electronic Democracy: Participating

  in the Civic Realm

  Information technology is changing voting procedures and

  affecting the spread of political movements

  Internet and IT has paved the way for making government

  operations transparent and helped deliver better services
• Jobs & Careers

  People now use computers to post resumes and find jobs

  Almost every job and profession requires computer skills

  Computers can be used by employers to find for the

  employees
• Information Technology for Competitive Advantage

  The information revolution is affecting competition in

  three vital ways:

  It changes industry structure, and in doing so, alters the rules

  of competitions

  It creates competitive advantage by giving companies new

  ways to outperform their rivals

  It spawns whole new businesses, often from within the

  company’s existing operations
• Information Technology - merges computing with high-speedcommunications links carrying data, sound, and video.
• Computer - a programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data - raw facts and figures - and processes, or manipulates, itinto information that we can usemain purpose to speed up problem solving and increaseproductivityex. summaries, reports, totals, etc.
• Data - raw facts and figures
• Virtual - means that something is created, or simulated, or carried on by means of a computer or a computer work
• Information technology - assists organization to manage information dynamically and influences business competitiveness through assisting decision makers to make appropriate decisions
• Information Technology - helps to meet demands for timely and accurate information by customers
• Information Technology - a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and disseminate information.