C** C** J*
9/14/15
MGMT 221

Part 1:
1) How can information technology support a company’s business processes and decision making and give it a competitive advantage? Give example to illustrate your answer.
In an organization number of transactions occurs every day. It’s almost impossible to keep the record of these transactions manually. So in order to keep the systematic record of day to day transaction, considering the value of time, in the most accurate form, organizations use Information Technology. Use of information Technology has made a workplace more productive and scientific. During the entire business process from dealing with supplier to reaching a costumer, information technology plays a very important role to make things happen smoothly. Business decisions are based on the data’s and information provided to decision makers and information technology ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information collected. In this competitive business environment it’s very important that decisions taken are as per the scenario and in the favor of organization considering the competitors around so here we can see the direct impact of information technology in decision making. Through the use of information technology, data’s and information are to be collected and are to be supplied to all the sectors of organization as per the importance. Decision making department uses these data’s to evaluate the performance of organization and all the plans and policies are made as per the information and data’s provided. If the decision making department is provided the accurate data then the department takes the appropriate policy and plans as per the need of the situation. When the decisions are taken, through the use of information technology they can be implemented effectively and also it becomes easy to control the decision, since outcomes of decision can be monitored systematically. This way efficiency of the decision becomes more. When your decisions are appropriate and efficient, you can be able to face the competition with appropriate strategies to win the war.
2) How does the use of internet, Intranets and extranets by companies today support their business processes and activities?
Directly or indirectly organizations have been using intranets and extranets in order to support their business activities since so long. Intranet is the communication network inside the organization, which provides information about what is happening inside the organization. Its about knowing yourself.Extarnet is about communication network among various stakeholders who are not exactly in the organization but are related to organization in some ways. Extranet provides information about suppliers, customers and competitors which facilitates the process of planning and decision making. Organizations used to decide and perform as per the information collected through these two different networks. And now, past 10 years internet has been one of the most important sources of information for the organization to operate in this global environment. Internet has made it possible to know about everything going around the globe, sitting in the couch. Internet has made the business easier. Websites, blogs, email and many more, collecting information was never so easy before. Today to know about Microsoft Inc. you shouldn’t visit America. Besides, because of use of internet we are able to know about what are the recent business trends, what are our competitors doing ,where’s our business heading and lot more so that we can manage and plan our activities as per all these things. Organizations are using internet in their every aspect, from production to promotion.
3) How can a manager demonstrate that he or she is a responsible end user of information system? Give several examples.
Information’s are the basis of planning, organizing, controlling and decision making to managers. The main motive of information system is to facilitate management with effective decision making. Information system is the storehouse of all the information’s arranged in systematic way which can be retrieved easily at the time of need. Information system’s responsibility is to provide accurate information whereas manager using that information is responsible to make the best out of that information and decide in favor of the information provided. Keeping the information for future reference and maintaining its secrecy as per the need as well is the responsibility of manager using it as end user. If I am the manager, I would be using information system to know about everything I need to know, in order to perform my obligations. My responsibility towards that information system I am using it would be,
*To maintain the system and watch out if everything is in order, so as to get accurate information.
*To be responsible towards the information provided and use it in the best possible way to formulate effective plans and policies.
*To maintain the secrecy of the information provided.
*To keep it properly for the future reference and evidence.
*To convey the information in logical way to whom it may concern.

Part 2:
For each of the common end-user mistakes listed above, answer the following questions.
a. How might this mistake result in data loss?
b. What procedures could you follow to minimize this risk? 1. Failure to save work in progress frequently. a. When a work in progress is not frequently saved there is a great risk of data loss due to a simple loss of power or a computer crash. All data that was imputed would be loss. b. Frequent job saves should be exercise within every department. Better yet, if the software allowed to program an auto save ability every 5 minutes, this should be a requirement. 2. Failure to make a backup copy. c. If a backup copy is not performed from a computer that has gone through an un- reversible crash can mean a loss of all information on that drive. d. Managers should make it a requirement to make backup copies after every shift of all drives. 3. Storing original and backup copies in the same location. e. If backup copies are stored in the same location a data loss can happened if that location burns down or suffers some kind of disaster that could potentially destroy those data backups. f. Department managers should be required to take a second back up to a secured off site location for safe keeping at least once a week.