IT and IS
Since the beginning of the 21st century, IT has increasingly become an essential aspect of everyday life in the global world. IT has led to increased cooperation, communication, and ease of doing business among multinational corporations and governments globally. As a result, companies and governments globally are implementing IT in their operations to ensure better cooperation, interactions, efficiency, and effectiveness in conducting businesses, and providing essential services to citizens. The paper primarily gives a review of two articles that relate to the issue of implementation of IT across the globe.
An article by Hawking (2007) talks about the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system by businesses across the globe. ERP systems refer to the business process management software that organizations or companies use to integrate and manage all the essential parts, functions, and processes of their business operations. For instance, it helps to integrate and manage various processes such as inventory purchasing, marketing, sales, finance, accounting, human resources, and customer relationship management, among other essential processes. According to Hawking (2007), global corporate operations have achieved significant growth, necessitating the need for effective global information systems. The key purpose for information systems (IS) is to ensure better provision of essential data and information required to support and facilitate better decision making. Proper flow of critical information allows organizations to effectively coordinate and manage their day-to-day operations and ensure better visibility and control to their international supply chain functions (Sheu et al., 2004). Hawking states that global or multinational operations need to develop a centralized, coordinated, and managed IT infrastructure. Such infrastructures will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of operations due to increased cooperation, proper communication, and better decision making at all levels.
ERP systems are some of the predominant IS implemented by large corporations to support their various business operations. RP systems have many benefits; hence many organizations or businesses consider them critical IS for achieving improved competitive edge in today’s world of commerce. For instance, a study comprising of 800 top American companies indicated that about 43% of these firm’s application budgets were set for ERP systems (Somers, & Nelson, 2001). The increased demand for RP systems is due to various factors, including the need to improve or enhance business processes, achieve increased responsiveness to customer needs, integrate business operations and processes, gain improved competitive edge, ensure sufficient information and data sharing, and allow the transition to digital business. However, the implementation of ERP systems is affected by several factors, such as national culture, language, and financial issues. For instance, various aspects of cultural dimensions such as power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity impact ERP systems implementation in different countries. Different languages also bring technical issues in implementing ERP systems since the systems need to be programmed to match the desired language.
Furthermore, an article by Howard (2001) addresses the issue of e-government implementation across the globe. E-government incorporates digital tools and techniques that are intended to enhance the improved provision of better services to both the government and its citizens. According to (2001), e-government has several benefits, including better access to essential information, low cost of interaction and collaboration, and electronic delivery of government services to citizens. For instance, e-government ensures the availability of all critical information on the government website, making it easily accessible to government officials, citizens, and other stakeholders. Accessibility of this information enables the public to participate in various governmental decision making about sensitive issues of public concern. The cost of interaction and collaboration is lower as people can easily communicate, interact, and access any required information and clarifications via the internet. Also, the delivery of government services electronically increases efficiency and effectiveness as citizens can access most of the services through the internet anywhere and at any time. Howard (2001) states that e-government will be implemented through the creation of a government portal that provides access to all government services. According to him, the citizens should be able to find and access all the services they need in the portal. The leading countries in e-government implementation globally include the united states, Canada, and Singapore (Howard, 2001). All governments worldwide should focus on ensuring the successful e-government implementation to facilitate quick and efficient provision of services to its citizens. Currently, most people have access to the internet; hence e-government will provide citizens or the public with a more convenient and efficient way of accessing government services and participating in governance and decision-making processes.
In conclusion, implementation of IT by businesses and governments worldwide offers a great opportunity for better growth and success through increased efficiency and effectiveness of operations. For instance, IT allows central integration and management of all essential business operations, thus improving efficiency and performance. Also, IT facilitates quick and easy provision of critical government services to citizens and an increased level of participation by citizens in issues of governance. Therefore, both governments and businesses globally should focus on implementing IT in their operations.