Information Systems in Business

1.1. Describe the functional areas of a business and why they must work together for the business to be successful.

 The functional areas of a business include accounting, finance, human resources, sales, marketing, operations management and management information systems. These functional areas are interdependent on all other functions. All departments must work together and share common information in order to perform all tasks more effectively and efficiently.

1.2. Explain information technology's role in business and how you measure success.

Information technology manages and processes information by use of technology. It measures success by the effectiveness and efficiency the technology produces.

1.3. Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT), and define the relationships among people, information technology, and information.

Information technology deals with the application of techonology in order to perform information processing. Management information systems applies people technology and procedures in order to complete business problems and tasks.

People use information technology to work with information.

1.4. Compare the responsibilities of a chief information officer (CIO), chief technology officer (CTO), chief security officer (CSO), chief privacy officer (CPO), and chief knowledge officer (CKO).

A chief information officer manages leads and communicates with all aspects of IT. A CIO overlooks the main objectives and goals of IT in order to ensure customer satisfaction. A chief technology officer is most concerned with the efficiency of the IT systems. A CTO focuses on all components of IT. A chief security officer protects the IT systems from any outside invaders including hackers and viruses by controlling networks and telecommunications. All ethical and legal aspects of a corporation are controlled by the chief privacy officer. CKO’s utilize systems knowledge. Together, all these responsibilities shape the success of the IT department.

1.5. Explain the gap between IT and the business, along with the primary reason this gap exists.

The gap that exists between IT and the business is primarily due to lack of communication. IT personnel have complete understanding of the technology that can positively or negatively affect the business. Business personnel control all strategy and business functions. IT personnel are often left out of certain business decisions that they could develop certain technologies in order to benefit these decisions.