...How Information Is Used and How It Flows In an Organization Student’s Name Class Title Due Date Instructor’s Name How Information Is Used and How It Flows In an Organization Information flows in different directions and different means: formally and informally, downward, upward and even horizontally through various levels. According to Opara, “information is the life blood of modern organizations” (Opara, 2003). Without “information”, organizations would most likely collapse as information is required to run the day-to-day doings of a business. Olowu states that “information entails data, facts, imaginations, ideas, opinions and cultural values in a variety of media which includes print, audio-visual materials and electronic processes” (Olowu, 2004). This shows how information flows within and between cultural groups. This represents an important part of “alternative conceptualization” (Nissen, 2002), which focuses on transaction (e.g. data to information, information to knowledge). This means data is necessary to produce information which, in turn, is necessary for creating knowledge that is conveyed (e.g. via paper, network, speech and observable action). And C.C. Aguolu feels that information is “the message of human experience” (Aguolu, 2002); rather, what is basically a stimulus assumes a response in the receiver, and possesses a response itself. This message can be made in any medium, in any language or in any subject. Some psychologists have even described...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...Information Use Crystal Mays-Hammond IT/205 July 27, 2014 Juan Vega Information, an essential asset for organizations, is always difficult to manage effectively—and it is even more so in periods of economic turmoil and transition, when complexity increases and the stakes are higher. For the past decade or more, organizations have been striving to build more open and collaborative relationships with their customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders. When the recession took hold, many such initiatives took a back seat as cost-cutting became first priority. Organizations collect and distribute information. An organization uses information strategically in three areas: to make sense of change in its environment; to create new knowledge for innovation; and to make decisions about courses of action. These apparently distinct processes are in fact complementary pieces of a larger canvas, and the information behaviors analyzed in each approach interweave into a richer explanation of information use in organizations. Through sense making, people in an organization give meaning to the events and actions of the organization. Through knowledge creation, the insights of individuals are converted into knowledge that can be used to design new products or improve performance. Finally, in decision making, understanding and knowledge are focused on the selection of and commitment to an appropriate course of action. By holistically managing its sense making, knowledge building...
Words: 827 - Pages: 4
...Information at Work Information at Work Have you ever wondered if information is useful in day to day life? Information is used every single day by everybody. Whether it is information used by a single person, or information that is used by organizations, it is useful every day. Information is used both formally and informally within my organization. Information flows through various methods including verbal and non-verbal methods. In the restaurant I currently work for, we receive information from many different resources including customers, corporate offices, the internet, the owner of the restaurant and many other sources. Information that comes from the customer is often the most valuble information within the restaurant. This is usually information that gathered from the opioions and comments of the customer. We use comment cards, and send customer survey requests for those who provide their email address. This information is used to gather information on how well a product is doing, and also helps us to know how the food is being prepared by the cooks. Information is very useful within the business; it helps to keep the business process flowing. Another major way information is used within the organization is through advertising. Information is dispersed from the business to the advertiser and to the potential customers. This is information dispersed through the use of radio, paper, and electronic methods. After customers order and use specific codes heard...
Words: 748 - Pages: 3
...Information Use Introduction Information flow through an organization is the process by which data is sent and received in both external and internal aspects (www.opengroup.org, 1995). External aspects are anything flowing into the organization or out from the organization. This flow, for example, can be represented by ordered supplies entering the company, or by finished product being shipped to the customer. Internal aspects are the flow of communication between all the companies working parts. These parts can be manufacturing, legal, finance, maintenance, etc. To effectively tie all these components together in a safe way, an organization might invest in an Enterprise Resource Planning system, or ERP for short. This system, although expensive, can monitor and control all aspects of data transfer within an organization. Using an ERP system can accurately report inventories, product details, work audits, and several other aspects of running a business (www.netsuite.com, 2001). Most important of all is accuracy. By Utilizing an ERP system the business will have several checkpoints where products and the processes for creating them are monitored. By always sending out the right product or information an organization can save a fortune in clean up costs and legal fees in the event of an error. An organization must also look at physical and network security options to protect all their assets, the integrity of the ERP system, and any other critical data flowing through...
Words: 1041 - Pages: 5
...through a day without the use of communication. Communication is sending and receiving information between two or more people. The person sending the message is referred to as the sender, while the person receiving the information is called the receiver. The information conveyed can include facts, ideas, concepts, opinions, beliefs, attitudes, instructions and even emotions. Communication Network in Business organization A communication network refers to how information flows within the organization. Information within an organization generally flows through a system, rather than being a free flow. In the words of Adler, “Communication networks are regular patterns of person-to-person relationships through which information flows in an organization.” This means that the flow of information is managed, regulated. and structured. Communication networks may be formal or informal. We will deal with each of these in some detail. Formal Communication Network – A formal communication network is one which is created by management and described with the help of an organizational chart. An organizational chart specifies the hierarchy and the reporting system in the organization. Therefore, in a formal network, information is passed on only through official channels such as memos, bulletins and intranet (email within the organization). The organizational chart implies that information can flow in any of three directions – vertically, i.e., upward or downward, and horizontally...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
...tutorialspoint.com Introduction In an organization, information flows forward, backwards and sideways. This information flow is referred to as communication. Communication channels refer to the way this information flows within the organization and with other organizations. In this web known as communication, a manager becomes a link. Decisions and directions flow upwards or downwards or sideways depending on the position of the manager in the communication web. For example, reports from lower level manager will flow upwards. A good manager has to inspire, steer and organize his employees efficiently, and for all this, the tools in his possession are spoken and written words. For the flow of information and for a manager to handle his employees, it is important for an effectual communication channel to be in place. The Working of a Communication Channel Through a modem of communication, be it face-to-face conversations or an inter-department memo, information is transmitted from a manager to a subordinate or vice versa. An important element of the communication process is the feedback mechanism between the management and employees. In this mechanism, employees inform managers that they have understood the task at hand while managers provide employees with comments and directions on employee's work. Importance of a Communication Channel A breakdown in the communication channel leads to an inefficient flow of information. Employees are unaware of what the company...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
...process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” A barrier is defined by Merriam Webster as “something material or immaterial that blocks or impedes.” Barriers are obstacles that can prevent communication from being effective. According to Written and Interpersonal Communication, communication is a process involving several steps among two or more persons, for the primary purpose of exchanging information. The process of communication has five basic steps: first a person needs to transmit an idea, next the idea must be sent, the idea must be received, the idea must be understood, and last the receiver should give feedback to the sender. These components make up the communication process. It is a vital system in the criminal justice field in order for the system to operate correctly. Hearing and listening are often confused as being the same thing. It is simply not true. Anyone who is not deaf can hear, we are programmed to perceive sound by our ears. Listening is something that a person consciously chooses to do. Listening is a vital part of the communication process, for it is by listening that one can receive the needed information. Channels of information refer to the methods or avenues that by which information flows from one party to another. The direction of information indicates the way in which communication flows. There are two communication channels used in any organization, formal and informal...
Words: 1091 - Pages: 5
...in my organization. This will encourage effective communication and team work which in turn will discourage tribalism which is a derailing factor in most organization, leading to failure of a business. Secondly, I will encourage an atmosphere of trust within the organization. This will lead to respect for oneself as well as respect for others among the employees and it will also encourage them to express their feelings without being aggressive. Employees will stand up for their rights and speak out their mind, but never at the expense of others. Thirdly, I will put emphasis towards two-way communication rather than one-way communication. For communication to be effective it needs two or more participants which together will create a meaning in an atmosphere of trust and respect within the organization. Fourthly, I will encourage interaction among the employees within the organization so as to know and understand each other well and maintain discipline and team work in the organization. This will make communication very effective among the employees in the organization. Last but not least, I will set up structures in the organization to ensure the best possible flow of messages within the organization. This will encourage effective communication in the organization. These structures will restrict the ways in which the information can flow upward, downward and sideways in the organization and outwards...
Words: 299 - Pages: 2
...How information is used and how it flows in an organization is as follows: Information in an organization is used for a myriad of different processes throughout an organization. Information flow through an organization is a duplicate image of an organizations activities. Making a model of an organizations activities goes a long way in helping to build an effective strategy for competing in today’s business world. The three things that are generally looked at in the process of information flow is cost, time, and the information path. A break down of these three components is as follows: Cost will show how much the present implemented information processes cost. Time would show us the current speed of information being transferred to the user of said information. IE: how much time it would take for management to receive the right information from say a warehouse, etc. The third component is the path. The path gives information about the size of information flow net elements that information goes through to make it to the information user. These three components are closely relative to each other and therefore make any analysis difficult. Essentially, information runs in a circular pattern. It is very similar to how water flows down a drain in a circular pattern. Once the water is in the drainage line, it goes through a series of pipes, of different sizes and direction. Organizations utilize information in a very...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...and finally identify what would make up the supply chain of my business. Background information There are a range of legal structures associated with different forms of business: 1. Sole trader businesses are the easiest to set up because there is no complex paperwork. The business and the owner are the same person in law. The sole trader does not have limited liability which means that they are responsible for all the debts of the business. The sole trader has to produce an annual accounting return for the Inland Revenue. 2. Partnerships are set up by a Deed of Partnership which is a document made out by the partners and witnessed by a solicitor. This Deed sets out the legal relationship between partners e.g. how profits will be shared out, responsibilities of partners etc. In traditional partnerships the partners had unlimited liability i.e. they were jointly responsible for the debts of their partnership. In 2001 this has been altered so that some large partnerships e.g. accountancy firms can have limited liability. 3. Companies are separate in law from the individual owners (shareholders) of the business. This means that should the business run up debts the shareholders are only liable for these debts up to the sum they have contributed to the company. A number of Companies Acts have been passed setting out ways in which companies should conduct their affairs. With the above information in mind, I would therefore proceed to open my kiosk under sole proprietorship form...
Words: 1921 - Pages: 8
...Abstract: Information Technology (IT) Vs. Management Information System (MIS)-in the context of Corporate Management: Information Technology The central aim of IT management is to generate value through the use of technology. To achieve this, business strategies and technology must be aligned. IT Management is different from management information systems. The latter refers to management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision making. IT Management refers to IT related management activities in organizations. MIS is focused mainly on the business aspect, with strong input into the technology phase of the business/organization. A primary focus of IT management is the value creation made possible by technology. This requires the alignment of technology and business strategies. While the value creation for an organization involves a network of relationships between internal and external environments, technology plays an important role in improving the overall value chain of an organization. However, this increase requires business and technology management to work as a creative, synergistic, and collaborative team instead of a purely mechanistic span of control. Historically, one set of resources was dedicated to one particular computing technology, business application or line of business, and managed in a storage-like fashion. These resources supported a single set of requirements and processes, and couldn’t easily be optimized or reconfigured to support...
Words: 2628 - Pages: 11
...Christopher Juman I.T. in the Office Information plays a key role in every organization, what makes it pivotal is that it can range in any type of importance. Which means it can start as a sticky note reminder of something, to a government top secret file which could lead to the next world war. This is why it is important to know how information should properly flow through a work place environment. Before we can get to the actual flow of information, one must take a look at the how of the make-up of information. It all begins with an individual having an idea or message that they would like to express to others. Then they must choose the format in which they will deliver their message which can be as simple as in a meeting by word of mouth or by data transfer in an encrypted file through a server. This means generally through an organization, information travels first as an input of data, and then there is a process of some sort in between which in turn is ended with an output of data. “From disconnected bits to the broader organizational pain of "Organizations must get the right information to the right person at the time required to make the right decision," how an organization shepherds information through its life cycle can quickly determine the impact both of their IC/IP and the retention of that information. The critical factors that apply are the relevance of the information, the validity of the source, and the proximity of the information. This allows us to move through...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...Maryland James S. Keebler St. Cloud State University Soonhong Min Georgia Southern University Nancy W. Nix Texas Christian University Carlo D. Smith The University of San Diego and Zach G. Zacharia Texas Christian University “Management is on the verge of a major breakthrough in understanding how industrial company success depends on the interactions between the flows of information, materials, money, manpower, and capital equipment. The way these five flow systems interlock to amplify one another and to cause change and fluctuation will form the basis for anticipating the effects of decisions, policies, organizational forms, and investment choices.” (Forrester 1958, p. 37) Forrester introduced a theory of distribution management that recognized the integrated nature of organizational relationships. Because organizations are so intertwined, he argued that system dynamics can influence the performance of functions such as research, engineering, sales, and promotion. 2 MENTZER, DeWITT, KEEBLER, MIN, NIX, SMITH, AND ZACHARIA He illustrated this phenomena utilizing a computer simulation of order information flow and its influence on production and distribution performance for each supply chain member, as well as the entire supply chain system. More recent replications of this phenomenon include the “Beer Game” simulation and research covering the “Bullwhip Effect” (Lee, Padmanabhan, and Whang 1997). Discussing the shape of the future, Forrester (1958, p. 52) proposed that...
Words: 1750 - Pages: 7
...Financial Statement Accounting is an essential part of the business world today. Accounting “identifies, records, and communicates the economic events of an organization to interested users” (Weygandt p. 4). Accounting shows organizations what is happening financially within the organizations. Accounting shows where the cash is going and where cash is coming from. Accountants analyze and interpret the financial information on the financial statements using ratios and graphs. The information that is being analyzed are comprised into financial statements. The four basic financial statements include; income statement, statement of retained earnings, balance sheet and statement of cash flows. The income statement “presents the revenues and expenses and resulting net income or net loss of a company for a specific period of time” (Weygandt p. 21). The retained earnings statement “summarizes the changes in retained earnings for a specific period of time” (Weygandt p. 21). The balance statement “reports the assets, liabilities, and stockholders’ equity of a company at a specific date” (Weygandt p. 21). The statement of cash flows “summarizes information concerning the cash inflows (receipts) and outflows (payments) for a specific period of time” (Weygandt p. 21). The income statement, statement of retained earnings and statement of cash flows all depict a period of time whereas the balance sheet is a depiction of a specific date. All four basic financial statements are interrelated with each...
Words: 682 - Pages: 3
...Pankonin Christina M. Pankonin CJA/304 May 15, 2013 Instructor Hal Reed Week 1 Assignment 1 Christina M. Pankonin A document published by the U.S. Navy states that communicating is essentially a mental maze to be mastered. To improve it we must become more aware of the proper paths to take and the dead ends to avoid. Poor communications is a waste of everyone’s time and energy and, in reality, there is no excuse for it. In this paper the author will: define the process of verbal and nonverbal communication, state some differences between listing and hearing in communication, explain what the formal and informal channels of communication is in the criminal justice organizations. Then the author will give examples of different barriers to effective communication in the criminal justice organizations and strategies to overcome such barriers (Wallace & Roberson, , 2009). The process of verbal and nonverbal communication and the associated components of each The definition of “communication” has concerned scholars since the time of ancient Greece. The authors of one text stated that at least 94 definitions of communication exist. English literary critic and author I.A. Richards in 1928 offered one of the first and in some ways still the best definitions of communication as a discrete aspect of human enterprise: “Communication takes place when one mind so acts upon its environment that another mind is influenced, and in that other mind an experience occurs which...
Words: 1485 - Pages: 6
