Computers and Business

Computers in Business

? Supercomputers
? Mainframes
? Minicomputers
? Networks
? 1981 - IBM PC; indispensable desktop tools



Topics
? International business
? Industrial development
? Retail
? Banking and Finance
? Stock market
? Manufacturing

? Advertising
? Marketing
? Job force
? Telework
? Employee monitoring



Retail
? Kiosks
? Point-of-sale terminals
? UPC
? Debit cards
? Social computing
? Electronic data interchange



Banking and Finance
? Cashless society
? Phone transfers
? ATM
? Debit card
? E-cash
? On-line sales and banking


Stock Market
? Share tracking
? Wireless transactions on trading floor
? Online trading


Manufacturing
? Robotics
? Multimedia
? Computer aided design/manufacturing
? Just-in-time manufacturing
? Virtual reality


Advertising and Marketing
? Television
? Radio
? Print
? Internet


Goals of Technology
? Increase productivity
? Reduce resources needed to complete tasks
? Improve standard of living
? Improve efficiency
? Increase reliability


Usual Result of Technological Advances
? Cost of product goes down
? Market expands
? Jobs are created
? new types
? more workers of each type


Society and Changing Technology
? Higher standard of living
? Better services
? Better goods
? Potential for higher incomes
? Production of goods is more knowledge based


Changing Nature of Work
? Elimination of jobs
? Creation of jobs
? Reduced work hours
? More leisure
? Increased need for training


Computer vs Other Technologies
? Eliminate wider variety of jobs
? Eliminate more high skilled jobs
? Pace of improvement in speed and capacity is much faster
? Continual retraining


Job Creation
? Programmers
? Computer repair people
? Trainers
? Cable - guy
? Network guy
? Telemarketers.....


Income and Productivity?
? Hourly wages dropped
? Work less to do same thing
? Productivity increases
? Efficiency increases

? Lower wages? Increase business? Lower costs?


Jobs of the Future
? Knowledge of some type of computer technolgy
? Fewer jobs for people with lower skills and education
? Pay level	
? high - highly skilled
? low - no skill
? Make transition to new technolgy


Lifetime of Learning
? Necessary to succeed?


Computers and Job Hunting
? Fastest growing occupations through 2006
? computer scientists
? computer engineers
? systems analysts
? network specialists


Growth in Employment
? Data entry personnel
? Computer operators
? Computer technicians
? Systems analysts
? Programmers
? Database administrators


Finding that Job
? Job-search service on Internet
? Regional info
? Advise
? Interview help
? Resume help


Telework
? Work away from normal office
? Utilize
? Email
? FTP
? Video conferencing


Benefits to company
? Reduced overhead
? Skill retention
? Increased productivity
? Reduced absenteeism
? Improved morale


Benefits to Employees
? No commute time/costs
? Reduced clothing costs
? Reduced child care costs
? Greater freedom
? Decreased distractions
? Flexible location


Benefits to Everyone
? Reduction of traffic
? Reduction of costs of transportation infrastructure
? Reduction of environmental damage


Telework Job Attributes
? Large degree of autonomy
? Intrinsically satisfying
? Routine communications
? Agreed job specs and time tables
? Involve travel
? Require quiet time to think


Problems
? Isolation
? No direction from supervisor
? Low morale
? Work too little or too much
? Reduced opportunities for advancement
? Reduction in important inter-office communication


Changing Business Structures
? Trend towards smaller businesses and independent consultants
? Company loyalty and identification decreases
? Decreased need for middle management due to better tools


Employee Monitoring
? Creation of new ways to monitor
? Old ways are more efficient


Employee Monitoring Methods
? Electronic - details of performance (keystrokes, time spent)
? Physical surveillance
? Costomer service telephone work
? Access to info (ie files, email)


Health Issues
? Radiation
? Wrist problems
? Repetitive Strain Injury
? Blurred vision


Responses to Health Issues
? Ergonometric solutions
? Role of management in supervision
? Legal issues - lawsuits


E-Commerce
? Major model alteration of provision of goods and services
? Customer driven and controlled
? Aimed at cutting costs
? Improved quality of goods and services
? Increased speed of service delivery


New Methodology to..
? Address the needs of organizations
? Identify requirements if merchants
? Elevate the desires of customers


Buying and Selling
? Information
? Products
? Services


Applications
? Communications on demand
? Remote banking
? Procurement and purchasing
? Online marketing and advertising
? Expanded home shopping


Common Business Services
? Security
? Authentication
? Electronic payments
? Online directories
? Online catalogs


Message and Information Exchange
? Email
? Electronic data interchange
? Electronic funds transfer
? Transaction capture
? Delivery tracking


Pillars of E-Commerce Support
? Universal Access
? Public Policy
? Legal Issues
? Privacy Issues
? Technical Standards