INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In this lesson, you will learn:

Understand the foundational components of Information Technology: data processing, decision

support, and business software.
Identify key IT roles like Computer Systems Analyst and Cloud Specialist.
Recognize major IT challenges including data overload and security concerns.
Learn how IT enhances business operations, decision-making, and customer support.

What Is Information Technology?

A 1958 article in Harvard Business Review referred to information technology as

consisting of three basic parts: computational data processing, decision support, and
business software. This time period marked the beginning of IT as an officially defined area of
business; in fact, this article probably coined the term.

Over the ensuing decades, many corporations created so-called "IT departments" to manage the
computer technologies related to their business. Whatever these departments worked on became the
de facto definition of Information Technology, one that has evolved over time. Today, IT
departments have responsibilities in areas like computer tech support, business computer
network and database administration, business software deployment, and information
security.

Popular Positions in Information Technology

Computer Systems Analyst

In this position, analysts design and develop computer systems and are an expert at every facet of
hardware, software, and networks. Analysts also evaluate the systems and research the industry for
better products to enhance their existing system.

Cloud Specialist

Cloud specialists organize and give configuration to the information infrastructure in the sky. Because
this is still an emerging technology, these architects are highly sought after and one of the top-paying
professions in the industry.

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 Computer Forensic Investigator

These investigators are computer crime detectives that search for, identify, and evaluate information
from computer systems.

Health IT Specialist

Health IT is booming, especially with the Affordable Care Act coming on and the transition from paper
to electronic health records. Health IT specialists will mix computer knowledge with record-
keeping skills, medical coding, and billing.

Database Administrator

Database administrators create, upgrade, and test for databases.

Web Developer

Web developers are in high demand because they have a great understanding of what makes a good
operating system. They create web pages, web applications, and web content with their
knowledge of what the average surfer finds visually stimulating and how to optimize sites for mobile
tech, among numerous other skills.

IT Manager

These managers are the contact pros when your email won’t send or Microsoft Word doesn’t open. As
the head of the IT department, they ensure that a company’s network is operating smoothly and
that dangerous threats like malware are minimized.

Information Technology Vendor Manager

Slightly more hands-off compared to some tech positions, vendor managers oversee supply when it
comes to software and hardware. This can mean anything from Microsoft’s latest word processor to
health IT programs for hospitals.

Computer Systems Administrator

The expertise of network and computer systems administrators is essential to every office. Aside from
maintaining a healthy computer network, they also lend their tech knowledge to managing
telecommunication networks. This profession is expected to add 96,600 new positions by 2020.

Mobile Application Developer

Because of our highly mobile lifestyle, mobile application developers are and will be in high demand
for years to come, especially as mobile devices and technology become increasingly sophisticated.

Issues and Challenges in Information Technology

As computing systems and capabilities continue expanding worldwide, "data overload" has
become an increasingly critical issue for many IT professionals. Efficiently processing huge
amounts of data to produce useful business intelligence requires large amounts of processing
power, sophisticated software, and human analytic skills.
Teamwork and communication skills have also become essential for most businesses to

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 manage the complexity of IT systems.
Many IT professionals are responsible for providing service to business users who are not
trained in computer networking or other information technologies but who are instead
interested in simply using IT as a tool to get their work done efficiently.
System and network security issues are a primary concern for many business executives, as
any security incident can potentially damage a company's reputation and cost large sums of
money.

Information Technology has given Businesses the tools to solve Complex Problems.

Improved hardware (more memory, faster processors, sharper visual displays, etc.) combined with
smarter applications (Mind Mapping software like X Mind, collaborative software like Kanban boards,
organizers like Google calendar, etc.) have made it easier to research data, analyze it, and plan
scalability. Many tools are available to solve complex problems.

Information Technology allows Businesses to make Better Decisions.

Good decisions in business are based on solid market research. This can be done through engaging
teams through video conferences, reviewing public sentiment on social media etc. There are also
tools like Microsoft CRM Dynamics and Google Analytics.

Information Technology has Improved Marketing.

Internet marketing using online advertising methods (SEO, PPC, and Facebook Ads) are far more
accurate ways than traditional marketing of finding target audiences, discovering their needs, and
building a marketing campaign to persuade them to buy. It’s difficult to see how many people read a
newspaper ad. It’s easy to figure out how many people clicked on an online banner.

Information Technology has Improved Customer Support.

Customers can receive support from multiple channels: telephone, emails, social media platforms,
webinars, and so on. Additionally, customer relationship management systems help businesses
understand customer behavior.

Information Technology has Improved Resource Management.

Cloud computing allows a company’s employees to use any device anywhere in the world to access
their enterprise-level software.

Advantages of Information Technology in Business

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 Storing and Protecting Information

Storage systems, such as vaults, can help keep information safe by only allowing certain users within
your company to access, withdraw, add or change the documents and protect a company's valuable
records .

Working Away

It allows one to work from home or anywhere. From this, it will help in increasing productivity even if
physical work has been done in the office.

Automated Processes

Each organization finds ways to do more work in a short amount of time. Therefore, the efficiency of
information technology by developing automated processes to take the burden off your staff.

Communication

In the business world, communication plays an important role in maintaining the relationship between
employees, suppliers, and customers. Therefore, with the use of IT, we can simplify the way to
communicate through email, video chat rooms, or social networking sites.

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