IT for Business Assignment - Information Systems and Business Strategy

This assignment solution for IT in Business addresses key concepts such as the competitive nature of the web arena, the strategies organizations should employ to sustain the benefits of information systems (IS), and the limitations of defining an information system solely by its hardware and software components. The solution highlights the importance of continuous technological upgrades, employee training, and the use of data analytics to maintain a strategic advantage. It emphasizes that an information system encompasses not only technology but also people, tasks, and organizational structures. The assignment references several scholarly sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. The solution is available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools for students.

IT for Business

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Why is the web arena so much competitive?
The web arena has become so much competitive because it is one of the fastest ways of
growing business and reach to larger numbers of people. This is because large numbers of
people are connected to internet facilities and the speed of the internet has become very fast.
For companies it is an opportunity they want to grab (McGrath, 2013). At the same time the
cost of doing different operations like marketing, research etc. also gets reduced due to use of
web services which plays an effective role in enhancing the profit margin for the company.
Even the small companies are taking the web services and hence the competition has become
cut-throat.
What organisations should do to sustain the strategic benefits of IS?
For sustaining the strategic benefits of IS it is essential that companies continuously upgrade
the technology so as to sustain their strategic benefits of IS. It is also essential that company
trains their employees regularly so as that they utilise the IS resources appropriately. It will
ensure that there is proper use of the data especially in the areas such as decision making and
strategic planning (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). In this regards, company must also work on
their IS so as to ensure that the information is up to date. Use of data analytics can be
beneficial in sustaining the benefits of the company.
‘An information system consists of hardware and software.’ Why is this statement
inadequate?
An information system has different aspects. It does not only consist of hardware and
software rather it consists of four components i.e. people, technology, task and structure.
Hardware and software are just the part of the technology (Sousa and Oz, 2014). Since t is a
process of collecting, filtering, processing, creating and distributing data hence many other
factors are connected with it. IS also consists of communication networks and a database that
might not be physical.

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REFERENCES
Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
McGrath, R.G., 2013. The end of competitive advantage: How to keep your strategy moving
as fast as your business. Harvard Business Review Press.
Sousa, K. and Oz, E., 2014. Management information systems. Nelson Education.