The characteristics of modern business environments is that it involves many entities and subsidiaries that have daily interconnected exchanges between customers, businesses and governments. For this to exchange to function as it does today, many sources, equipment and materials of communications are used to connect businesses, customers and entities. A key part of this is the Information Technology systems that companies use to communicate with one another. For example, computers, the internet, mobile phones etc. are examples of communication devices that a modern company would see as a necessity. As seen in the picture below, computers and IT systems are the modern day work horse of the business world.
http://www.florisbank.co.uk/images/London_Stock_Exchange.jpgQ2. What is meant by a web-based, global platform, what does it provide, and how has it affected business?
A web-based, global platform refers to the Internet and world wide web that connects a vast global community. The web-based, global platform enables businesses and customers to interact and communicate at a comparatively in-expensive and convenient way. It has enabled efficiency, within businesses, in terms of communication and has reduced barriers between countries and continents.
Q3. What are the main pressures that characterize the modern global business environment?
The main pressures that characterize the business environment of today are governmental bodies, resources, production costs and social pressures. Currently as the world becomes more globalize and businesses begin to move marketing and production to new frontiers and countries, global governing bodies pressure clarity and disclosure of businesses. As companies sometime breach ethical boundaries it is important that global businesses communicate certain amounts of its operating procedures so the global community can judge if the practices of the business meets ethical standards. Resources are also another pressure mounting upon businesses. The more cost efficient the resources are cheaper the final product is, and thus the more competitive your product is. Efficient resources are complied from connections between various businesses across the globe. Therefore a good communication channels between businesses are essential.
Q4. What are/discuss some of the common, IT oriented organizational responses to these pressures?
Pressure for clarity in the business's operations is an external pressure from government agencies and shareholders that the company interacts with. A response to this pressure of disclosure, companies display income statements on the company websites to provide assistance for shareholders of the company and for investment agencies.
Intercommunication between business and business-to-business marketing still relies mainly on a face-to-face contact, however as marketing becomes more and more depended on IT, organizations are starting to interact and market with more technological and web-based solutions. Online markets make it easier for businesses to find the best deals on resources and improve efficiency in time management.
Q5. How are IT architecture and IT infrastructure are interrelated.
Just as a building is first planned and designed then built, so must the IT systems in a large business be planned and built. The architecture of a building is the design and the plan of the building and the infrastructure of the building is the physical structure of the building. Similarly the architecture is the general plan on the purpose of the IT system in particular how it will be used by the company. The IT infrastructure is the implements of the IT system. The physical components of the IT like hardware, monitors, projectors, desktops, notebooks, internet connection etc. are selected to meet the IT architecture or original plan of the business. More importantly the software on the computer systems are a key component that generally reflects the architecture of the system. For example, a design firm will require a computer with high power graphics, high RAM and large memory and would include software packages such as Adobe creative suite and vector works. An accounting firm on the other hand would require the basic computer functions but will need applications such as MYOB and windows excel.
Q6. Is the Internet an infrastructure, an architecture, or an application program? or something else. Why?
The internet is not a infrastructure, architecture or an application but something else. It is a global network of computers connected to form a community. It does not belong to a single entity and is seen as a public good. The internet exist outside telecommunication companies and is not controlled by a single individual. The internet is not a physical equipment but needs physical machines to run. The internet is also not planned and is not really catered for a specific purpose. That is why the internet is not categorized as an infrastructure, architecture or application. The picture below shows various routes a computer can go in a portion of the internet.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Internet_map_1024.jpg/300px-Internet_map_1024.jpg
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