MIS500 Foundations of Information Systems

MIS500 Foundations of Information Systems

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Introduction

Business is a vast field to grow and build on. Information Technology has made maneuver around various business aspects much easier. Even better, the combination of business and IT has made it easier to do business and improve on various business aspects, while ensuring that IT solutions are provided in a timely manner. In the process, business activities are supported while still being enhanced. For the solutions to be provided, it is required that the needs of the business are identified so that the solutions are tailor-made in this line of thought. This program has been able to create business leaders out of the students with the development of a relationship between technology and business. Business leaders are able to incorporate IT into their daily business so that solutions are provided in the process. The writer will give a good idea about their experience in the Foundations of Information Systems with a detailed description of the learned skills and concepts. Keeping a journal through the trimester has helped note the journey and the important details covered.

Reflective Observation

The Master of Business Information Systems has been an eye opening program. It has exposed to different views of the business realm and the information technology realm, and most of all, the business technology realm. It has been expansive in the ideas and the themes that have popped up throughout. From the effectiveness of data to agile, to analytics, and to business-IT alignment, it has been an educative and practical, in a sense, experience. Not only has knowledge acquired, but interesting concepts have been learned, on top of the acquisition of skills.

A lot of information, both educative and otherwise, has been acquired. During the introductory session, the importance of diversity and interaction popped up. These two themes have been very important during my journey throughout the trimester. Looking at diversity, I got to experience people from different backgrounds and cultures, and I got to familiarize myself with the new surroundings so that I could get to know the best way to blend with people with a slightly different background from mine. I have managed to see the varying thought processes of different people. There is a wealth of knowledge, especially with people from different cultures being stirred in the same pot. I have a learned a lot in the process. There has also been the opportunity of reaching out to various classmates to helps understand their view on a subject. Diversity and interaction stood out most during and after the introduction phase.

Effectiveness of data is another aspect learned during my trimester. After internalizing, data has such a great impact on a business that the absence of data, its mismanagement or ineffective use can only result in a failing business. It is, therefore, important for business leaders to place data at the forefront of any objectives and goals that a business may have. It is the defining aspect between a successful and a failed business. For a business to be successful, it means that the business intelligence specialist should have been recruited first, followed by putting available business data into effective use while still ensuring that the data is well presented. It can then be applied when and where required for effective and efficient results. Otherwise, poor presentation ways can result in data breaches. At this point, I have learned that the security of data cannot be left untouched, which calls for the constant provision of solutions for effectiveness that is timely. Timeliness, as I have noticed, is an important aspect of knowledge management. It is the determinant of a business’ poor or excellent performance.

Further still, I learned that primary activities cannot be brought to completion without the support activities. Understanding this aspect would give business leaders a direction for how to conduct business. Business leaders would need to bring in the idea of forecasting. Forecasting is what keeps businesses moving forward while still ensuring that future decisions of the business are made in a timely manner. This aspect is what keeps businesses afloat and on the route to bringing 5, 10, 20 realizations to pass. However, I learned that a lot of businesses only focus on the activities to be engaged in, on the day, week or month, and this is where their efforts are halted. This is a clear description of the business failure at the onset. Lastly, the business-IT alignment can be likened to a human to human relationship. When effective communication is lacking, then the relationship is bound to suffer, and in this line of thought, the business is bound to suffer and fail. At this point, I can make better decisions regarding the role that IT plays in business, the central role of the personnel as well as seeing the importance of timeliness in business decisions.

Abstract Conceptualization

In a bid to respond to the learning so far, I have acquired new knowledge in the fact that I do not get to appreciate and give enough constructive feedback to others. This means that when practiced, positive and constructive feedback could contribute to a great increase in self-appreciation among people while making sure that life is generally more appreciated. In the same way, such feedback is required to be given to people working under business leaders. It becomes a motivational tactic that helps improve business plus employees’ motivation and desire to acquire results. Looking at the COVID-19 case, it has already had a great impact on the economies around the world, which means business has not been left out. A lot of businesses have shut down as a result. When IT solutions are clearly and effectively applied, then there is a hope in reviving businesses around the world, especially looking at those that have been greatly hit. This would require a tactical response in terms of solutions. A lack of clarity in development of such IT solutions would sink businesses further. This period, despite being dark, shows business leaders the loopholes that can be corrected for the sake of solution provision that works during pandemics and even after the pandemic comes to an end. I have learned that IT solutions come in handy, even when least expected, and the pandemic period is no exception.

Lastly, I have the importance of applying Scrum in business issues. It makes it possible for different professionals to come together and brainstorm on the best ways to solve a problem. This means that the struggle of one professional being expected to come up with a solution is now divided among several professionals, thus cutting down on time and increasing efficiency in the process. This has completely changed my view of business information systems. It makes the field look much easier maneuver as well as easier in solving complex problems. The concept is an encouragement to the business realm.

Active experimentation

In light of the acquired knowledge, skills and concepts, I am planning on applying Scrum to work assignments that may come up as well as ensuring that I implement it in my business in the next one year. At the same time, I will insist on the importance of positive and constructive feedback among employees, whether senior or subordinate. I hope that this will improve the internal interactions, and business interactions with clients. I am looking to have my partners and employees always on their toes in coming up with solutions for endemics and pandemics, as well as economic slumps so that the business is not caught unaware. This will help shield the business against uncalled-for risks. I will need to have my personnel understand the importance of being hands-on when looking at support activities to help ensure that primary activities are of quality, functional and effective in goal realization. People will be placed in departments according to their strengths so that their effectiveness is best brought to light in the various posts. At the same time, I will ensure that data is effectively put into use and presented for effective business running. All these efforts are expected to result in an efficiently and effectively run business, with IT solutions correctly applied and implemented.

Conclusion

In summary, it is important to note that information technology is a significant aspect of business today. A business cannot function in the absence of IT. This calls for a constant need of checking on any technological advancement that is impactful to the business in focus. For a business to be effective, business leaders are expected to make important decisions that are impactful to the business now and in future. This is where forecasting comes in. The technological concepts and skills required in having an effective business keep on changing with technological advancements. Business leaders are expected to equip their personnel with such for the success of their business. The business-IT alignment not only considers the human aspect contributing to the success of a business, but it also considers the effect that information technology has on the progress businesses. At the end of it all, the types of decisions that are made at the leadership level determine the route which the business will take, but given the amount of exposure there is today, businesses are bound to succeed on the basis of knowledge and skills acquired along the way.

Appendix

Date Learning Activity Impact

25/03/20 Self-introduction

Students get to introduce themselves to each other and sharing their backgrounds.

Familiarizing myself with the rest of my classmates and being comfortable around them.

Getting to understand my classmates’ backgrounds for the same of better and more effective interactions.

17/01/20 – 27/01/20 Responsible AI, and effective data use and presentation are significant in business intelligence. They guide the decision on whether or not the business will prosper.

With technology advancement comes advancing ways through which data breaches occur, thus resulting in massive hacks and data breaches.

Threat posing by cyber insecurity even in big companies, resulting in costly expenses and loss of data.

Data enables system operations to be possible, influences business strategies, and ensures effective running of an entity’s operations.

Gaining new information about the difference between http and https, identifying Twitter’s co-founder, and knowing that website cookies are track site activities and visits. Putting data to good use means understanding whether or not a business is headed in the right direction. Business leaders are in turn, tasked with making changes, if any, or carrying on with the same efforts.

Data breaches affect business at its core. If solutions are not provided at each level of technological advancement, greater loss ought to be expected. However, a timely advancement solution provision towards the breaches helps reduce the costs and effects of the breaches. A lot of data is secured as a result.

Business intelligence and operations are ineffective in the absence of data. Data, for the sake of business success, should, therefore, be put into good use and presented in the right manner.

Learning new things regarding the digital world has been effective and seeing their significance in my line of study and work has helped view these things in a more strategic way.

17/01/20 – 12/03/20 Agile approaches are more effective and efficient compared to the traditional approaches, with a greater focus on responding to changes required, in a detailed and involving manner.

Agile means the beliefs that are applied by an individual or organization in effective software development. This is made possible by the developer working with the customer, in light of needed software and responding to changes required.

Knowledge management is an integral part of a business and its success. A lot of knowledge is injected into the business personnel but the right knowledge ought to be fed to the right personnel and at the right time for effectiveness.

Data is the core idea behind business intelligence and operations.

Porter’s value chain brings to reality the dependency between primary and support activities in a business for achievement of objectives and value addition. Effectiveness and efficiency result from the digital solutions provided (owing to careful learning and identification of presenting issues), resulting in a positive response to change.

Effective software development is made possible by the agile concept for effective functioning and results. The development of software requires a foundation, which lies in the agile concept. It acts as the “drive” of the software idea in focus. This foundation requires the developer to consider the customer, the change they need done and the needs to be met. In the absence of the agile concept, therefore, software development is impossible.

Management of knowledge within the business technology real m helps determine whether the business is effective or not. Timing is important for knowledge management to be fruitful.

Businesses remain inexistent as long as data is excluded. Data informs on business strategizing and solution provision.

A business succeeds only when primary and supporting activities work together, since the supporting personnel make it possible to bring the primary to reality.

20/01/20 – 25/03/20 Descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics are significant and effective in the forecasting process. Descriptive analytics describes past experiences, prescriptive analytics describes actions that result from the past experiences while predictive analytics detail future expectations.

SAP is an ERP solution that allows for efficiency and error reduction in cash flow management. ERP II has more functional flexibility compared to ERP I.

Enterprise systems have different aspects, for example, vendors, models and applications; all of which should be taken into consideration for business thriving to be possible.

Data visualization requires business analytics and intelligence for data to make sense and the information cycle to be followed while business intelligence tools are applied. Forecasting requires looking at the past, present and future likelihoods to make a decision on the way forward for a business. Such considerations are the make or break for the business. IT forecasting plays a significant role in this case.

Cash flow management is more effective in the presence of ERP solutions, namely, SAP.

No individual aspect of an enterprise system should be excluded. The aspects ought to be treated in a wholesome manner for effective enterprise systems.

Data visualization is impossible without understanding business intelligence tools, components and language. The reporting spectrum is not left out too. This means that for a business to be effective in its performance, there is need to break it down further so that the individual aspects can then be brought together to make sense of the data.

22/01/20 – 09/04/20 For business – IT alignment to be possible, effective communication is important. The objectives set up for the different parts of the business ought to agree so that the various leaders within the business agree on various ways to bring these objectives to fruition on the basis of effective communication.

Constructive, productive and positive feedback helps build a person’s personal growth and confidence. People either build each other or break each other. The kind of information that is sent out towards people determines how they end up viewing themselves.

Enterprise architecture is detailed in terms of governance, cultural change consideration, the metrics and iterative approaches, models and capabilities, which are all important.

Enterprise architecture, just like any other digital solution, evolves with changing needs.

Enterprise architecture is effective in giving the proprietor of the business the direction in decisions that need to be made surrounding the business through understanding the motivations and behavior in light of enterprise architecture capabilities.

In the same way that a pandemic like COVID-19 affects many aspects of a country’s economic sector, it also affects businesses, and the way they operate, while shedding light on previously applied IT solutions and how they may be affected in the process.

BPMN links every aspect of a business, including the people, business policies, technology, process and information for survival of the business.

There is a greater speed and accuracy that results from the application of BPMN, thus increasing efficiency of the business in its goal realization focus. An alignment between IT and business results from effective communication as the foundation of decision making for a business.

People get to see potential in themselves when feedback given is constructive, positive and productive, which in turn builds their individuality and view of togetherness.

Enterprise architecture ought to be considered in a wholesome manner, with all details put into consideration. It cannot work when governance has been separated from the combination of other aspects. In the same way, enterprise architecture remains ineffective in the absence of cultural change.

There is significance in focus on changing, business needs for effective digital solutions to be provided.

A business functions well with an IT solution that helps meet the business strategies that have been identified.

Businesses feel the pandemic effects of COVID-19. There should be mechanisms in place to restore businesses to their previous or to a better state.

BPMN makes goal and objective realization easier due to centralization of all aspects of a business.

BPMN makes it possible to improve business processes which mean an improvement in results and greater profits.

21/01/20 – 16/04/20 Scrum is an innovative technique that can be applied in solving complex issues in a product, thus allowing for people with different ideas to come together and come up with solutions that can be centralized.

Assertiveness is important when dealing with communicators that cannot be trusted thus preventing hacking.

To safeguard customer data, a business ought to employ IT risk management and security. This will help do away with any ethical, security and privacy concerns that the business might face while trying to meet customer demands. Complex work can be simplified and solved through application of Scrum, therefore, improving business output.

When it comes to digital communication, alertness and assertiveness aid in dealing with potential hacking activities.

For business effectiveness, IT risk management and security has to be employed.

21/01/20 – 23/04/20 There is importance in following up on any updates touching on the business technology realm since one’s wealth of knowledge on the same increases. Wired and CNET are two technology sites that are effective in growth of business technology knowledge.

Business leaders are an important part of a business. Their vision is usually the drive for the business, which means that it is very important that they predict opportunities and challenges that may face the business in the future. This will help guard the business against challenges before they dawn upon it.

Businesses in the IT sector, just like in any other sectors, ought to look at expanding their portfolio so that solutions to various issues and challenges presenting in the IT industry are provided. It is important to look at the level of technological advancement present so that solutions are provided in a timely manner.

As long as businesses have growing needs, it is imperative that information systems continue to develop to help meet these needs, for further development. Knowledge growth in business technology helps expand my mind so that the same information can be used to improve output in the business environment as well as provide expected or better solutions.

Forecasting by business leaders helps with issue solving and prediction so that measures are put in place before the business sinks into debt or further challenges that are difficult to come back from.

The IT sector is a sensitive industry that requires timely solutions so that development is inevitable.

Information systems are impactful to businesses in their functioning, therefore, businesses cannot function right without IS.