Information System Business Problem Dimensions
The three dimensions of business problems are people, organization and technology. People can be detrimental to a business in that they may lack the necessary training or understanding of a business’s information systems. A lack of training or understanding of how the company works, the flow of shipping & receiving of products or inventory, and a company’s business objectives will hinder the success of a business. Managers and workers should be trained in many areas and procedures in order to work more efficiently and effectively. Organization problems in business can be related to outdated business processes, turbulent business environment from unsupportive culture or attitudes, faulty company practices or office politics, to name a few. Some of these organizational issues can be placed on faults in the current system or from influences in the past practices that have not been previously addressed or corrected. Technology can also pose problems within a business by the fast-paced changes that come with new technology such as improvements to computer hardware and software, and database capacities. Adding to technology problems is, the lack of knowledge or employee training in operational practices for the company used electronic systems.
Information Technology (IT) “consists of all the hardware and software that a firm needs to use in order to achieve its business objectives” (Laudon & Laudon, 2011, p. 10). This would include computers (along with their software programs and operating systems), and handheld devices such as smart phones and iPods for example (Laudon & Laudon, p. 10, 2011).
Information systems (IS) utilize IT and its components; however, it can be defined as “a set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization” (Laudon & Laudon, 2011, p. 11).