Business Information Systems

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Information System professionals are playing an important role in today's business world. They assist companies to meet strategic goals, support business innovation, and help businesses to comply with increasingly complex legal requirements.


Information System in both public and private sectors can be improved by a series of factors together with a call for efficiency enhancement of business processes, the need of observance of regulations, and delivery of new services. Additionally, Information System management involves using new technology solutions, for instance content or document management systems, data warehousing, or portal applications.


Nevertheless, organizations struggle to maintain an integrated information management environment. Effective Information System management is not a straightforward task. In a business perspective, there are several systems to be integrated, a vast array of needs to be met, and an intricate organizational matter to be addressed.


This blog provides simple principles that can be applied to planning and implementation of an effective Information System management. These principles are decisive factors for success; not in terms of technology, but ways to perk up strategic factors to be carefully measured in order to improve the management of information of an organization.




What Information System Is About


First of all, it is not a technology matter. It is indeed a term that covers all systems, processes, and practices inside of a company with the purpose of supporting the creation of its information and structure. Information management consequently includes technology, process, content, and people.




Information System Management Challenges


Surprisingly, the expansion of electronic information has aggravated many information dilemmas. Some of the problems faced are:


- Large number of incongruent Information Systems management.
- Little integration or coordination between Information Systems.
- Wide range of legacy systems requiring upgrading or replacement.
- Direct competition between information management systems.
- Unclear strategic direction for the overall technology environment.
- Limited and inconsistent adoption of existing Information Systems by staff.
- Poor quality of information, duplication, and out-of-date information.
- Little recognition and support of information management by senior management.
- Limited resources for deploying, managing, or improving Information Systems.
- Lack of corporate-wide taxonomy.
- Large number of diverse business needs and issues to be addressed.
- Deficient clarity about organizational strategies and directions.
- Difficulties in changing working practices and processes of staff.
- Internal politics impacting on the ability to coordinate activities enterprise-wide.




What Can Be Done


The problems previously quoted can be awe-inspiring; however, there are easy-to-follow principles that can grant an effective and successful Information System management.




Recognize and manage complexity: prevent from trying just uncomplicated solutions.

Focus on adoption: inspire dynamic contribution of staff throughout the organization.

Deliver tangible and visible benefits: classify concrete business needs that must be met.

Prioritize according to business needs: planning is an essential tool to recognize where to get started.

Take a journey of a thousand steps: no sole application or plan will address and solve all the information management problems of an organization.

Provide strong leadership: build a comprehensible idea of the expected result of the information management strategy.

Mitigate risks: identify risks clearly and ways to approach these risks.

Communicate extensively: it helps staff to clearly understand the project and its benefits.

Aim to deliver a seamless user experience: provide single access to all information.

Choose the first project very carefully: selecting a project cautiously generates more commitment and delivers tangible and visible benefits.












Doing Right


The City of Santa Clarita, CA implemented the Transit Information Network (TIN), which “provides riders with up-to-the-minute information on the current location of their bus via the web, cell phone, or electronic bus stop signage installed at key areas throughout the transit system. With the ‘Bus Finder’ map, passengers can track the location of each GPS-equipped vehicle to accurately identify bus arrival times at any location.” By operating under this Information System management, Transit System was able to manage routes and fix gaps in the schedule and quickly solve a great range of problems. In consequence, more satisfied users and a more organized company.


Watch the video about Santa Clarita Transit Information Network:







Acknowledgments:

Transcripts from http://www.ifets.info/journals/9_3/18.pdf

Illustrations by Cheila Garcia, copyright 2011, inspired by the “10 Principles of Effective Information Management” by James Robertson (2005) http://www.scribd.com/doc/2472100/10-Principles-of-Effective-Information-Management

City of Santa Clarita Transit: http://www.santaclaritatransit.com/Index.aspx?page=79 [external website link policy: http://www.santa-clarita.com/index.aspx?page=477]

Video: http://www.archive.org/details/Scvtv20-twisc111709tin345 (public domain)


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