Advantages of IT

        Some advantages of IT are Communication, Storing and Protecting Information, and More Time. "With the help of information technology, communication has also become cheaper, quicker, and more efficient."  Business can communicate faster and made decision quicker due to IT, unlike how it was in the old days where you have to wait for a couple of days just to get the information you needed to make the decision.  Also for society it is easier for a you to communicate with your friend, family, and teacher by simply email or text.

        Secondly, "IT provides a low-cost business options to store and maintain information that may be important from a business or service point of view. Virtual vaults and other such security systems not only store vital data but also allow control over the access to such information. IT security systems will also protect virtual data from being hacked or wiped out in case of any technical failure."  IT has also made storing very useful because it doesn't take up space like if you was to store paper information, it also save time and is very easy to pull up informaiton.

        Finally, More Time mean " IT has made it possible for businesses to be open 24 x7 all over the globe. This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere, making purchases from different countries easier and more convenient. It also means that you can have your goods delivered right to your doorstep with having to move a single muscle."  IT save a lot of times due to quicker access when paying bills and shopping online.  IT has been very useful not just to business but also to the society.

What are other advantages of IT?  How have IT made your life easier?

Sources:  http://www.smallbusinessbible.org/advan_disadvan_informationtechnology.html

               http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-of-information-technology.html

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MIS: what is happening at UNCC?

     UNC Charlotte wants to play a role in efforts to bring Charlotte's technology sector to the forefront.
     As part of that strategy, the university is seeking $5 millions in state funding over 2 years for a public-private venture called the Data Science and Business Analytics initiative.
     The effort seek to improve North Carolina's ability to stimulate innovation by using data and analytics across a rage of industries, while also developing a pipeline of tech workers, UNC Chancellor Phil Dubois says.
     "Charlotte is a deep community in terms of companies that can benefit from using big data," he says. "The companies that want to be successful are moving in this direction."
     The initiative will support job creation and encourage business to invest in the Charlotte region and across the state, he adds. Demand for professional with data experience will outstrip the supply of workers by as much as 60% by 2018, according to research by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. That will result in a shortage of as many as 190,000 specialists nationwide. An additional 1.5 million managers and analysts will be needed, the firm predicts.
     UNCC's data initiative will use inter-disciplinary academic programs to train data scientists, business analysts, and managers. A professional science master's degree in data science and business analytics  is planned.

Source: "UNC Charlotte looks for bigger role" by Jennifer Thomas, Charlotte Business Journal Volume 27, February 8, 2013.

How has Information Technology increased productivity in the Business?

Go back about 20 years ago, and picture yourself in a normal business setting.  You are a head lawyer of a top law firm, one that is respected well across the entire city of Charlotte, NC.  How would you go about communicating information with your employee’s?  Chances are you would spend a lot of man powered time communicating information between your clients, secretaries, etc. in the firm.  Sure there were computers, equipped with keyboards for typing, and regular office phones, and if you were really lucky, some of your employee’s had cell phones to do basic communication with. 

Look at all of the different types of IT’s available in today’s business setting.  Today’s business workers have access to I-phones, email, chat services, and even now of days, the I-Pad.  Without a doubt, all of these new and modern technologies help spread the ease of communication to the Employer or owner of a business.  Information now flows sooner, more efficiently, all saving the company’s time and resources.  Businesses can create a Facebook page, and can market with you through multiple ways, like Television, online catalogs, or emailing you with the latest products available. 

Productivity is not just felt within the business; it’s also felt by the most important people to a business, the customers.  Often, businesses have their own Internet home page to let customer’s browse for certain products, or just look for store locations.  One of the most important pages for the customer could be the contact/customer service page.  Instead of having to physically drive to the business to get help with a store representative, customers can email, speak to a consulate or service provider to answer questions.  Apple’s contact page is a prime example.  

Do you think in the next 15 to 25 years, business productivity will increase substantilaly, or remain about the same as today?  How do you see the business world changing in the future? 

Sources

cis.stclaircounty.org

studentbooster.info

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/business-benefits-information-technology-4021.html

Employment in Information Technology

Their are many various careers out there for someone with a degree in Information Technology, but the skills that one can learn from these technologies also can help you land that dream career.  In a world that is rapidly evolving with all kinds of various technologies it is important to know how to stay ahead and be able to adjust, just as quickly as your job.

Many employers are looking for someone that can understand the ins and outs of information systems and databases.  Chances are that many careers involve some use of Information Technology everyday.  Even starting jobs as a help desk consultant use information technology to work through their jobs.  By processing many customers who may have problems and transferring the problems their having into useful information that is sent to developers to fix the product.

What jobs/careers can you think of that require the use of Information Technology? Have you applied for any job positions that required at least a minimum amount of IT in the workplace?

Sources: www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm

How Has IT Changed Business?

Information Technology (IT) has had a huge impact on the business world.  It has changed the way companies operate, manage, and conduct their businesses.  Innovations such as the internet and mobile computing have made it possible for a business to stay connected from anywhere in the world.

A perfect example of this is UPS.  UPS using IT to provide a service for both sides of the equation.  The UPS tracking system makes it possible for vendors, customers and UPS themselves keep track of an item being shipped around the world.  They use a complex database to produce tracking codes, handheld devices for drivers to update the destinations and current locations of the product, and a convenient user friendly interface on their website for customers to track their orders.  This takes alot to make it work, and UPS does a good job of keeping their orders on time.  About 9% of all packages are either lost or late; but this is not always at the fault of UPS.  That is not a bad number, but it could be bigger considering how big UPS is.

What are some examples that you can think of that uses IT to revolutionize their industry?

Sources:

http://packagefox.com/blog/how-does-the-ups-tracking-system-work/