Effects of Computers and Technology on Business One major way computers and technology have affected business is through communication. The internet has made sending communication easy, inexpensive, and convenient, even if the recipient is on the other side of the world. People can send messages instantaneously and have conference calls and video chats with people in all areas, eliminating the need for business trips in some cases. It is also easy to send and access data from different areas, saving a great deal of money and time. Data can also be recorded, edited, and evaluated in many different ways, providing a wealth of information to businesses. Companies have new ways to promote and advertise their products; many of these, such as social media, are relatively inexpensive and powerful. Through the ease of the internet, many smaller businesses can now compete with large businesses. Streaming video lets consumers get information immediately, and wireless technology makes it easier and more convenient. Computers and technology have benefited businesses tremendously. Effects of Internet on Traditional Media Industries The internet has impacted traditional media industries in a number of ways. First, many people wish to view their news on the internet as it happens, and many news companies have opened extensive websites that are updated throughout the day as a response. They've had to keep up with the new speed of information. Some of them have found new ways to earn money such as by requiring subscriptions to read online coverage. Many traditional newspapers have seen their readership decrease because of the information available online. They also have to compete with many more sources of information such as social media. Thus, the internet has provided both negatives, such as increased competition, and positives, such as new ways to reach people. Effects of Computer Technology on Society People can connect with each other across societies, cultures, and even oceans. It is easy and inexpensive to communicate with someone across the world with email or video. Some cultures have adopted new things from other cultures as a result. People can also express themselves in new ways. They can use it for art, make blogs, or create social media presences to share their views. Businesses have a much greater market to sell to and can also more easily reach their target markets. It can also be less expensive to reach people through social media and other online options. Social networking in general is much easier. People can keep connected and share information very quickly. If a person or company can cause something to 'go viral,' it will reach many people. Businesses should take advantage of the new opportunities technology has provided. Effects of Computer Technology on Politics Political information can be quickly spread. A news headline does not have to wait for the evening news or tomorrow's newspaper to reach the public. Also, with social media, people can share political information, either positive or negative. They can try to influence their friends. If there is a major happening, it may go 'viral' on social media, spreading the information within a matter of minutes. Political blogs have also popped up all over the Internet, where people can give their political opinions and try to inform (or sway) followers. Many politicians keep websites that they use to promote themselves. Computer technology has opened up a new door for political fundraising. It makes it easy for people to donate, even if it's just a few dollars. Those small contributions add up. The internet has made quite a difference in the world of politics. Information Technology Needs of Businesses Companies should consider all the types of information technology that can help their company. First, they need a good system of data management. They need to maintain data on products, customers, and other business needs in a neat and organized fashion. There also should be a way to analyze the data. There are many programs that can accomplish this. Companies need technology for communications such as email capability. Many businesses do videoconferencing as well. Companies that perform e-commerce will need systems for that. Most large companies have a website, and many sell or promote their products on it. They need to have a system to take the orders efficiently and effectively. Some use technology for production. There are various other technology needs a company may have based on their industry. Steps in Planning Information Technology Companies should follow clear steps to plan their information technology to make sure they obtain the most effective, efficient, and cost-effective system. First, they need to evaluate their technology needs. They need to understand exactly what they need as far as technology in communication, production, accounting, and other functions. They should not just consider what they currently need, but what they might need as they grow. They should spend the time to research the trends in technology. There are always new things coming out in the technological field, and they want to take advantage of everything that is offered. Then they can choose to get ready-made systems or get something personalized. There are many companies that put together customized systems that address all of their needs. The more they plan, the better system they will get. Strategies When Acquiring Information Technologies Companies need to be careful and logical when acquiring information technologies to ensure they receive the right products at the right prices. First, they need to evaluate both their current and future needs. They should consider the products they want and the functions provided. It is important for companies to look at competing products and services, evaluating them for features, quality, and support. They should research the different vendors and what they provide. Businesses will often purchase a great deal of equipment at one time and may get special deals or incentives. Some companies offer a bidding process in which they allow companies to bid for the contract. They will look at what each company offers at the price and choose the one that most aligns with their needs. By taking their time in this process, they will increase the chances of securing the best technology solutions. Obtaining and Evaluating Internet Information Those in business should be careful when obtaining and online evaluating information. There is a great deal of false information. Users should search for reputable websites such as websites of reliable news agencies, websites affiliated with schools, and well-known and trusted websites. Search engines are a powerful tool for finding information. Users should choose their keywords carefully. They may want to make use of quotation marks if searching for a particular phrase or use '+' or '-' if there is a word they want included or excluded from their search results. There are a number of other advanced search features such as a site search. Once a website is reached, users should determine its credibility by factors such as its author (although people will lie about their credentials), who it is affiliated with, if the information is up to date, and whether there are any biases, such as if the person is trying to sell something. They can also confirm the information by checking several websites. Utilization of Internet by Businesses One of the ways businesses use the internet is it to communicate, both with business associates and with their customers. Many of them have an email system that facilitates that. Companies also communicate with their customers in other ways such as through live chat or through social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Many customers prefer to reach customer service online. The internet is also very commonly used for promotion. It can be a very cost-effective way to reach many customers. For instance, many companies try to have a strong social media presence that allows them to reach a lot of people while only spending a small amount of time, effort, and money. The internet can also be used in research. For instance, a company can learn about their competition or perform market research. Of course, many companies actually sell online giving the convenience of anytime shopping from home to their customers. Companies should take advantage of all the internet has to offer. Business Uses of the Web Most companies offer websites, where business partners, clients, and customers can learn about what they offer. Oftentimes, items are sold directly through these websites. Customer service is also offered through websites. This makes it available 24/7. Blogs are also often used to market products or brands. People in companies write regular articles about the company or other subjects to keep people interested in the company. Companies also get email mailing lists so they can send out mass emails to customers. They can also take advantage of social media to promote their companies. Most companies use many of these strategies. Security Threats Due to Use of Technology in Business Technology provides many useful applications for business, but there are also substantial security risks. Online fraud is one common threat, and comes in many forms. Someone might pretend to be someone else and convince an individual or business to share financial information. They may sell a nonexistent or defective item. Identity theft is also very common. Someone will steal a person's personal information and make purchases using his or her credit. A major threat for companies is getting their personal or business information hacked. Several major issues have arisen when customers' credit card information was stolen from major store chains. These numbers were then utilized in identity theft. There are a number of ways companies can lower this risk through the use of firewalls and other security measures, but they will always exist to some extent. Issues Regarding Privacy and Online Marketing There are many issues surrounding privacy and online marketing. Marketers use cookies to collect information about people without their knowledge. Many people do not realize how much information marketers have on them; information that is then sold and shared with others. Everything that someone enters into a website or social media site could be saved, shared, and used. There is also a great deal of spam that is sent to people, including mass unsolicited emails that fill up email inboxes. Sometimes these are scams and do not represent real opportunities or offers. It can be hard to distinguish between ethical and unethical marketing practices and people need to protect themselves as best they can by being careful with what they share and reading the privacy policies of companies. Legal Issues Regarding Intellectual Property with Use of Technology Intellectual property refers to intangible things people have created with their minds. This includes written copy, artwork, phrases, designs, symbols, logos, and more. Protection comes in many forms, including copyrights, patents, and trademarks. With technology in business, these items may become less secure. For instance, an art company may put protected art on their website and then others may copy that artwork. Some companies may use copyrighted material (purposely or inadvertently) on websites such as a song by a famous singer. The laws protecting their use cover a range based on the type of property and other details, but there have been many court cases over improper use of protected material online. It can be more difficult for a company to protect its material if it is being sent to the entire internet because it is easy to copy others' materials. These court cases will continue to define the laws. Use of Technology in Production Systems Robotics are often utilized to piece together products or perform other production duties. They may move quicker or be more precise than humans. Computer-aided design lets people utilize computers when creating or modifying designs. They may use it to optimize a design or evaluate it. For instance, it may be used to create electronics. It can provide a great deal of information and different views of the design. Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of computers to control the devices that manufacture workpieces. It seeks to accelerate the production process with improved material consistency and more accurate dimensions. Benefits and Drawbacks One benefit of utilizing technology with production systems is the cost savings. Companies may be able to save a lot of money in the long run by having computerized systems and lowering the need for paid employees. It can also make production more efficient and save time. The computerized system may be able to produce many more items at a quicker rate. It may also do a better job at making the items exactly as the company desires and exactly the same, helping with quality control. One drawback of a computerized production system is that there can be a high initial cost for the initial system. Although cost savings may be realized later, it can take a large output to get it set up. The system may allow for less flexibility than if people were doing it. Also, if there is a problem, it can stop the entire line. Some companies are resistant to making changes, and technology could result in job losses. Social and Economic Impact
As companies use technology, they become more efficient and can save money, becoming more competitive. This can have a positive effect on an economy because the company will have an advantage over other companies and produce positive change. In some areas, however, this increased technology can mean a loss of jobs, which can be negative for the economy. When technology has allowed business to become more efficient, society can benefit. For instance, if it is less expensive to make products like cars, then more people can enjoy them. As technology improvements make production cheaper, more people will be able to enjoy these products. Educating Employees in Computers and Technology Many businesses require employees to be educated in computers and technology. It is important to have efficient and effective procedures for doing so. First, employees should be evaluated for their current skills. Some employees may need little or no training, while others will need significant training. The students may be placed into groups based on abilities. Training sessions should be planned in advance so employees can learn before they are expected to perform the activities. Sometimes training will be on the job by another employee. Other times the business will get a computer program that will train new employees or it might be done through live lectures or a video. Students should be evaluated after the training to ensure that it was effective. Training should be ongoing as necessary. Tailoring Training to Meet Needs Technology training is not one size fits all. Businesses need to tailor training to the needs of their business. For instance, training just a few employees is very different than training a large group of employees. A business that has just a few employees to train might have one employee train another. If a big group needs to be trained, however, then it may invest in customized computer training or videos that can handle a lot of people. Also, companies need to evaluate the employees before training because the training will very much depend on how skilled they already are. They may invest in computer training that can be tailored to the level the person is at. Companies should not waste time and resources training employees on knowledge they already have. These employees may be trained more in the specifics of the job than common computer knowledge. Evaluating Employees on Computer Knowledge Before and After Training It is important for a company to ensure that its computer training program is effective by evaluating employees both before and after training. There are various methods to accomplish this. Many computer-based training programs come with a pre-training and post-training evaluation. The employee will take a test on the computer that will evaluate his or her computer competency. This might be in general computer use, in something specific to the job position, or both. Sometimes it is a simulation of the job the employee will be performing. After the training, the employee will receive the same or a similar test to ascertain whether the training was effective. This test could also be given on paper. Another way to evaluate an employee is to have the employee try to do computer functions in front of someone knowledgeable. The person can evaluate the employee on his or her computer skills before and after training. Developing and Implementing Technological Support for Employees A company must determine its needs, which will largely be determined by the complexity of computer systems as well as the size of the company. Many larger companies have an information technology (IT) department, which is responsible for making sure the technology is running smoothly and provides a contact point for employees who are having difficulty. Some companies that are smaller may instead contract with another company that can provide IT support. Of course, one can sometimes contact the vendor of the computer product. Some very small companies may have employees who are not specifically assigned to IT, but who are computer literate and help with problems. Companies may also provide support on websites. They may provide a list of common complaints, for instance, or provide other information. Many companies combine various forms of IT support.
Join 4M+ learners. Unlock unlimited quizzes, wrong-answer tracking, flashcards + reminders, study guides, and 1-on-1 challenges.