The importance of information systems in organisations

You have been engaged as a consultant by a UK based company wishing to significantly improve the performance of the business. This will involve the introduction of a new Business Information System (or systems) and improvements to old systems. Write a report to the CEO which: i) explains the importance of information systems for a business ii) describes how a new information system might be planned iii) describes how a new information system might be implemented iv) analyses the benefits and challenges that could be brought by the internet The report should analyse how the system or systems considered could improve the performance of the company involved. The report should include the following sections: 1. Introduction 2. The importance of information systems. 3. The planning of an Information System 4. The implementation of an Information System 5. The benefits and challenges that could be brought by the Internet 6. Conclusions 7. Recommendations 8. References 9. Bibliography 10. Appendices (optional) Notes: The structure of your report should be guided by the sections listed above. You are strongly advised to use sections 1 to 10 as headings in your report as these map to the assessment criteria. Introduction In the introduction you should briefly describe the business employing you. You should cover the type of business, size (turnover, number of employees etc.) and geographical location(s). You should also describe briefly the strategic aims of the business e.g. what if any, are the plans for expansion. You could base this on a fictitious organisation or on an organisation which actually exists, but without disclosing its name. The importance of information systems. Here you should explain why information systems are needed using examples from the organisation introduced above. You should further explain why different levels of management in an organisation have different information requirements and briefly describe the types of information systems used to provide information at the different organisational levels. The planning of an Information System In this section of the report you should consider different methods and techniques which could be used in the planning of information systems especially systems that address the strategic needs of the specific organisation you are using for the assignment. The implementation of an Information System Here you should cover the acquisition and implementation of Information Systems within the organisation under study. This section should include the ways in which a system could be acquired and once this has been decided the ways in which it could be introduced. The benefits and challenges that could be brought by the Internet You should briefly explain what the Internet is and distinguish it from the worldwide web and other methods for publishing on the Internet. Explain how the Internet could be (or is) used by the UK company in question to improve its performance and draw attention to any problems which could arise. Conclusions Here, you should briefly summarise your findings. You could suggest areas for further development or investigation if you feel that this is appropriate. Your conclusions should flow naturally from your findings and analysis. Recommendations This section can be used to suggest preferred options for example where different methods of achieving a goal have been identified in the findings. References Use Harvard referencing for any sources cited in the report. Bibliography Use Harvard referencing to record any sources used but not cited in the report. Appendices This is an optional section; you do not need to include appendices. If you do include appendices, you must make reference to them in the main body of the report. Feel free to use diagrams and tables within the text if these are appropriate (but only if appropriate). Include some explanation of any illustrations used. Where references are cited within the text, include some narrative to explain the significance of the reference, i.e. do not merely include a citation.