Topic 31 - Impact of IT systems on organisations Flashcards
How are IT systems enhanced to improve businesses?
The potential of IT systems is to enhance and improve business is obvious but there are many things to consider before embarking on the introduction of new IT systems in any organisation
What are the 7 Impact of IT systems?
- User experience
- Employee/customer needs
- Cost
- Implementation
- Replacement/integration
- Working practices
- User support and staff training needs (initial and ongoing)
- Security
What are the 4 things to think about for User experience?
(Impact of IT systems)
User experience - Does technology enhance what the users already do?
- Will it be easy to use and also intuitive?
- Will the system increase performance and be reliable and available as users expert?
- What about users with additional needs
What are the 3 things to think about for Employee/customer needs?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Employee/customer needs = Are people more productive and feel that the technology is helping them (or hindering them)?
- Losing touch = Are businesses losing that personal touch in the quest for ever more efficient working?
- Big Brother - Do customers and employees feel ‘monitored’ in a negative way?
What are the 3 things to think about for Cost?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Cost = How much is it going to cost, can this be related to the benefit received?
- Ongoing cost = Maintenance, redundant systems
- People cost = Training, skilled technical personnel
What are the 3 things to think about for Implementation?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Implementation = How long might it take to put into place? How is the ‘changeover’ going to happen?
- Timescales and downtime = How long is it going to take?
Is there a plan B?
How is downtime of existing systems (ways of working) going to be minimised? - Testing = How is the system going to be tested thoroughly?
Who is testing it and how?
What are the 5 things to think about for Replacement / integration with current systems?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Replacement / integration with current systems = Where does a system fit into the bigger picture?
- Will it works with existing systems?
- What about existing data? Customer records, sales records, financial records
- Productivity = How does a system help a business meet its goals more effectively?
- Automation = Reduce ‘human error’ , increase efficiency
What is the question to think about for Working practices?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Working practices = What impact will it have on ways of working, people, processes?
What are the 3 things to thing about for User support and staff training needs (initial and ongoing)?
(Impact of IT systems)
- User support and staff training needs (initial and ongoing) = Is there a cost to train and upskill staff?
- Staff culture = How will staff accept new IT systems?
- Staff skillsets = Does the level of technical and support expertise required change?
What are the 3 things to think about for Security?
(Impact of IT systems)
- Security = How is sensitive data protected?
Is it secure? - Compliance with new legislation
- Public relations risk of data breaches
