Some businesses have gained greatly from clever use of IT and the Internet. Most could no longer function without these technologies.
However, research by Enterprise Ireland (http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/ebusiness/eBIT_ICTissues.htm) has revealed that many smaller Irish companies face business risks due to poor management of information technology. In larger companies, many knowledgeable commentators question the business benefits of much of the IT investment of recent years.
With the growing importance of IT, business managers cannot simply wash their hands and leave the IT people to deal with these issues. Most business managers realise this, their problem lies in knowing what to do about it. Enterprise Ireland has a website (www.openup.ie) designed to help such managers. It has also formulated a set of guidelines, which are set out below: -
1. Develop and implement an overall IT/eBusiness strategy.
l Review your business’s information needs in the context of your business strategy. (That business strategy should have taken account of any new opportunities that IT provides and of any threats arising from the way in which customers, suppliers or competitors are using new technology). Seek opportunities to reduce time spent answering queries or finding, collating, reconciling, correcting or analysing data. Could you gain business benefits from better data? Can IT enable you to adopt improved business processes? These decisions require the active participation of business managers.
l Audit your existing IT/eBusiness facilities, IT skills and IT management processes.
l Realistically assess the likely business benefits of any proposed IT investment.
l Develop a plan with a budget, deadline and person responsible for each deliverable.
2. Consider Independent Advice.
l Consider paying an expert who is not trying to sell you something, for major IT decisions such as: formulating a strategy; hiring IT staff; designing procedures or selecting key software
3. Address security, reliability and similar issues.
l Address “House keeping” issues before problems strike. These include IT security, data back up, maintenance, compliance with legislation etc. To this end conduct an audit and: -
l Draw up a plan to remedy any weak nesses.
l Develop, communi cate and enforce a written set of rules for all computer users.
l Identify tasks that need to be conducted regularly & assign responsibility for each.
l Companies too small to justify full time IT staff should consider combining a formal external technical support contract with basic technical training for a staff member who also has non-IT responsibilities.
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4. Address the People Issues.
l Consult those likely to be affected by an IT project to gain cooperation and information.
l eBusiness projects affect people outside the company. They should also be consulted.
5. Think Laterally about the Internet.
l Properly used, the Internet can be a powerful sales tool for many.
l Even if Internet sales are not for you, there are many other ways in which the Internet might benefit your business. Examples include: reducing order entry errors; providing round-the-clock technical support; managing and supporting employees who are “on the road”; gathering information from customers etc.
l Think laterally and critically as the right approach varies greatly from business to business.
6. Make the most of what you have.
l Research indicates that most Irish companies could make better use of their existing IT.
l Consider: additional training for those operating your business process software; exploring unused features; the addition of report writing software etc
l The above steps could improve effectiveness and/or obviate the need for IT investment.
7. Beware Bespoke Software.
In the long run, packaged software often proves cheaper and safer than bespoke software.
Finally, much useful mate
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