Introduction to Information System

Introduction to Information System
1. Information Technology
Information technology is the use of computers and software to manage information. In some companies, this is referred to as Management Information Services (or MIS) or simply as Information Services (or IS). The information technology department of a large company would be responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing the information, transmitting the information as necessary, and later retrieving information as necessary.
It refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies. Many companies now have IT departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of their businesses. IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, Web development, technical support, and many other related occupations.
2. Fundamental Roles of Information System
Information systems perform three vital roles in any type of organization:
• Support Strategic Competitive Advantage
 Cost Leadership Strategy – become a low cost producer of products and services. This also finds way to help suppliers or customers reduce their costs and increase the costs of competitors.
 Differentiate Strategy – develop ways to differentiate products and services from competitors. This reduces the differentiation advantages of competitors.
 Innovation Strategy – find new ways of doing business: develop new products and services, enter new markets or marketing segments, establish new business alliances, and find new ways of producing products/services and ways of distributing products/service.
 Growth Strategy – significantly expand the company’s capacity to produce goods and services, expand into global markets, diversify into new products and services and integrate into related product and services.
 Alliance Strategy – establish new business linkages