Why Is It Important To Understand The Difference Between Computer Literacy And Information Literacy? Essay Examples

Exam on: Issues in Information Systems Management

Chapter 1

It is important to consider the difference between the information literacy and computer literacy because understanding the difference between these two can help in learning and applying the knowledge in an effectual manner. The information system literacy indicates sophisticated and broader understanding of the information technology, and includes technical and behavioral approach in order to study the information systems. Whereas, computer literacy emphasizes on the knowledge of the information technology and it is restricted to the understanding of the working of software and hardware. Moreover, it is essential to understand the difference between the information literacy and computer literacy because information literacy represents the capability of accessing, organizing, evaluating, and using the information from several sources. Comparatively, computer literacy focuses on the knowledge in order to use the technology for the manipulating the hardware and software of computer.
Discuss the three elements of an information system (hardware, software and persware) that managers must consider. Which of the three do you consider the most important?
Information technology is essential for the managers because the three components of the information technology, which include hardware, software, and persware are required at all the levels such as at clerical, secretaries, and at managerial level. The managers should focus on all the three components of the information system, and should integrate them into a sole as well as cohesive system that has an ability of serving the needs of the employees, customers, and organization. Persware is the most important component of the information system, because it gives meaning to the software and hardware, it helps in making the information available to majority of people. However, the people involved in running and driving the information system provide assistance in determining which data should be collected, disseminated, and stored for analyzing the facts.

Discuss how complementary social, managerial, and organizational assets help optimize returns from information technology investments.

The social, organizational, and managerial assets facilitate in optimizing the returns from the information technology investments in a way that social assets help in improving the telecommunication infrastructure, standards of the private sector as well as government, internet awareness, educational programs regarding information technology, and computer literacy in the labor force. Organizational assets optimize the returns from the investment of information technology by ensuring supportive and competitive culture that gives importance to the effectiveness and efficiency, adequate and effectual business model, and decentralization of the authority. Further, the managerial assets provide assistance in optimization of the returns from the IT investment by focusing on the strong support from the upper management for ensuring modifications and investment in the information technology, providing incentives to the manager for innovation, and ensuring collaborative and team work in the organization.

Chapter 2 Questions:

Which of the four major types of information systems do you think is the most valuable to an organization?
The four types of information systems include:
Strategic Level Information System
Management Level Information System
Operational Level Information System
Knowledge Level Information System
I think that the knowledge level information system is most valuable for the organization because it in helps in gathering and applying the knowledge as well as skills in creating, producing, and delivering an innovative product or service. it makes the experience, skills, and knowledge available to the employees that help them to do their job in an effective manner, it also help the employees to consider the external sources in order to gain more knowledge for the success of the organization. Additionally, knowledge management system increases the integration, collaboration and the flow of information via intranets, extranets, E-business, and E-commerce.
2. Discuss the benefits and challenges of enterprise systems and explain why a firm would want to build one.
There are several benefits of the enterprise system, such as it helps in the firm to reduce the cost, and ensure continuous flow of information in the firm. For example intranet and extranet are the enterprise applications that facilitate communication among the employees, and also allow the employees to communicate with the suppliers or venders. But, several challenges and disadvantages are also associated with the enterprise system, such as a lot of time, money, and rigorous training of people is required in order to develop enterprise system. Further, the enterprise applications are very expensive, and they are complicated to implement. The firm would want to build an enterprise system for ensuring smooth functioning at all level such as at manufacturing, production, sale, marketing, finance, and human resource.
3. Discuss why a typical hierarchical management structure is not conducive to a collaborative business culture.
A general hierarchical management structure is not encouraging to a collaborative model of the business because in the hierarchical organization structure, the flow of information is communication is not rapid, the information is passed from the employees and return to the employees, the information flow is very cumbersome as well as slow because the information has to pass through a lot of channels and medium. In a hierarchical management structure, no importance is given to the teamwork, and lower management is not involved in the decision making process. A collaborative business model requires rapid communication and emphasize on fast process of information sharing. It demands managers to set particular goals and objectives, and to find the ways in order to attain these goals and objectives. The managers should build the teams, organize the work, and monitor the performance by using adequate tools as well as technologies.

Chapter 3 Questions:

Discuss the impact new information systems may have on organizational culture and organizational politics.
Most of the times, the introduction of the new information system affect the organizational culture as well as organizational politics because the new system disturbs the responsibilities, rights, authorities, feelings, and the obligations. Every individual working in an organization has his/her goal that is aligned with the goal of organization. Every person has different point of view and concern to work in the organization. The introduction of the new information system may present difficulties and clash of viewpoints may occur as a result of which organizational politics develop. The organizational politics oppose the necessary changes that are required for incorporating and implementing new information system. The opposition of the change in the organization also affects the culture of the organization, compelling the employees not to follow the rules and regulations of the organization such as not following the dress code or work ethics.

Describe the difference between the Economic Theory and the Behavioral Theory of how information systems affect organizations.

Both the Economic Theory and behavior theory consider that the information technology help an organization to reduce its cost. For example in the Economic theory, the transaction cost theory explains that information technology help in reducing the transaction cost and cost of production. The agency theory considers the firm as focus of contract among the people who are interested where the owner selects the agents in order to do the work on his behalf, and assign some authority regarding decision making to the agents. But, management and supervision of the agents is required that increase the management costs. But, information technology is cheap and it allows the managers to supervise more employees with fewer resources in an effective manner. Comparatively, the behavioral approach considers information system as a product of the political competition among the subgroups of an organization. The information technology emerge as a result of this competition because it control all the aspects of the information such as who has an approach or access to the information, and when, how, where an individual has acces to IT.
Discuss how business ecosystems can extend a company’s products and services and increase its competitive advantage. Give an example of a business ecosystem for a product or service that you are using.
The business ecosystems can help in increasing the competitive advantage, and in extending the products and services by aligning the information technology with the business objectives in order to ensure effectual value chains of the firms. Additionally, the business ecosystems help in effective management of the strategic transition by modifying the business goals, and establishing relations with the customers and suppliers. I use to take Heinz Tomato Ketchup from Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is effectually managing its inventort in a way that it regularly check its stock, and order the new stock before it ends, so that customers can be facilitated in an effective manner. The information technology is enabling Wal-Mart to keep the record of inventory ordered, received, and the remaining inventory, because of which I have never seen shortage of the Heinz Tomato ketchup stock at Wal-Mart.