Information technology makeover

The Small Business Makeover series continues with a look at Information Technology management, something I think many small businesses ignore until something goes wrong.

But not you, right?

Learn how to secure and manage your business data, manage customer contacts, set up a document management system and prepare an Information Technology maintenance and crisis plan in this Information Technology Makeover.

Learn how to provide the kind of customer service that builds customer loyalty, gives positive word-of-mouth advertising, and increases sales - in short, the good, better or even superior customer service that consumers want.

More of the Small Business Makeover

• The Business Planning Makeover - create a Business Action Plan that will provide your small business direction for the coming year or longer.

• The Business Finance Makeover - Follow the steps in this business finance makeover, from separating your personal and business finances through financial statement analysis, to make sure that your business finances are in good shape.

• The Customer Service Makeover - Learn how to provide good customer service, the kind of customer service that builds customer loyalty, gives positive word-of-mouth advertising, and increases sales.

Information Technology's Role Today

Every day, people use computers in new ways. Computers are increasingly affordable; they continue to be more powerful as information-processing tools as well as easier to use.

Computers in Business
Computers in Medicine
Computers in Science and Engineering
Integrated Information Systems

Software

Computer software consists of the programs, or lists of instructions, that control the operation of a computer. Application software can be used for the following purposes:

• As a productivity/business tool
• To assist with graphics and multimedia projects
• To support household activities, for personal business, or for education
• To facilitate communications

Hardware

Information processing involves four phases: input, process, output, and storage. Each of these phases and the associated devices are discussed below.

Input devices: Input devices include the keyboard, pointing devices, scanners and reading devices, digital cameras, audio and video input devices, and input devices for physically challenged users.

Processing: After data are captured, they are processed. When data are processed, they are transformed from raw facts into meaningful information.

Output devices: Four common types of output are text, graphics, audio, and video. Once information has been processed, it can be listened to through speakers or a headset, printed onto paper, or displayed on a monitor.

Storage devices: Storage devices retain items such as data, instructions, and information for retrieval and future use.

Information and Data Processing

Data processing is the input, verification, organization, storage, retrieval, transformation, and extraction of information from data. The term is usually associated with commercial applications such as inventory control or payroll. An information system refers to business applications of computers and consists of the databases, application programs, and manual and machine procedures and computer systems that process data. Databases store the master files of the business and its transaction files. Application programs provide the data entry, updating, and query and report processing. Manual procedures document the workflow, showing how the data are obtained for input and how the system's output is distributed. Machine procedures instruct the computers how to perform batch-processing activities, in which the output of one program is automatically fed into another program. Daily processing is the interactive, real-time processing of transactions. Batch-processing programs are run at the end of the day (or some other period) to update the master files that have not been updated since the last cycle. Reports are printed for the cycle's activities. Periodic processing of an information system involves updating of the master files— adding, deleting, and changing the information about customers, employees, vendors, and products.