Unlock document.
This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
Management Information Systems, 13TH ED.
MANAGING THE DIGITAL FIRM
Kenneth C. Laudon ● Jane P. Laudon
continued
Learning Track 3: Challenges of Using Business Systems
Organizations still need different types of information systems serving various organizational
levels, functions, and business processes, and they increasingly need systems providing enterprise-
wide integration. ese needs create both opportunities and challenges.
Opportunities
Businesses face extraordinary opportunities to apply information systems throughout the firm to
Management Challenges
ere are challenges to achieving these objectives.
INTEGRATION AND THE WHOLE FIRM VIEW
In the past, information systems were built to serve the narrow interests of different business
functions (such as marketing, finance, or operations) or to serve a specific group of decision makers
MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING
With so many systems in a large business firm, and with fairly high employee turnover typical of
the last few years, training people how to use the existing systems, and learn new systems, turns
out to be a major challenge. Obviously, without training or when training is limited, employees
and managers cannot use information systems to maximum advantage, and the result can be a low
return on investment in systems.
Chapter 2: Global E-Business and Collaboration
Chapter 2 Learning Track 3 2
continued
ACCOUNTING FOR THE COST OF SYSTEMS AND MANAGING DEMAND FOR
SYSTEMS
As the cost of information falls because of the power of information technology, demands for
Solution Guidelines
A number of solutions exist to the challenges we have just described.
INVENTORYING THE FIRM’S INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR A 360-DEGREE VIEW
OF INFORMATION
You should develop a list of firmwide information requirements to get a 360-degree view of the
most important information needs for your company as a whole. Once you have this list developed,
EMPLOYEE AND MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
Systems are usually not obvious or self-taught for most people. You will need to ensure that you
understand how much training is required to support new systems, and budget accordingly. Once
ACCOUNTING FOR THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
To manage the demand for information services, you’ll need an accounting system for information
services. It is worthwhile to examine the methods used in your industry and by industry competi-
Chapter 2 Learning Track 3 3
