Vodafone: Effectiveness of Integrated Information Systems Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of information systems within Vodafone, a major telecommunications company. It begins by outlining the importance of information management in business decision-making and the need for integrated systems. The report then delves into the three primary levels of information systems—operational, tactical, and strategic—examining the types of systems (TPS, MIS, DSS) used at each level and how they support different decision-making processes. It also discusses the advantages of integrating various stand-alone information systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The report highlights the challenges associated with deploying information systems, such as resistance to change and potential technical issues. Finally, it concludes with recommendations for Vodafone to effectively manage its information and technology, emphasizing the importance of addressing the identified challenges and leveraging integrated systems to gain a competitive advantage. The report also emphasizes on how Vodafone can improve their current system and take appropriate decisions to improve their business.

Managing Information
and Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
a) Three different types of information systems at various levels..........................................1
b) Integration of various stand-alone information systems....................................................4
c) Challenges to deployment of information systems............................................................5
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION....................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Business is a composition of various information on the basis of which management
becomes able to take appropriate judgement. It is essential for an organisation’s managers to
integrate all system’s data properly which are related with employees, customers, suppliers, etc.
so that they will take appropriate and suitable decisions related with such people. Hence,
appropriate information lead to support in gaining competitive advantage for an association
(Bilbao-Osorio, Dutta and Lanvin, 2013). This project is based on Vodafone which is one of the
largest telecommunication organisations of UK. They need to inspect and take appropriate data
related with market, suppliers, etc. so that business capabilities will get improved and move
towards success. At every level of an organisation, different information systems are applicable
which are also going to be discussed in this project. Moreover, a stand-alone system is more
expensive than an integrated process hence, business needs to combine them all in an appropriate
and effective manner.
The major aim of this project is “to determine the effectiveness of integrated information
system process at various levels in order to gain appropriate decision by Vodafone”. This aim is
helpful in guiding and moving towards positive direction so that better and competitive
advantage could be gained effectually. Thus, business managers have to take this concept in
account while they lead to discuss with integrated information system process properly.
On the basis of this project aim, several objectives also get framed which enable
managers of a company to make better judgement so that competitive advantages could be
gained (Ebert, 2011). Managers in Vodafone stated several objectives for their management of
information system which are as follows:
 To analyse the effectiveness of integrated system of information for Vodafone
 To determine the effectiveness of integrated system at various levels of Vodafone
 To evaluate the appropriateness of integrated information system for Vodafone with
suitable recommendations
a) Three different types of information systems at various levels
A typical association is divided in three major segments which are working and
managing their operations in order to gain effective and appropriate decision i.e. operational,
middle and top level. The data which is required at each level also differs in nature because every
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user needs distinct information on the basis of which decision will be carried down. Hence, this
consent gets better understanding with the help of a diagram which represent the use of
information at various levels of an organisation (Types of Information System: TPS, DSS &
Pyramid Diagram, 2017):
(Source: Types of Information System: TPS, DSS & Pyramid Diagram, 2017)
There are different types of information systems used by an organisation in order to make
things and plans appropriate in nature (Ferratt, Prasad and Enns, 2012). At every level, a distinct
processing system is implemented which leads to communicate every sort of data to management
properly so that a better decision making could be promoted in order to meet with competitive
advantage. Vodafone needs to develop an information management system strategy properly so
that they will become able to work properly and accomplish all goals and targets effectually. At
every level of an organisation, distinct information support systems are implemented which are
stated as follows:
Operational level: This is the lower level of a company that is highly concerned with day
to day operations performed in an organisation. Users at this level have a structured decision
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Illustration 1: Types of Information System: TPS, DSS & Pyramid Diagram

making in which they should follow all rules and regulations properly while taking any decision.
Thus, for them, transaction processing system is used which enables an organisation to include
day to day operation’s information. TPS supports in providing answers of many questions which
are concerned with regular operation’s details (Fourie, 2013). Such data based on transaction
processing system is well structured in nature and provide appropriate detailed information.
Vodafone can apply this system in business through which they can analyse about regular sales.
Along with this, they can make their payroll system more effective in nature through which all
salary processes become appropriate and effective in nature.
Tactical management: This level is highly dominated through managers, supervisors and
heads of department of a company (Galbreath and Lunt, 2011). These users especially look upon
all activities which are concerned with operational level users. Tactical management use semi
structured process of decision making in which they analyse the records properly and then make
judgement based on same. At this level, management information system or MIS is used so that
managers will become able to evaluate the current performance of a business properly. Hence, by
applying MIS appropriately into business, managers become able to predict future by comparing,
summarising and monitoring each and every aspect perfectly. Managers become able to take
budgeting system properly so that better and appropriate results would be derived.
Strategic management: These people or users are such personalities that are related with
top management of a company and have high decision power with making plans for future terms
of a business. They use information from tactical management as well as external reports so that
better and effective decision would be carried down by making an appropriate comparison
between internal reports and external gathering. This level uses decision support system properly
which supports data from internal sources like transaction processing method and MIS as well as
external system. A major use of decision support system is to reflect suitable suggestions on such
issues and problems which are unique in nature as well as situations that are dynamic in nature.
Senior management takes decision related with financial planning of a company as well as bank
loan management system so that better and effective productivity could be encouraged and
targets would get accomplished properly.
Vodafone has to examine TPS, DSS and MIS properly so that they would become able to
gain relevant information system in an organisation so that better and effective working could be
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promoted. Thus, it is essential for the business managers to take such consents in account
properly in order to encourage effective and proper working.
b) Integration of various stand-alone information systems
Stand-alone information systems are such processes which are not connected with any
wire, LAN, WAN or any other essential things that are helpful for the business operations
(Galliers and Leidner, 2014). Some examples of stand-alone systems are laptop, notebook, etc.
All these processing systems are operating separately where they are not integrated with any
other method. Thus, stand-alone information systems are processing groups which are not
integrated with other hardware devises.
Stand-alone devises are expensive in nature as compared to integrated ones as all stand
alone and integrated systems perform similar functions. However, using stand-alone hardware
typically allows the user greater customization whether it be a home theatre or computer system
(Standalone, 2017). Some software are also considered because they do not require any other
function apart from operating system. Moreover, some stand-alone software refers to:
Several software of computer do not require any network connection or function to run as they
are already working offline in nature.
Stand- alone does not require any further software to run but only needs operating ones.
These do not require any installation procedure just a portable application.
Integrated systems are more effective and appropriate in nature as compared to stand
alone ones because they are less expensive in nature. An integrated process performs similar
functions like stand-alone but they are costly in nature. If Vodafone is using stand-alone systems
for their work then chances of incurring more cost on regular maintenance on method become
high in nature where as if an integration group leads to take place then they will become able to
have control over the cost. Thus, one place of stand-alone, management has to use a single code
and in addition data base; so that, each and every software will lead to get operated properly. A
major advantage of using integrated process is cost saving as well as productivity also gets
improved.
Integrated system also enables business to take fast decision making and it leads to
improve the visibility also. Through integrated process, information can be determined from
anywhere or from any place without wasting any resources as all employees get informed very
well. Moreover, cost saving and faster decision process also facilitate growth to an association so
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that better and effective management could be promoted. Vodafone needs to implement this
section in their association so that they can examine and conclude appropriate decisions for
business;therefore, better and ethical working could be promoted.
c) Challenges to deployment of information systems
There are various challenges and issues faced by an organisation at the time of
deployment of information system in an association (Hu and et. al., 2012). It stated that these
issues and problems are related with working because many a times, employees will not get
agree to adopt and implement any change in the business. One of the major challenges is related
with resistance to change by employees of a company. This is the major issue because without
staff member’s support, management cannot become able to execute operations in an effective
and appropriate manner.
Along with this, another major issue which is associated with IPS is that sometimes,
operational department forget a sale during a day and not get listed into system (Laudon and
Laudon, 2013). This will create and impact their working hence, all missing report will lead to
submit into suspense account of company. Stand-alone information systems are costly in nature
where integrated processes are less costly. But a major issue which affectedon integrated
information system is that if a virus impacted on a emthodthen whole process will get affected.
Thus, it will restrict the work and hence, overall cost will rise. Along with this, responsibility of
IT department willget enhance because they have to take and make regular interaction with
storage of their system moreover, managers of a company have to frame appropriate report
which are concern with working. These are several challenges faced by an organisation at the
time of deployment of information processing system (Valacich and Schneider, 2015).
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
It can be concluded from the report that business is a composition of various activities
which have to be evaluated properly. Managing information and technology plays a vital role in
an association’s success so that better and effective results could be derived. Managers of a
company have a duty which is concerned with management of data properly so that better and
effective decisions could support. At each and every level of management, information system
varies with their pattern of judgement as well. It is essential to include all day to day transactions
properly into list so that manager of tactical level get facilitate to examine reports properly and
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predict future consents. Such reports get presented to the top level management who use their
skills as well as information properly and make planning process more effective. Moreover,
integratedmethods are less costly in nature as compared to stand alone information systems.
There are various challenges and along with issues which are also identify and they are
associated with information system process which have to evaluate effectively.
There are various issues and problems determined which are related with information
system deployment. Thus, suitable strategies and action plans are needed to be implemented so
that such issues and problems get rid out in a proper way. One of the major issues is resistance to
change. Hence, to deal with this modification, team leaders have to guide their followers
properly about the benefits of using new technology into business. Information plays an
appropriate role in order to enhance better productivity. Thus, employees have to analyse the
market properly and collect suitable information related with customers and suppliers.
By dealing with all these issues and problems effectively, management will become able
to gain competitive advantage which reflects growth for long term. It is essential for every
association that R&D department has to examine all new technologies properly. By using
accurate information, management will become able to take effective and appropriate decision.
Additionally their abilities to gain market share also get improved. Integrated system is helpful
for the business and thus, by applying new and informative technology into a system process,
chances of virus attacks will get minimised.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bilbao-Osorio, B., Dutta, S. and Lanvin, B., 2013, April. The global information technology
report 2013. In World Economic Forum (pp. 1-383).
Ebert, R. J., 2011. Business essentials. Pearson Education.
Ferratt, T. W., Prasad, J. and Enns, H. G., 2012. Synergy and its limits in managing information
technology professionals. Information Systems Research. 23(4). pp.1175-1194.
Fourie, I., 2013. Management Information Systems: managing information technology in the
internetworked enterprise. The Electronic Library.
Galbreath, N. and Lunt, C., Facebook, Inc., 2011. System and method for managing information
flow between members of an online social network. U.S. Patent 8,010,458.
Galliers, R. D. and Leidner, D.E. Eds., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Hu, Q. and et. al., 2012. Managing employee compliance with information security policies: The
critical role of top management and organizational culture. Decision Sciences. 43(4).
pp.615-660.
Laudon, K. C. and Laudon, J. P., 2013. Management Information Systems 13e.
Schwalbe, K., 2015. Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Smith, H. J., Dinev, T. and Xu, H., 2011. Information privacy research: an interdisciplinary
review. MIS quarterly. 35(4). pp.989-1016.
Valacich, J. and Schneider, C., 2015. Information Systems Today: Managing in a Digital World
Plus MyMISLab with Pearson eText--Access Card Package. Prentice Hall Press.
Online
Types of Information System: TPS, DSS & Pyramid Diagram. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.guru99.com/mis-types-information-system.html>.
Standalone. 2017. [Online]. Available through: <https://techterms.com/definition/standalone>.
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