Description
Communication technology is one of the most important aspects of information technology for the people around the world. It has changed human life by making it easier for us to communicate with each other, which makes the world seem like a small village.
Information Technology in the Business World: Its Advantages and Disadvantages
Communication technology is one of the most important aspects of information technology
for the people around the world. It has changed human life by making it easier for us to
communicate with each other, which makes the world seem like a small village. People now
communicate with each other in different ways in comparison to the past. As a result,
businesses have also changed and developed using communication technology. Companies
using this technology experience both benefits and disadvantages. The discussion will be
limited to this area. One of the advantages is that the Internet can help companies to
communicate effectively with clients. In addition, companies can use communication
technology to build good relationships with their customers. Now, most companies use a
website to market their products and services and provide information about their business.
Moreover, most companies use virtual communication to provide or exchange information.
Conversely, communication technologies have many disadvantages. The first common
disadvantage experienced in companies is that employees sometimes use company computers
for dubious purposes. In addition, using the Internet in the workplace for an extended period
could affect the health of employees. Further, mobile phones are not secure because of digital
criminals.
The Internet helps companies to communicate effectively with their customers. It helps
companies to save time and money by completing work online, such as online business deals
and advertising their products. Research shows that companies who use the Internet develop
faster than others do. In addition, many clients use the Internet to read about companies’
products or services. According to Vallee (2002, p. 109), ‘the whole world has access to your
products, in proportion to the access people have individually to the Internet’. The Internet is
very useful for companies and helps to them to communicate with their clients.
The Internet can help companies to build good relationships with their customers. This can be
achieved by sending emails to advertise new products so the customer believes that the
company is interested in him or her and this will strengthen the interaction between them.
Most customers prefer to deal with companies that give them attention. Kleindl (2002, p. 15)
explains that ‘businesses must learn to gain customers trust’. Thus, it can be concluded that
companies can develop trusting relationships with customers by using the Internet.
Due to the evolution of information technology, most companies design a website to display
company information, products and services. They encourage customers to visit their website
to find information about new products or services and to provide a general idea about how
the company works. Most of these websites allow customers to buy company products so the
customer will save the time by ordering the products directly from the company. According
to Vallee (1999, p. 74), ‘the websites of most large businesses merely offer general
information and job ads, with little else’. Overall, having a company website can be very
useful.
Most large international companies find virtual communication to be very useful. They can
use it to hold a virtual conference between companies in different countries at any time. Most
companies find virtual communication helpful because it saves money and time. For
example, companies who want to discuss a business deal would normally have to set a time
and place to meet, but with a virtual communication, this is not necessary. Hurwitz (2009)
considers that ‘the reality is you can get away with a lot more in person than you can in a
virtual meeting. In an in-person meeting there is enough going on and enough possibilities of
interaction that it works’. Therefore, virtual conferencing is useful for companies and
businesses.
Despite the many advantages of information technology for businesses, there are also several
significant disadvantages. The uncontrolled usage of computers in workplaces has many
disadvantages that impede the progress of work. Many employees use companies’ computers
for dubious purposes. In addition, they may surf the Internet during office hours. Therefore,
employees may not perform the work required of them in the limited time available. Caplan
(2006, p. 64) explains that ‘cyber loafing and personal web use may inhibit productivity’. The
use of a computer in the workplace sometimes leads to a downturn in employee performance
and productivity.
Using the Internet in the workplace for long periods could affect workers’ health. It is a
common problem among companies that employees use the Internet for a long time. Many of
them suffer from different health and neurological problems caused by the Internet, such as
problems with posture and tension, difficulty in breathing, problems in blood circulation and
decreased eye health. In addition, if an employee develops one of these problems he or she
will be less productive (Mcdowell 2001). According to Mcdowell (2001), ‘those of us who sit
at computer screens for long periods every day are already in danger of unsettling our health
if this sort of activity is not balanced by a whole lot of contrasting activity. An addict is one
who will concentrate their mind and body around one sort of activity to the exclusion of
almost all others.’ Overall, employees who sit in front of the computer screen for long
periods could suffer adverse effects to their health.
Unsecure mobile phones have become a common problem for employees due to digital
criminals. They target employees’ mobile phones by using newly developed programs. These
programs can bypass mobile phone security to steal important information and tamper with
the contents of the phone. Moreover, these digital criminals can send the data to their
computers or to other mobile phones. According to Dibben (2009, p. 27), ‘if they responded,
the criminals could then access phone users personal data and send it elsewhere’. Thus,
hackers attack workers’ mobile phones using new software to take important information.
This essay has argued that information technology has brought both advantages and
disadvantages to businesses. Companies can communicate effectively with their customers
using the Internet. Companies now try to build good relationships with their customers by
using the Internet. Moreover, companies now design a website to attract people’s attention
and sell their products or services. Virtual communication is one of the most important things
in the business arena today. Conversely, using information technology in business also has
disadvantages that impede work and progress. For instance, employees use company
computers for personal interests during working hours. Moreover, using the Internet for long
periods could cause health problems. Further, mobile phones could be attacked by
professional criminals.
References
Caplan, S E 2006, ‘Problematic Internet use in the Workplace’, in M Anadarajan, T S H Teo
& C A Simmers (eds), The Internet and Workplace Transformation, Armonk, New York,
viewed 26 August 2009,http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unisouthernqld/Doc?id=10178079&ppg=1
Dibben, K 2009, ‘Hi-tech Crime: Phones hit by Virus’, The Sunday Mail, 28 June, p. 27.
Kleindl, B A 2002, Strategic Electronic Marketing: Managing E-business, 2nd edn, Thomson
South-Western, Cleveland.
Vallee, D 1999, Leading your Business into the future with the Internet, St. Lucie Press, Boca
Raton.
Hurwitz, J 2009,http://jshurwitz.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/whats-the-future-of-the-virtual-conference/
Mcdowell, R 2001,http://www.shvoong.com/medicine-and-health/1623667-bad-effects-health-work-long/
doc_955882436.pdf
Communication technology is one of the most important aspects of information technology for the people around the world. It has changed human life by making it easier for us to communicate with each other, which makes the world seem like a small village.
Information Technology in the Business World: Its Advantages and Disadvantages
Communication technology is one of the most important aspects of information technology
for the people around the world. It has changed human life by making it easier for us to
communicate with each other, which makes the world seem like a small village. People now
communicate with each other in different ways in comparison to the past. As a result,
businesses have also changed and developed using communication technology. Companies
using this technology experience both benefits and disadvantages. The discussion will be
limited to this area. One of the advantages is that the Internet can help companies to
communicate effectively with clients. In addition, companies can use communication
technology to build good relationships with their customers. Now, most companies use a
website to market their products and services and provide information about their business.
Moreover, most companies use virtual communication to provide or exchange information.
Conversely, communication technologies have many disadvantages. The first common
disadvantage experienced in companies is that employees sometimes use company computers
for dubious purposes. In addition, using the Internet in the workplace for an extended period
could affect the health of employees. Further, mobile phones are not secure because of digital
criminals.
The Internet helps companies to communicate effectively with their customers. It helps
companies to save time and money by completing work online, such as online business deals
and advertising their products. Research shows that companies who use the Internet develop
faster than others do. In addition, many clients use the Internet to read about companies’
products or services. According to Vallee (2002, p. 109), ‘the whole world has access to your
products, in proportion to the access people have individually to the Internet’. The Internet is
very useful for companies and helps to them to communicate with their clients.
The Internet can help companies to build good relationships with their customers. This can be
achieved by sending emails to advertise new products so the customer believes that the
company is interested in him or her and this will strengthen the interaction between them.
Most customers prefer to deal with companies that give them attention. Kleindl (2002, p. 15)
explains that ‘businesses must learn to gain customers trust’. Thus, it can be concluded that
companies can develop trusting relationships with customers by using the Internet.
Due to the evolution of information technology, most companies design a website to display
company information, products and services. They encourage customers to visit their website
to find information about new products or services and to provide a general idea about how
the company works. Most of these websites allow customers to buy company products so the
customer will save the time by ordering the products directly from the company. According
to Vallee (1999, p. 74), ‘the websites of most large businesses merely offer general
information and job ads, with little else’. Overall, having a company website can be very
useful.
Most large international companies find virtual communication to be very useful. They can
use it to hold a virtual conference between companies in different countries at any time. Most
companies find virtual communication helpful because it saves money and time. For
example, companies who want to discuss a business deal would normally have to set a time
and place to meet, but with a virtual communication, this is not necessary. Hurwitz (2009)
considers that ‘the reality is you can get away with a lot more in person than you can in a
virtual meeting. In an in-person meeting there is enough going on and enough possibilities of
interaction that it works’. Therefore, virtual conferencing is useful for companies and
businesses.
Despite the many advantages of information technology for businesses, there are also several
significant disadvantages. The uncontrolled usage of computers in workplaces has many
disadvantages that impede the progress of work. Many employees use companies’ computers
for dubious purposes. In addition, they may surf the Internet during office hours. Therefore,
employees may not perform the work required of them in the limited time available. Caplan
(2006, p. 64) explains that ‘cyber loafing and personal web use may inhibit productivity’. The
use of a computer in the workplace sometimes leads to a downturn in employee performance
and productivity.
Using the Internet in the workplace for long periods could affect workers’ health. It is a
common problem among companies that employees use the Internet for a long time. Many of
them suffer from different health and neurological problems caused by the Internet, such as
problems with posture and tension, difficulty in breathing, problems in blood circulation and
decreased eye health. In addition, if an employee develops one of these problems he or she
will be less productive (Mcdowell 2001). According to Mcdowell (2001), ‘those of us who sit
at computer screens for long periods every day are already in danger of unsettling our health
if this sort of activity is not balanced by a whole lot of contrasting activity. An addict is one
who will concentrate their mind and body around one sort of activity to the exclusion of
almost all others.’ Overall, employees who sit in front of the computer screen for long
periods could suffer adverse effects to their health.
Unsecure mobile phones have become a common problem for employees due to digital
criminals. They target employees’ mobile phones by using newly developed programs. These
programs can bypass mobile phone security to steal important information and tamper with
the contents of the phone. Moreover, these digital criminals can send the data to their
computers or to other mobile phones. According to Dibben (2009, p. 27), ‘if they responded,
the criminals could then access phone users personal data and send it elsewhere’. Thus,
hackers attack workers’ mobile phones using new software to take important information.
This essay has argued that information technology has brought both advantages and
disadvantages to businesses. Companies can communicate effectively with their customers
using the Internet. Companies now try to build good relationships with their customers by
using the Internet. Moreover, companies now design a website to attract people’s attention
and sell their products or services. Virtual communication is one of the most important things
in the business arena today. Conversely, using information technology in business also has
disadvantages that impede work and progress. For instance, employees use company
computers for personal interests during working hours. Moreover, using the Internet for long
periods could cause health problems. Further, mobile phones could be attacked by
professional criminals.
References
Caplan, S E 2006, ‘Problematic Internet use in the Workplace’, in M Anadarajan, T S H Teo
& C A Simmers (eds), The Internet and Workplace Transformation, Armonk, New York,
viewed 26 August 2009,http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unisouthernqld/Doc?id=10178079&ppg=1
Dibben, K 2009, ‘Hi-tech Crime: Phones hit by Virus’, The Sunday Mail, 28 June, p. 27.
Kleindl, B A 2002, Strategic Electronic Marketing: Managing E-business, 2nd edn, Thomson
South-Western, Cleveland.
Vallee, D 1999, Leading your Business into the future with the Internet, St. Lucie Press, Boca
Raton.
Hurwitz, J 2009,http://jshurwitz.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/whats-the-future-of-the-virtual-conference/
Mcdowell, R 2001,http://www.shvoong.com/medicine-and-health/1623667-bad-effects-health-work-long/
doc_955882436.pdf