Page 8 - DCAP307_PLANNING_AND_MANAGING_IT_INFRASTRUCTURE

Planning and Managing IT Infrastructure

Notes 1.1 Need of Understanding IT

Information technology is related to studying, designing and developing information related
to computers. This field is growing at a very fast pace over the last few years and according to
successful and well-known people in the IT sector, this growth is expected to remain stable. Due
to the robust growth, millions of jobs have been created in this field. However, it is very
essential for us to understand what the importance of information technology is.
Information Technology (IT) has become a strategic necessity. Unless we believe in IT and act on
it, there is every chance of becoming a footnote in the annals of History. IT has become a vital
component of successful businesses and organisations.
Managers are expected to identify opportunities to implement information systems to improve
the business processes. Managers are also required to lead Information System (IS) projects in IT.
Information Technology has become a major facilitator of business activities. It is also a catalyst
of fundamental changes in the structure, operations and management of organisations. IT can be
used to:

1. Perform high-speed, high-volume, numeric computations.
2. Provide fast, accurate and inexpensive communication within and between organisations.
3. Store huge amounts of data in an easy-to-access yet small space and allow quick and easy
access.
4. Automate semiautomatic business processes and manually done tasks.
IT has been used for improving productivity, reducing cost, enhancing decision making process,
enhancing customer relationships, and developing new strategic applications. The business
paradigm has completely shifted from being sellers market to buyers market. Customers have
become the focal point of any business. The business environment is no more as stable as it used
to be and has become much more competitive. It became mandatory on the part of the
organisations to make full use of IT to survive. IT has become one of the standard components
of an organisation.
The individuals are supported by IT to fulfil their roles. The management and the business
processes have become IT oriented. Organisation structure and strategy are also supported by
IT. Whenever an external or internal pressure is felt by an organisation, IT helps the organisation
to plan critical response activities. The changed government policy may create a pressure on an
organisation. But such a pressure is distributed over a long period as government gives enough
time to organisations to respond to changed policies. But if there is a change in the behaviour of
consumers, the organisation should be able to identify the change. Moreover, they should be
able to come up with a solution fast. IT helps an organisation to anticipate and stay ahead of
problems. The organisation can take proactive measures rather than fire fighting measures. An
organisation can use an IT supported strategic system to increase their market share. IT can help
an organisation negotiate better with their suppliers. Maintaining and improving quality of
products and processes in an organisation needs regular support, vigilance and innovation.
Business Process Reengineering (BPR) has become the need to the day for every business; BPR
involves changing business processes in an innovative way. IT plays a major role in BPR.
Internet and Intranet help an organisation in changing its business processes to reduce cycle
time and time to market a product. IT makes information available to employees with different
level of access. As a result, employees can be given more independence to make decisions.

There are many businesses which are in need of the software packages for satisfying their
operational as well as functional needs. For fulfilling this requirement, these companies sign
deals with the software manufacturing companies. Information technology is useful in ensuring

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