CHAPTER 1: The Modern Organization in the
Global, Web-Based Environment
Chapter Overview
1.1 Business Processes and Business Process Management
1.2 Information Systems: Concepts and Definitions
1.3 The Global Web-Based Platform
1.4 Business Pressures, Organizational Responses, and It Support
1.5 Why are Information Systems Important to Me?
1.6 The Plan of the Book
Teaching Tips and Strategies
It is necessary for students to learn the basic terms that define the foundation of
Management Information Systems but students will often find this task boring or
uneventful. Students often fail to see the importance of Management Information Systems
(MIS) and how it relates to them. In order to involve students in the class, it is vital to let
them know what is in it for them. This should be done early to engage the students from the
beginning. You may want to find out each student’s major course of study and show them
how MIS knowledge can enhance their major and their chosen careers. Knowing each
student’s major and career goals will help you tailor examples, classroom assignments and
discussion to the interests of the students. Point out the end of the chapter “What’s In It For
Me” section so that students know there are links to each major for each chapter.
Explaining how MIS has affected businesses as well as workers alike helps to get students
interested in this class. It helps students to understand the importance when they are told
stories of how computers have evolved and how MIS and DSS applications have made
management decision making easier and more reliable.
,The importance of computer technology is underscored by examples of how companies
save money by using email as another option to the postal service. Students should be
introduced to the concept that IT must be paired with business processes to harness IT’s
potential. IT is important to business leaders all over the world. There are salary statistics
for all majors (you can get this information from USA Today’s website www.usatoday.com).
Salary information gets student’s attention, especially if they realize that if they are more
technology savvy they will tend to make more money. This really seems to get their
interest.
Review Questions
Section 1.1 – Before you go on…
1. What is a business process?
A business process is a collection of related activities that produce a product or a service
of value to the organization, its business partners, and/or its customers. A process has
inputs and outputs, and its activities can be measured.
2. What is business process management, and why is BPM so important to organizations?
Organizations use business process management (BPM) to support the design, analysis,
implementation, management, and optimization of their business processes. Short
term, BPM can help companies improve profitability by decreasing costs, improve
customer satisfaction and increasing revenues. Long time, BPM can create a
competitive advantage by improving organizational flexibility.
Section 1.3 - Before you go on…
1. What are the characteristics of the modern business environment?
, The environment is global, massively interconnected, intensely competitive,
24/7/365, real-time, rapidly changing, and information-intensive.
2. Describe the Web-based, global platform.
This platform spans the world and is best represented by the Internet and the
functionality of the World Wide Web. It enables individuals to connect, compute,
communicate, collaborate, and compete everywhere, anytime and to access limitless
information, services and entertainment. It allows for the exchange of knowledge,
and production and sale of goods and services without concern for geography, time,
distance or language barriers.
3. Describe the global, Web-based platform used by modern organizations.
The global, Web-based platform that most organizations use spans the world and is
based on the Internet and the World Wide Web. By connecting to the internet, any
user can use this platform. The platform enables individuals to connect, compute,
communicate, collaborate, and compete from everywhere and anywhere, anytime
and all the time; to access limitless amounts of information, services, and
entertainment; to exchange knowledge; and to produce and sell goods and services.
It operates without regard to geography, time, distance, and even language barriers.
Section 1.4 – Before you go on…
1. Describe some of the pressures that characterize the modern global business
environment.
Pressures are generated by the
global economy and strong competition facilitated by the global, Web-based
platform
the changing nature of the workforce which is becoming more diversified,
and able to work from home
, powerful customers whose expectations increase as the become more
knowledgeable about products and services
technology innovations, and in some cases, overload
societal issues
2. What are some of the organizational responses to these pressures? Are any of the
responses specific to a particular pressure? If so, which ones?
Some responses are:
Strategic systems
Customer focus
Make to order and Mass customization
E-business
Yes, some of the responses are related to specific pressures.
Strategic systems are directly related to global economy and strong competition and
the changing nature of the workforce. Customer focus and make to order/mass
customization are specific to pressure from powerful customers.
Section 1.5 – Before you go on…
1. What are the major reasons why it is important for employees in all functional areas
to become familiar with IT?
Information systems are important for several reasons, regardless of the employee’s
functional area of responsibility. (1) IT facilitates the organizational activities and
processes of today’s businesses. (2) Most jobs students will go to after graduating
will require some knowledge of information technology. (3) Employees’ that are
able to use information technology will be able to give themselves an important
Global, Web-Based Environment
Chapter Overview
1.1 Business Processes and Business Process Management
1.2 Information Systems: Concepts and Definitions
1.3 The Global Web-Based Platform
1.4 Business Pressures, Organizational Responses, and It Support
1.5 Why are Information Systems Important to Me?
1.6 The Plan of the Book
Teaching Tips and Strategies
It is necessary for students to learn the basic terms that define the foundation of
Management Information Systems but students will often find this task boring or
uneventful. Students often fail to see the importance of Management Information Systems
(MIS) and how it relates to them. In order to involve students in the class, it is vital to let
them know what is in it for them. This should be done early to engage the students from the
beginning. You may want to find out each student’s major course of study and show them
how MIS knowledge can enhance their major and their chosen careers. Knowing each
student’s major and career goals will help you tailor examples, classroom assignments and
discussion to the interests of the students. Point out the end of the chapter “What’s In It For
Me” section so that students know there are links to each major for each chapter.
Explaining how MIS has affected businesses as well as workers alike helps to get students
interested in this class. It helps students to understand the importance when they are told
stories of how computers have evolved and how MIS and DSS applications have made
management decision making easier and more reliable.
,The importance of computer technology is underscored by examples of how companies
save money by using email as another option to the postal service. Students should be
introduced to the concept that IT must be paired with business processes to harness IT’s
potential. IT is important to business leaders all over the world. There are salary statistics
for all majors (you can get this information from USA Today’s website www.usatoday.com).
Salary information gets student’s attention, especially if they realize that if they are more
technology savvy they will tend to make more money. This really seems to get their
interest.
Review Questions
Section 1.1 – Before you go on…
1. What is a business process?
A business process is a collection of related activities that produce a product or a service
of value to the organization, its business partners, and/or its customers. A process has
inputs and outputs, and its activities can be measured.
2. What is business process management, and why is BPM so important to organizations?
Organizations use business process management (BPM) to support the design, analysis,
implementation, management, and optimization of their business processes. Short
term, BPM can help companies improve profitability by decreasing costs, improve
customer satisfaction and increasing revenues. Long time, BPM can create a
competitive advantage by improving organizational flexibility.
Section 1.3 - Before you go on…
1. What are the characteristics of the modern business environment?
, The environment is global, massively interconnected, intensely competitive,
24/7/365, real-time, rapidly changing, and information-intensive.
2. Describe the Web-based, global platform.
This platform spans the world and is best represented by the Internet and the
functionality of the World Wide Web. It enables individuals to connect, compute,
communicate, collaborate, and compete everywhere, anytime and to access limitless
information, services and entertainment. It allows for the exchange of knowledge,
and production and sale of goods and services without concern for geography, time,
distance or language barriers.
3. Describe the global, Web-based platform used by modern organizations.
The global, Web-based platform that most organizations use spans the world and is
based on the Internet and the World Wide Web. By connecting to the internet, any
user can use this platform. The platform enables individuals to connect, compute,
communicate, collaborate, and compete from everywhere and anywhere, anytime
and all the time; to access limitless amounts of information, services, and
entertainment; to exchange knowledge; and to produce and sell goods and services.
It operates without regard to geography, time, distance, and even language barriers.
Section 1.4 – Before you go on…
1. Describe some of the pressures that characterize the modern global business
environment.
Pressures are generated by the
global economy and strong competition facilitated by the global, Web-based
platform
the changing nature of the workforce which is becoming more diversified,
and able to work from home
, powerful customers whose expectations increase as the become more
knowledgeable about products and services
technology innovations, and in some cases, overload
societal issues
2. What are some of the organizational responses to these pressures? Are any of the
responses specific to a particular pressure? If so, which ones?
Some responses are:
Strategic systems
Customer focus
Make to order and Mass customization
E-business
Yes, some of the responses are related to specific pressures.
Strategic systems are directly related to global economy and strong competition and
the changing nature of the workforce. Customer focus and make to order/mass
customization are specific to pressure from powerful customers.
Section 1.5 – Before you go on…
1. What are the major reasons why it is important for employees in all functional areas
to become familiar with IT?
Information systems are important for several reasons, regardless of the employee’s
functional area of responsibility. (1) IT facilitates the organizational activities and
processes of today’s businesses. (2) Most jobs students will go to after graduating
will require some knowledge of information technology. (3) Employees’ that are
able to use information technology will be able to give themselves an important
