Why Information Systems?

Why Information Systems?

We are in the midst of a swiftly moving river of technology and business innovations that is transforming the global business landscape. An entirely new Internet business culture is emerging with profound implications for the conduct of business. You can see this every day by observing how business people work using high-speed Internet connections for e-mail and information gathering, portable computers connected to wireless networks, cellular telephones connected to the Internet, and hybrid handheld devices delivering phone, Internet, and computing power to an increasingly mobile and global workforce.

           The emerging Internet business culture is a set of expectations that we all share. We have all come to expect online services for purchasing goods and services, we expect our business colleagues to be available by e-mail and cell phone, and we expect to be able to communicate with our vendors, customers, and employees any time of day or night over the Internet. We even expect our business partners around the world to be “fully connected.” Internet culture is global.

           In this text and in the business world, you’ll often encounter the term information technology. Information technology (abbreviated IT) refers to all of the computer-based information systems used by organizations and their underlying technologies. Briefly, information technologies and systems are revolutionizing the operation of firms, industries, and markets. The main objective of this book is to describe the nature of this transformation and to help you as a future manager take advantage of the emerging opportunities.