Information technology in modern business. Business information technology: stages of development, tools and security The concept of information technology in business
S.V. Osipov
Graduate of the MBA CIO 20B group
IT Management Schools
RANEPA under the President of the Russian Federation
Who needsIT in an SMB company?
In recent years, I have seen quite a lot of Small and Medium Business (SMB) companies. I can confidently draw a sad conclusion - insufficient attention to the company's IT infrastructure at the start translates into quite serious problems- from inhibition of growth to suspension of activity.
Small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of the economy of any developed country. Thus, according to some estimates, the contribution of small businesses reaches half of the entire US budget. In Russia, this figure is still significantly lower, but it is steadily increasing from year to year.
At the same time, the SMB sector is gradually maturing for the introduction of new technological solutions. To succeed in a highly competitive environment, improve labor efficiency and cut costs, small businesses are willing to invest in informatization. The telecommunications infrastructure is improving in the country, broadband Internet access is developing, which also increases the demand for IT.
If the question is necessary high tech for the business tasks of medium and, moreover, large business, it seems to the market long ago that the active use of information technologies by very small companies is a topic that is still not always obvious to the leaders of such companies. SMB firms are just as dependent on information technology as large organizations. In such organizations, there are much fewer IT specialists than in large corporations, so the head of the IT department must be directly involved in the development and support of the IT infrastructure, and, therefore, be highly qualified in the field of IT. It is rare that IT specialists in an SMB company are required to have significant business experience. IN small firms The IT leader is the “technology man,” and in larger organizations, the “business strategy man”.
On the part of business owners and managers, the attitude towards IT is rather ambiguous. For some, this is a fashion that must be followed only because it is modern, for others it is prestige and one of the means of increasing the value of an enterprise's assets. But there are even more of such entrepreneurs for whom information technologies represent only a headache and unjustified additional costs.
Now almost all spheres of business are quite saturated: every year thousands of new small enterprises appear, trying to compete with the existing ones. Therefore, the most advanced players in this market are already gaining competitive advantages through IT, and the rest are gradually coming to the realization that without investment in this area, they will soon have nothing to do in the market.
IT systems in the SMB market are a factor of survival: in their absence, even a company of five people will not be able to develop, and with the departure of any employee it will make big problems out of the blue. It is necessary to look at the role of IT in SMB more broadly, it is necessary to understand by IT not only automation of accounting, but also such means as a system of interaction with clients, e-mail, telephony and an Internet portal. Small enterprises in the SME sector are forced to instantly respond to changes in the market situation, and this is impossible without a high degree of business manageability. This certainly pushes small business leaders to innovate to solve problems.
Another common disease in small businesses is the lack of a long-term strategy. It is necessary to initially lay in the organization's development strategy strict requirements for IT systems. In most cases, small companies lack a well-established knowledge base best practices, clearly built business processes. You should try to avoid such situations.
Of course, small and medium-sized companies strive to save money, because they spend on automation the personal money of their owner, which could be used to develop the business. Therefore, it is important for them to choose a solution that: will solve their current business problems; reasonably priced; Provides the ability to seamlessly scale as your business grows. With this formulation of the question, it is reasonable to consider informatization in a complex, and not so that now we will buy some kind of server, and then think about a software solution.
There is even less consensus regarding the place of IT departments in the structure of the company. Many people think that this is just a service department that installs and maintains computing and specialized equipment, software and office equipment. Moreover, the only difference between the IT service and the administrative service is simply more high level education and "imaginary" self-awareness of its employees. Leaders who consider themselves more progressive, on the contrary, single out information technology structures in particular, put them on the same level of importance with financial services and production, allow the head of the IT department to develop a strategy. Although, the management often doubts whether "this geek" is really needed on the board of the company.
Whether we like it or not, information technologies not only make people talk about themselves more and more, they are becoming an integral part of the business, and most importantly, the guarantee of the efficiency of the enterprise. In turn, the IT industry is growing at a gigantic pace, and it is not easy to meet the demand for innovation from business, it is trying to form and strengthen this demand, giving rise to a lot of myths and legends. This is especially true of technologies in the field of custom software development, implementation of large software systems and consulting in the corporate sector, technologies that are most susceptible to the changeability of "fashion" and are more subjective in assessing their quality.
SMB in Russian
What is an SMB company in Russia in terms of IT? In Russia, there is a special approach to SMB criteria. In our market, the turnover of medium-sized companies usually does not exceed $ 100 million (the western level, as already noted, reaches $ 200 million). By Russian standards, an enterprise with 15 to 100 employees is considered small. The average enterprise, in turn, employs up to 250 employees.
At the moment, many companies in their marketing policy use the number of employees as the main criterion for classification. But this criterion is extremely unobjective. It is easy to imagine two companies with the same number of employees, but with fundamentally different business processes in terms of complexity. Thus, offering these companies the same solution is simply stupid. An indicator such as the number of PCs can greatly affect the cost of the system due to higher requirements for the database, but it does not in any way characterize the requirements for the functionality of the system. The ubiquity of this characteristic is due, first of all, to clarity, which simplifies the work of the sales department. A balanced criterion for assessing a company's belonging to a particular market sector can be developed by analyzing the real requirements of small and medium-sized businesses to the functionality of an enterprise automation system. This will make it possible to determine the complexity of business processes and, on the basis of the results, clearly divide companies in accordance with market segments.
Many integrator companies classify their customers as SMB based not on their turnover, but on the basis of the size of the IT budget and the number of PCs. At the same time, individual entrepreneurs are also considered small businesses.
There is another criterion - the number of workstations being automated, the number of financial and economic iterations (documents for which transactions are created for accounting or management accounting, the postings themselves).
The difference in approaches in the definition makes the measurability of the segment rather difficult. The criteria for companies to belong to the SMB segment are very different - not only among Russian and Western experts, but also among foreigners.
When choosing one or another IT product, companies in the SMB sector are usually limited in budgetary funds, therefore they are much more sensitive than large corporate clients to the price / quality ratio. If we are talking about IT equipment, then the SMB market consumes universal products that can be used both “at work” and “at home”. Low cost of purchasing IT products, minimal cost of ownership, simplicity and availability service... These are all important (and often basic) selection criteria for SMB companies. However, one cannot assume that low price is the only criterion for choosing an IT product.
Over the past few years, the approach of small businesses themselves to informatization has become much more deliberate. Based on the examples of the successes and mistakes of informatization projects of their larger counterparts in the industry, SMB enterprises now strive to first calculate the effectiveness of implementation by available means, and not "rush headlong" into the maelstrom of informatization. Now we can safely say that the assessment of the proposed systems, their comparison (in relation to this particular organization), development plans (strategy) - all this is quite natural actions in SMB companies. While a few years ago, automation was presented rather as an inevitable evil.
It is important for an SMB company to choose a solution that: will solve their current business problems; reasonably priced; provides the ability to seamlessly scale as your business grows. With this formulation of the question, it is reasonable to consider informatization as a whole, and not so that now we will buy some server, and then think about a software solution. This is important not only because of the cost of ownership of the solution, but also to ensure that the system can be easily scaled. For example, it can be fast connection of new servers to the network and redistribution of the increased load. Or maybe the connection of new modules of the software solution and, accordingly, the lengthening of the chain of business processes, but it is important to make sure in advance that this is feasible, does not require large investments and huge labor costs.
When working with companies from the SME sector, many vendors are faced with a number of negative "features". Many customers have systems installed that they are used to and that enable them to perform basic IT functions. And therefore, they do not yet trust the promises of increasing efficiency and are not ready to innovate. Added to this is the lack of qualified IT specialists, which is traditional for Russian regions, and despite all the positive trends, there is still a low level of informatization in regions, including expensive broadband Internet access, and simply a low business culture.
There is only one peculiarity: the business, most likely, will have to be dealt with with the real owner of the business. And this person does not understand programming languages and operating systems, but knows his own business processes. After all, the very process of building a business management information system is nothing more than drawing up an algorithm for a business process and translating it into a program or a set of programs.
In large companies, between the creators of software and its future users, there is an army of specialists who iteratively translate real business technologies into algorithms as they understand and explain to programmers how the program should work. And then these same specialists convince the user that he must learn to use the software that was made for him, even if it is inconvenient, takes more time and requires more staff. Well, in big business this happens almost always, costs will be smeared along a long intermediate chain, the cost of goods, tariffs, etc. will increase. And the main bosses (owners) will still see the reporting and will be able to keep records.
But in working with a small business, this number rarely passes: there is no chain, and in most cases the owner will buy only what will really help him in his work. And since he understands and knows his business processes, it is easier for him to find an option for using software than an army of consultants.
The changes taking place in the business world in recent decades have been characterized by an ever-increasing competition. The desire of companies to survive and succeed in the new conditions leads to purposeful attempts to use modern information technologies to gain a long-term competitive advantage. In the global information community, where information is transmitted through cyberspace with virtually no restrictions on volume, distance and speed, companies are increasingly dependent on the information they use and the systems that provide this information.
Most small and medium-sized businesses in Russia are not yet ready for complex projects to automate business processes. This primarily concerns the use of management software. Small businesses often prefer to automate only accounting and product accounting. Meanwhile, patchwork automation means the need to integrate a large number of local programs. And this entails many negative consequences: the time and cost of work on the project increases, the speed of the resulting system decreases, the costs of the enterprise for maintaining the resulting system in a working condition increase significantly. This situation is unacceptable for an enterprise with a small budget.
At the same time, the Russian SME sector demonstrates sustainable financial development and becomes more and more attractive for large players in the IT market. They build a strategy for promoting services, work out in detail the mechanisms for selling products for small and medium-sized businesses. The developers intend to provide themselves with competitive advantages at the expense of new budget solutions.
However, one should not create illusions that the implementation of an IT system will instantly solve all problems. IT is only a tool that provides the ability to promptly obtain reporting, financial and management information, which allows making the right decisions based on a comprehensive analysis of the situation. The concept of "automation strategy" is based on basic principles, including: goals (identification of areas of the enterprise and their subsequent automation); method of automation (by departments, directions or complex automation); IT strategy (implementation of a set of internal standards); restrictions on integration (financial, time, personnel, etc.); change management planning; support and maintenance of IT applications.
In this article, I deliberately did not consider specific solutions to the problems raised and suggest using any software. This is beyond the scope of this article. Of course, in order for all systems to work like clockwork, quality service is needed. The problem of choosing between full-time IT employees and outsourcing is worthy of a separate (and more than one) article. It might be worth resorting to a SaaS implementation option. Objectively, this difficult issue should be resolved by the head of the organization based on the advice of consultants and his understanding of the business vision. For each case, it is necessary to select individual solutions. My main goal is to show that effective use of IT technologies from the very beginning of business development is one of the factors for successful development. With proper implementation and further use, IT systems help to reduce costs, and therefore increase profits.
The two main internal factors driving the increase in SMB IT costs have remained unchanged over the past years. It is a drive to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In addition, representatives of SMB companies themselves increasingly need quick access to information in order to speed up the decision-making process.
Effective use of information systems implies the implementation of IT systems in all areas of the company. Of course, this is very difficult and expensive. But, on the other hand, this approach lays the foundation for the further successful development of the company. The organization has clearly structured business processes, the company is less dependent on its employees. There is a possibility of further growth of the IT system in parallel with the business.
Many companies have already learned from their own experience that information technologies, by themselves, do not provide the expected benefits from their use. However, technologies are not to blame for this, since, despite the rapid change in their technical parameters (speed, volumes, cost, etc.), not only they determine the end result of their application, but also how companies understand the role of IT systems in business, and how their implementation and use are managed.
IT service of the enterprise
Actual problems of aviation and astronautics. Information Technology
V. V. Krinitsyna, L. N. Sidorova Scientific adviser - A. P. Bagaeva Siberian State Aerospace University named after academician M. F. Reshetnev, Krasnoyarsk
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN BUSINESS
The role of information technologies in business is considered and the analysis of popular programs that automate business processes at enterprises is carried out.
Information technology today affects all aspects of business. In the development of information technology and the high profitability of projects in the industry, many companies have been attracted. High-quality information support for any management process economic activities is possible only with the full use of all the achievements of scientific and technological progress. First of all, this concerns the application in the practice of analysis of the latest information technologies: computer technology, software and telecommunications.
The main task of this work is to consider the main programs that automate work in business.
An information system is a system information service employees of management services and performs technological functions for the accumulation, storage, transmission and processing of information. An automated information system is a collection of information, economic and mathematical methods and models, technical, software, technological tools and specialists, designed to process information and make management decisions. The use of automated information systems is especially important in the management of the financial department of a company. The use of automated information systems allows you to: optimize work plans; quickly develop solutions; clearly maneuver financial resources etc. .
The main component of an automated information system is information technology. The development of information technology has increased the number and level of databases on CD-ROM and online, providing both quantitative, in particular statistical and detailed financial information (for example, Datastream, FAME, Eurostat, nOmIS), and qualitative, such as information on markets and competitors provided by news services (eg, Nexis, McCarthy, Reuters Business Briefing). The number of sources of information is growing at an incredible rate, and in the process of finding information, firms rely on the use of online search tools such as Lycos, created by Carnegie Mellon University, WebCrawler, or InfoSeek. The quality of information depends on the quality of the information system and the professionalism of the people responsible for the input
data . The coordinated operation of all devices of the information system and their interaction with a person is ensured by the software of the analyst's automated workstation. As part of the software, general software and functional software are distinguished. Basic by software when creating functional software for an automated workplace, an analyst includes software for preparing texts (text editors or word processors), software for preparing tabular documents (tabular processors or electronic sheets), software for automating work on creating and maintaining databases, searching required information for the preparation of various documents. In practice, integrated packages of functional software have become widespread, including a word processor, a spreadsheet processor, a DBMS, as well as a specific command file for setting the software for a specific information processing mode. This allows you to organize the work of an economist at an automated workplace in the "menu" mode with maximum consideration of his professional requirements combining holistic processing of numbers, texts and graphics, as well as other business information.
Carrying out financial analysis a large organization "manually" does not seem to be effective, but it is very important. Currently on domestic market there are many programs that automate the process of organizing and conducting financial analysis.
A comparison was made of three common programs that automate financial analysis: "Audit Expert 4", "INEC-Analyst", "1C: Rarus: Financial Analysis 1.1." The program "1C-Rarus: Financial Analysis 1.1" serves for: analysis of indicators of financial and economic activities of the enterprise; formation of arbitrary reports in the form of tables, graphs and diagrams. The INEK-Analyst program significantly differs from software products of a similar class in that the result of working with it is a comprehensive financial and economic analysis of the current state of the enterprise, and a high-quality business that meets the requirements of leading Russian and international financial organizations.
Section "Information and Economic Systems"
plan. "Audit Expert 4" ensures the preservation and use in the work of all previously obtained results of financial analysis and all implemented methodological developments. Thanks to this, the program can be successfully used as an optimal solution for analysis. financial condition in large companies, in a bank and in audit practice. Analysis of the three most widespread software products in the domestic financial IT market, allowing to automate the financial analysis procedure, suggested that the Audit Expert 4 program is more intended for large enterprises due to its great capabilities.
Any software company designs, develops and implements complex solutions to automate business processes in enterprises. Automation of business processes is, first of all, automation of management, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the work of each individual employee and the entire organization as a whole, to control clients, statistics, to speed up internal and external business processes due to a unified management environment, to control financial
money flows, forecasting demand and planning supply. All reviewed programs have similar functions. New technologies provide new sources, methods of delivery and exchange of information, as well as new ways of manipulating information. As information technology continues to transform the nature of transactions and other business operations, enable chain communication through e-commerce, and foster collaboration and alliances, it is increasingly important to develop skills in managing information as a resource and a commodity.
1. Titorenko GA Automated information technologies in the economy. M., 2008.
2. Grabaurov VA Information technologies for managers. M.: Finance and Statistics, 2009.
3. URL: http://www.science-education.ru/download/2009/03/2009_03_099.pdf.
© V. V. Krinitsyna, L. N. Sidorova, A. P. Bagaeva, 2010
UDC 669.713.7
O. A. Lishutina, A. A. Paramonova Scientific adviser - A. P. Bagaeva Siberian State Aerospace University named after academician M. F. Reshetnev, Krasnoyarsk
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MANAGEMENT SPHERE
The work contains material about information technologies, a brief description of new information technologies and systems used in the field of management.
The main direction of restructuring management and its radical improvement, adaptation to modern conditions the massive use of the latest computer and telecommunications technology, the formation on its basis of highly effective information and management technologies. New technologies based on computer technology require radical changes in the organizational structures of management, its regulations, human resources, the system of documentation, recording and transfer of information. Of particular importance is the introduction of information management, which expands the opportunities for companies to use information resources. The most obvious way to improve flow efficiency labor process is its automation.
The purpose of this work is to study new information technologies in the field of management and find out the areas of their most effective application.
To solve this goal, the following tasks were formulated:
1) find information about technological support;
2) identify new information technologies and systems;
3) give a brief description of these technologies;
4) find out in which areas it is best to apply these systems;
5) name the advantages of each of these systems.
The object of the research is information technologies and systems in management.
New possibilities of information systems in management have appeared in connection with the intensive development of information technologies. The basis of the new information technology is distributed computer technology, "friendly" software and advanced communications.
The concept of a new information technology should be based on three basic principles: integration, interactivity and flexibility.
The analysis of key factors (what in English is called Business drivers) allows you to answer the question: "Why does the organization need to improve?" Understanding these factors allows you to link IT investments to business plans and provides a view of IT investments as developing the key capabilities or capabilities of the organization from a business perspective.
Thus, the key factors reflect the view of the top management of the organization on what is important to the business (within a given time horizon), and at the same time so important that it necessarily requires some changes.
We have already noted that any positive change can be achieved only when people begin to do certain things in a different way. After realizing the need for change, it is clear that a certain investment of time, effort and resources on the part of management is required to implement the change. At the same time, the following logical chain is built: understanding the Key Factors leads to an awareness of the Necessary Changes, and this, in turn, sets the Goals for the Investment.
If IT is seen as a tool for such changes, then this is the basis for initiating an IT project. At the same time, it must be as closely linked as possible with the Goals that the organization seeks to achieve in the process of change.
Note that the key factors themselves cannot be changed or canceled. They are external to the organization and exist independently of any programs and projects. Programs and projects are an organization's conscious choice in response to these factors.
In the process of analyzing the key factors, it is necessary to consider whether the issues of organizational survival, achievement of success or prosperity are considered. To do this, you can use various tools, one of which we will give below. It is also important to understand what kind of changes we are trying to achieve:
- "business as usual" - management in a stable situation;
- point incremental improvements - improvements within existing resources and management concepts;
- radical changes - improvements due to the fact that certain things are done in a completely new way;
- elimination - improvements by eliminating unnecessary procedures, actions, etc.
There is a way for a structured discussion of issues related to the identification of key factors and the opportunities that the organization can achieve. Tracey and Wiersema formulated the concept of a value discipline. It consists in the fact that organizations in their activities in order to achieve good results must make a choice of one of the possible main ways to achieve them:
- Ensuring close relationships with your customers.
- Highest operational efficiency.
- Leadership in products and services.
Rice. 1.12.
Gartner proposes to add another dimension to these three dimensions: the strength of the brands, or brands, owned by an organization.
Different strategies require different types of application systems and even different technological infrastructure. Operational efficiency means, for example, streamlined supplier processes, effective management inventory, etc. This requires fast, reliable underlying transaction systems that automate day-to-day operations and minimize the costs of such operations.
The strategy of maintaining close customer relationships involves gaining in-depth customer knowledge and leveraging that knowledge to build long-term relationships that benefit the organization. This requires increased attention to the storage, analysis and availability of significant amounts of customer information, usually more than is required simply to complete a transaction. More extensive customer databases are required, containing both structured and unstructured information (documents, letter images, etc.). Analyzing data also requires appropriate analytical tools, as well as significant efforts to integrate various points of contact and interaction with customers.
Leadership in products and services implies the introduction to the market of any unique products or products with high quality characteristics. To do this, it is necessary to create opportunities for the free exchange of ideas between the most diverse divisions of the organization (research and development, design, information technology, marketing), usually in a geographically distributed environment. In turn, the implementation of these capabilities implies the use not so much of transaction execution systems as technologies that provide context and communication, such as systems teamwork etc.
Therefore, one possible approach is to work with business managers to identify how the organization positions itself in relation to competitors and other market participants in accordance with these three dimensions. For each of the three dimensions, the organization can be assessed as "adequate" (if it corresponds to the general market level in terms of this direction) as "lagging behind" or as "leader". IT projects targeting areas that are identified as lagging can be called “survival-oriented”. Business as usual projects are focused on incremental, sequential improvements. Projects that are focused on keeping the organization ahead of the competition can involve radical change, since by definition they mean the implementation of something that other organizations in the industry have never done so far.
It should be noted that attention needs to be paid to the combination of areas of competence as, ultimately, they are interrelated. For example, you cannot maintain close relationships with your customers over the long term if your organization has problems with the efficiency of operations and the quality of products and services.
Figure 1.13 shows conditional example when the above three dimensions that ensure the success of an organization (of some hypothetical trading company) are superimposed on possible IT projects that contribute to success in each of the directions. At the same time, instead of measuring "Leadership in products and services", another strategic dimension was chosen, called "agility", which means its ability to quickly respond to external circumstances.
Rice. 1.13.
An organization that has chosen to maintain close relationships with its customers as the primary tool for its success must design its business models, IT systems, and other operational activities appropriately to support this strategy at the process level.
An example of a business strategy based on building close relationships with customers is the American pharmaceutical company Walgreens. The company sought to accumulate information about its customers as much as possible to ensure close relations with them. In the early 1980s, even before the Internet boom, the company pioneered the Intercom network. The idea was simple: by linking all Walgreens pharmacies with an electronic network and accumulating customer information in one information center, they turned the entire pharmacy network in the country into a "district pharmacy" for each customer. It doesn't matter where you live, wherever you are on a business trip or vacation, you have no problem getting your prescription drugs. This required significant investments in telecommunications infrastructure and Information Systems but was justified by the company's business strategy.
An example of leadership based on operational efficiency is Fannie Mae in the mortgage market. The mortgage loan service itself is nothing new, but what the company has learned to do better than any other competitor is to assess the risks associated with mortgage loans in the most efficient way. The company in its activities has moved from focusing on the indicator "profit on credit" to the use of such an indicator as "profit at risk". This required the development of more than 300 computer applications, including a sophisticated analytical program that would monitor a $ 600 billion mortgage portfolio, a computer databank of 60 million real estate properties, and business processes that significantly reduced the amount of paperwork and clerks' work. With this combination of technologies, lenders have reduced the time it takes to approve a loan from 30 days; up to 30 minutes and reduced their costs by $ 1000 for each loan. This is a great example of how a business strategy has identified the appropriate elements of the IT architecture required for its practical implementation.
The comments made by Nick Price, IT Architect for the Dairy Farm Group, capture the benefits of enterprise IT architecture and how it relates to business strategy. In doing so, he uses the term "technology architecture" to describe what we call "IT architecture":
“The value of technology architecture is tremendous. You just have to think about IT investment decisions in your organization or in other organizations you know. It's easy to be a smart hindsight, but I can tell you that we have spent millions of dollars in the last three years on technologies that were simply inoperable or inadequate at the time of the decision or today, because the people who made these decisions did not understand how these technologies relate to the business. Honestly, with wasted money we could develop 5 or 10 technological architectures.
The value of a technology architecture is difficult to measure, and the cost of developing it is almost negligible. Today, I cannot imagine an organization moving forward without technological architecture. Any business leader who matches his job will tell you that he has a business plan, which is issued in the form of a document and represents a vision of the direction in which the business is developing. Why should technology be the exception? We need to have a sound technology strategy and governance processes for all aspects of IT use, and these two things need to be inextricably linked to business strategy. "
By the way, the IT architecture project at Dairy Farm Group took 4 months. Even in the face of a constant Russian shortage of time and resources, this is not an overwhelming task either for commercial companies or for Russian government agencies. All that is generally needed is a gray matter in the head, pencil and paper, thank God, which we have in abundance.
Course work on the subject "Fundamentals of Business" completed: Kondrashkin SA, gr. ZE-101
In my opinion, business is a person's activity aimed at generating income through the use of his knowledge, experience, his capital. Business implementation of human potential on the economic path. In 99% of cases, making a profit for a businessman is one of the main criteria for evaluating his activities. This does not mean that a businessman will act to the detriment of partners, clients, society. This means that making a profit can be associated with the provision of services, production of products, and profit shows the efficiency of a businessman's activities. And society, the state should only restrict business from actions that can harm society. And there are a lot of ways to realize human potential in business. I liked the definition of business in the American textbook "Business Concept" by Rosenblatt, Bonnington, Needles: "Business is a system of doing business. Business is creating products that people need. Business is work. Business is the central highway in our socio-economic system. . Business is a system that we have created to satisfy our desires. Business is how we live. What is business? Try yourself to choose the one word that would reflect many different activities and concepts and would be the most accurate. we will define business as a production system to meet the needs and desires of society. " In the process of the evolution of society, new industries and new spheres of activity are created. And these branches of production are capable of drastically changing society itself. This was the case with the emergence of industry, but now information technologies invade our daily life, change the world community, change a person and his environment, provide the basis for the progressive development of society. The new industry leads to fundamental changes in the business itself, making it more dynamic and perfect.
The end of the XX - beginning of the XXI century will be marked by the inevitable transition from an industrial to an information society, in which information will become the most important factor of production that creates social wealth.
But the information society as a model of human development cannot appear from scratch. A very serious intellectual and technological base is needed. And such a basis in the Western economy today is the information business.
The information business is a relatively new area entrepreneurial activity in the form of the largest diversified complex with its own established infrastructure. Information business, on the one hand, is part of the infrastructure of the entire system of entrepreneurial activity, along with banks, stock exchanges, audit companies, etc., and on the other hand, it is an independent business area.
The information business in Western countries originated in the 60s, formed as an independent industry in the 70s, and in the 80s turned into the largest diversified complex with its own infrastructure. At first, information technologies were used due to the complexity and high cost only in scientific centers and large industrial companies. As it improves and becomes cheaper, information technologies have penetrated into various industries and made it possible to improve and improve the efficiency of the latter. As a result of the development of information technologies, new needs of society have appeared and formed. The sheer scale of this new "monster" of the modern Western economy is confirmed by the following figures. World consumption of information technology in 1990 reached $ 2 trillion (a doubling of turnover occurred in just 4 years since 1986). Information production in the United States and Japan has surpassed the sphere of material production in terms of employment. Moreover, in the United States, by the beginning of the 1980s, about 60% of all workers were employed in this area. The current trends in the development of the information business are such that it is consistently ahead of traditional industries in terms of growth, employment and other economic indicators.
Turning to the infrastructure of the information industry, it should be noted right away that the sphere of the information business is very extensive and includes various types of activities that are directly or indirectly related to information. Moreover, the infrastructure is constantly changing and increasing. Starting with the production of products and services directly related to computing technology(today these are mainly personal computers), the information business captures more and more new areas of human activity that are practically not related to computers.
Considering the modern business infrastructure, it must be borne in mind that different specialists in different countries interpret and describe it ambiguously. Here are just a few of these approaches. Yu. M. Kanygin distinguishes the following basic elements: computer centers of various types; subscriber points giving subscribers access to information resources; aggregate organizational elements providing management of electronic computing and information potential; structural elements of the industry that satisfy the needs of the computer center in software and information support (funds of algorithms and programs, databanks, knowledge, etc.), as well as various supporting elements. This is an example of an analysis of the infrastructure we have developed. Another example is the analysis of the infrastructure of the information business that has developed in the United States, although there are also different approaches there. For example, E. Ettinger developed a scheme for the development of the information business, which is based on the computerization of various spheres of the economy. In the center is the computer, and around the rest of the business elements are located - from communication channels to the final product.
Another scheme was developed by L. Gem and is one of the most successful and convenient for viewing and understanding information infrastructure. Each of the eight segments of the diagram includes different activities, not all of which are directly and exclusively related to information. Nevertheless, each type of activity shown in the segment is, in one way or another, important for the information business. Let's take a closer look at the circuit.
movies;
newspapers magazines;
microfilms;
newsletters, single releases, reference pointers;
books, reports, publications, notes;
video discs, films, laser discs.
Support services:
venture capital, banks;
artificial intelligence systems, systems design;
time sharing of systems;
programming;
electronic transmission of documents, data entry;
stock brokers, service bureaus.
Information technology:
computers, terminals;
office equipment;
optical equipment;
microfilms, laser discs;
printing equipment, accounting forms;
duplication of documentation.
Integrating technology:
terminals;
personal switches;
speech systems, facsimiles;
digital data.
Means of communication:
radio, television, telephone;
transmission systems;
video discs, fiber optics;
means of postal communication, switches.
Channels of connection:
courier delivery, mail;
telegraph, telephone;
international communications, satellite communications, commercial communications;
cable TV;
mobile and modular equipment.
TV and radio broadcasting channels:
radio network, regional networks;
TV network, telefax;
shortwave communication.
Semantic services:
News Service;
initial information for electronic and non-electronic data banks;
information about the stock exchange, information brokers;
libraries, video libraries; statistical indices; owners of data banks; speech systems.
As you can see from the above diagram, the infrastructure is considered in great detail here and includes a large number of different types of activities, although in reality the segments may overlap in separate areas.
Considering information technology as the "engine" of information business, let us focus on the content and role of information technology in business.
Information technology includes the “trump cards” of the modern information business: computers, terminals, computer equipment, optical equipment, microfilms, laser discs, printing equipment and photocopying. These are all basic infrastructure elements that determine the main strategic goals of business development, so the choice is not random.
According to the American management specialist G. Poppel, information technology (IT) should be understood as the use of computers and communication systems for the creation, collection, transmission, storage, processing of information for all spheres of public life. IT is considered both as a part (or element) of the information business - its some technological basis, and as a separate sector of infrastructure, often developing autonomously.
Recognizing as fact the amazing technological advances in the era of information technology, American experts predicted further progress in the 90s in this area, driven by the five main so-called "information trends." This is:
1) the growing role of the information product;
2) development of the ability to interact (compatibility);
3) elimination of intermediate links (immediacy);
4) globalization;
5) convergence.
Let us define these tendencies and briefly describe them.
An information product (IP) acts in the form of software tools, databases and expert support services (the definition was given by G. Poppel and B. Goldstype), IP in the form of various kinds of information is a source of human knowledge. RW Emerson defines information as "the accumulated thoughts and experiences of countless minds." Consequently, the activities of intellectual workers largely depend on the content, accuracy and timeliness of the information received. IT aims to bring information to the place of creation and use of knowledge. Hence the increasing value of IP, and in different planes. The informational part of the IP broadens the horizons of people, allows more efficient use of resources, and the entertainment part provides leisure. The quality and availability of both have a significant impact on the individual's sense of self-satisfaction.
In the business world, intelligent workers make decisions, develop products, sell and buy goods and services, and provide recommendations that shape the course of a firm's business. Doing business is significant. degree depends on the IP received by intellectual workers. American experience shows that most firms spend too much money on individual entrepreneurs and receive too little return in terms of the creative productivity of intellectual workers. In the United States, 30 million managers and other professionals called intellectuals cost their firms $ 1 trillion a year. At the same time, only $ 75 billion (7% of total costs) is being spent on IT systems that can improve the efficiency of other costs. The importance of these costs is confirmed by research by Boose, Allen & Hamilton Inc., which shows that 18-30% of the cost of intellectual work is practically lost mainly in the search for the best information product. In business, as elsewhere, the best information and the greatest credibility is a great power, as any financier will attest. Therefore, the fatal obedience of companies and firms, which admit the loss of about 200 billion dollars, associated with a lack of necessary information, is simply amazing.
Using the example of Reuters, one can show how IP is transformed in the process of improvement. Initially, the system made it possible to simply view stock quotes in real time. At present, the Reuters-2000 system allows, in addition to viewing the current quotes of various stock instruments, to conclude transactions, view messages from the Reuters news agency, and see a graphical display of quotes changes. In the already announced system "Reuters - 3000", in addition to these properties, there will be a tool for analyzing and accessing the global database accumulated over many years of the system's operation. This will allow you to more deeply analyze trends in trading and make the right decisions.
The fate of many intelligent workers today depends on IT. In 1990, about 40% of intellectual workers in the United States used information technology aids in their workplaces. The six sectors of the economy in which the use of IT is most likely to increase the efficiency of trading operations have been identified: industrial goods and supplies, prepackaged consumer and pharmaceutical goods, insurance commercial enterprises and individuals, commercial banks and loans, wholesale and specialist services, stock trading.
Even a very cursory glance at the American reality convinces that the creation of an IP is a thriving business. Television series, video cassette rental, radio programs, records, video games, text and illustrations in books, newspapers and magazines were part of consumer IP in the United States in the late 1980s.
In particular, not the example of the US newspaper market, which is undergoing important conceptual and structural transformations, it can be shown how the introduction of this conservative industry to new IT is taking place. Many transformations will affect the development of world journalism.
Changing American society: rising divorce rates and shrinking family size, overworked work, more choice of leisure activities, cost, environmental considerations, are all driving the development of alternatives to print. An increasing number of publishers believe that the future lies only with the electronic versions of their newspapers. Now, according to independent experts, Microsoft is investing in the development of new media projects up to 20% of its scientific budget. Microsoft publishes encyclopedias and reference books on CD-ROM, becoming the absolute leader in the world market for encyclopedias, luring away leading journalists from major newspapers and TV channels, buying up large photo archives and art galleries, etc.
A joint venture between Microsoft and TV company NBC MSNBC operates in parallel with normal TV mode on the Internet. If the user is interested in more detailed information about the event that the TV announcer talks about, he can get it in the electronic version of the program. June 24, 1996 Microsoft launched its first Slate magazine (http://www.slate.com) on the Internet, which quickly gained public attention. It was even reprinted by Time magazine (this is perhaps the highest distinction in the United States). Perhaps it is these media that will shape the future of journalism. In addition to texts and ordinary illustrations, Slate is equipped with musical and multimedia materials. Microsoft intends to launch a major new project, Sityscape, on the US Internet at the start of the year. It is assumed that this will be an electronic guide to US cities, which at first, in addition to the city plan, will contain information about city attractions, restaurants, etc. Then the editors of Sityscape intend to start publishing local news as well as advertisements. This will erode the main newspaper base, leaving only a select few print media out of fierce competition.
IP creation includes 3 main stages: development, synthesis and distribution. There are 8 main types of IE going through these stages: news, documentaries, knowledge and opinions, data and facts, protocols, games, works of fiction and drama, music and humor.
All activities in the field of individual entrepreneurship are unique, firstly, in terms of risk, because it is necessary to satisfy the needs of two main categories of customers: consumers and advertisers. Approximately 50% of the income in the consumer IP sector comes from advertising. Second characteristic feature information service is the existence of rights to certain areas of action. For example, the limited spectrum of frequencies used has led to the need for local transmitting radio and television stations to obtain licenses for broadcasting, etc. In addition, almost all companies and firms associated with the field of information, in the absence of technical and legal distinctions boundaries and rights.
The next trend in the development of IT is the ability to interact between all physical and logical elements of the system. One of the most important factors for ensuring interoperability is the emergence of new standards for software and hardware, displays, databases and networks, which has led to standardization processes.
New technologies are the main driving force in addition to the existing forces of the global market. Just a few key components - microprocessors, local area networks, robotics, specialized workstations, sensors, programmable controllers - have made the concept of an automated enterprise a reality. However, at present, technology can also be a limiting factor: the lack of interoperability between automation means makes it irrational to implement. This is due to the explosive expansion of IT, with the result that product standardization does not keep pace with technical standards. On the other hand, as a result of more active marketing activities and success in the distribution of IP, the capture of a large market share by any company, its product becomes the standard for everyone else. As an example, we can cite personal computers from IBM, operating systems of Microsoft corporation, Novell local network, VHS standards of consumer video recording from JVC, Video-8 from Sony.
IT providers should evaluate the individual shifts that have occurred in the best interests of their customers. Production will no longer be determined by destination final product but rather a combination of production and market characteristics, such as a large volume of required plastic fittings or orders for powder metallurgy products. IN modern world customer satisfaction determines the production activities of firms.
Interoperability as a concept is as attractive as it is difficult to implement. Difficulties come from both technology and competition. Technological efforts are focused on technical metrics that are defined in terms of standards. Consequently, the existence of standards is the key to achieving synergy. As mentioned above, the rate of emergence of new information developments is higher than the standardization of information products. But recently, in connection with the enlargement of enterprises and the increasing experience of integrating various IP platforms, the standardization of the activities of various manufacturers is carried out already at the stage of development and creation of IP.
Another complication of the current moment is that the development of IT largely determines the processes of systems integration and standards creation. This can significantly delay the timeline for realizing the benefits of the latest technology. For example, the Japanese-funded fifth-generation computer program is constrained by the fact that new software architecture is not yet compatible with existing centers of artificial intelligence, new protocols cannot be used in old communication systems, and new machine languages are not suitable for old systems. etc.
As information technology penetrates deeper and deeper into various areas of business, it changes the various cost indicators on which competition is based. This entails fundamental structural changes in other sectors of the economy, expressed in such a dramatic trend as the elimination of intermediate links. The latter means the elimination of those stages that involve intermediaries between consumers and producers. In particular, in the banking sector, the role of small banks is decreasing, since the introduction of information technologies requires significant resources.
information technology already now provides opportunities for the elimination of intermediate functions within and between companies. Telemarketing and the computer-to-computer ordering system eliminate, for example, intermediate sales organizations. Customers who have access to public terminals (called “e-kiosks”) order commercially available products and receive e-coupons. You can give a lot of similar examples, for example, in banking, etc.
In general, assessing the situation, American experts state the following: "By introducing a new weapon of competition in various spheres of activity, IT causes an acute struggle between firms." Intel predicts that eventually e-commerce will replace the middle tier of business (distributors), who today play an important role in bringing all kinds of products to the end user.
The main reason for IT's transformation into such a powerful force is that information is often the primary commodity of exchange in a transaction, for example, when a training program is purchased or a consultancy contract is awarded. This is true for relationships within enterprises (production-supply), between enterprises (buyer-seller) and between enterprise and consumer. In these cases, the elimination of intermediate links is due to the introduction of new technologies that provide added value to information by processing, storing, transferring and transforming it into more successful and accessible forms for immediate use. This implies significant advantages of information technologies: wider distribution, greater ease of use and lower prices due to the fact that the unit costs of information technologies are much lower than the unit costs when using traditional methods (involving a person, paper, etc.).
There are serious reasons to believe that already in the early 90s, the elimination of intermediate links as a manifestation of the third trend in the development of IT will lead to a blurring of the boundaries between traditional sectors of the economy and those related to IT. In addition, the elimination of intermediaries that is currently taking place among IT consumers will undoubtedly trigger a similar process among IT providers.
Another trend in the development of information technology is the globalization of the information business. Theoretically, any person (or company) is a possible consumer of information today. Therefore, the possibilities of the information market are still limitless, although there is a rather fierce competition between the main manufacturers. In recent years, firms from Australia, South Koren, Taiwan, Singapore, etc. have been added to traditionally strong manufacturers such as the USA, Japan, France, Great Britain and Germany. One of the main reasons for the intensification of global competition is the spread of demand for specific types of IT on a global scale. ... It can be said that, despite the different markets, the products in demand in America are in fact the same as those for which there is demand in Japan and Europe. The presence of five main factors determines this process:
different levels of knowledge in the field of IT, determining the rate of its dissemination, which vary widely depending on the field of application and on the characteristics of the country;
cost-effectiveness ratio of IT;
government support;
standardization;
comparative advantages of coexisting and interchangeable technologies.
Today, in the information business, as well as in the economy as a whole, there are three largest centers - the USA, Japan, Western Europe, between which the entire competition is unfolding. The main results of this struggle. in the late 80s - early 90s are characterized by the following. There has been a general weakening of American positions in the world information technology market. The United States today dominates only in the supply of computer hardware (75%) and software (65%).
The growing role of Japan is noted. Since the late 70s, it has produced about 50% of the world's consumer electronics. Currently, the share of Japanese office equipment manufacturers in the North American market is: in the field of copiers - over 40%, in the field of calculators and facsimile equipment - about 100%.
Recently, Europe has been lagging behind in the field of IT. European IT companies, with the rare exception of a few world-class vendors, are seen as completely and perhaps permanently unable to compete in the global IT market. This conclusion inevitably follows from the survey of public opinion. The total share of European companies in the domestic market is only 30-40% of the total IT supply. Among the 100 largest private companies and firms, only 19 are European. All European countries are net importers of IT, and their trade deficit in the latest technology is growing. But European governments, despite skepticism from the top management of private companies, are helping to revive their IT industries. R&D in the field of IT found support not only from individual governments, they attracted the attention of the EEC leadership, which put forward an extensive resource consolidation program. An example is the ESPRIT (European strategic program research in information technology).
Globalization is directly related to convergence. Previously, manufacturing and services could be easily defined and differentiated. However, the “information trends” described above are changing traditional perceptions. Some types of products and services are easy to distinguish. Typewriters and calculators are products, telex and broadcasting are services. The situation is more complicated when it comes to, for example, telex equipment and TV receivers, which acquire specific importance only in conjunction with the above-mentioned types of services. Some systems can combine devices. Examples are brokerage coding systems, banking machines, and energy control systems. In addition, certain types of products and services, performing the same functions, become essentially interchangeable.
Convergence is shaping the so-called potential IT market today, the main segments of which are as follows.
1) The consumer segment includes the transmission of information and entertainment and their consumption by individuals. Such consumption can take place at home, in a private car, in a local mall, or in a hotel room. Many individual services can also be obtained by employees of the company from their workstations without the special permission of the company.
2) Business support includes the consumption of IT products and services during the implementation of various types of business activities: procurement, production-service, marketing, physical distribution of products and other stages of value added. The use of IT tends to be extremely intensive, repetitive and subject to certain procedures.
3) Intellectual work refers to the consumption and transmission of information among managers and other professionals. This area of activity is mistakenly identified with business operations, in fact, it differs from the latter in essence. The area of consumption is more specific, smaller in volume, and is determined more by events than by procedures when considering an IT acquisition. Most buyers are guided by qualitative criteria and intuition, despite the availability of quantitative analysis techniques.
The forecast of the “real” market, taking into account the analysis of the dynamics of the development of the information technology industry, allows us to single out the following main areas of IT.
1) Communication services are implemented through public networks such as telephone data transmission, image and audio signal transmission, as well as traditional delivery methods, such as mail.
2) Information services - represented by various kinds of publications, carried out both by traditional methods and by means of electronics; software packages, custom software, computer data processing, advertising and other types of professional services.
3) Entertainment is provided by creating an information product: musical, artistic, humorous and playful in nature, distributing it in the form of printed publications, records, cassettes, floppy disks, etc., as well as through radio and TV broadcasts, cable television , theaters, etc.
4) Consumer electronics - represented by standard devices and systems that meet the needs of individuals in information and entertainment. For example, telephone, audio and TV equipment, such latest systems like home computers and laser players that store and play infotainment programs.
5) Office equipment - covers a wide range of devices and systems: from the simplest autonomous devices for transferring from carrier to carrier (copiers and typewriters) to today's ones with networks of personal computers, telephones and other types of workstations that store, process and transmit information ...
6) Business support systems. These include general-purpose systems for processing, storing and transmitting information (for example, universal computers with appropriate software), as well as specialized devices and systems (switches for communication networks, devices for collecting technological information, robots, automated control and management of technological processes, "electronic kiosks", automatic cash registers and gasoline sales systems). There is an overlap effect between the IT segments of the potential market and the forecast of the “real” market, which will determine the market conditions in the future.
The search for new integrated products and the need for rapid convergence are driving the desire for all-round collaboration of firms in the IT field. Success here largely depends on four factors.
1. Companies should strive for convergence with close or related enterprises, which strengthens the so-called “strategic core”.
2. Firms should strive to achieve a strong and lasting market position that can be achieved through joint efforts.
3. Companies should approach the selection of promising partners from a strategic position.
4. If there is a potential strategic partner, the IT vendor must be clear about what terms of the partnership will provide the maximum benefits prior to making a deal.
Thus, convergence appears as a multidimensional phenomenon, conditioned by the development of the other four "information trends". The convergence of integral market services is a clear example of the dominant value of an information product, the consumer's access to which is carried out through systems capable of interaction, which, in turn, leads to the elimination of intermediate links and traditional distribution channels, contributes to globalization.
The evolution of technical support, which includes hardware, communications, software, is uneven, leaps and bounds. The development of computer technology is still taking place in geometric progression. The performance of computers doubles every four years.
Apple Computer Corp., IBM Corp., Netscape Communications Corp., Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. presented a reference list of specifications and recommendations for the design of a network computer (NC, Network Computer). This is sometimes presented and perceived as death to the Wintel tandem (Windows + Intel) and personal computers in general. In short, the essence of a networked computer is that this device is in constant connection with the network, and allows more dense use of network resources. At the same time, it is possible to reduce the cost of the computer itself and its operation, to achieve independence of the software from the platform. Each NC is expected to have built-in WWW viewer software capable of executing network-loaded applications, eliminating the need for a hard disk. It is very similar to multi-terminal complexes with varying degrees of terminal intelligence, which have not taken root everywhere. Competition is forcing Microsoft and Intel to develop other implementations of these ideas, and they recently launched two initiatives to reduce the cost of running personal computers in an organization. These are called "Zero Administration" and NetPC (Networked Personal Computer). They provide for some points that intersect with the proposals of the initiators of the NC, but without revolutionary changes. The corresponding specification has been published, and the initiatives have received support from 96 leading manufacturers.
In mid-November 1996, a number of leading manufacturers announced the release of devices of the "Handheld PC" class (by analogy with a watch, this can be translated as a "wrist computer", but explained as follows: "a computer that you can work with while holding it in the palm of your hand"). It operates under a special version of Windows - Windows CE, designed specifically for a wide range of devices such as personal digital assistants, communication devices and laptop computers. Operating system, as well as simplified ("pocket") versions of the manager personal information, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and e-mail client are stored in ROM. Provides data exchange with the desktop PC and its applications, and, of course, access to the Internet. The weight of the device is no more than 500 g, the price is about $ 500 (the magic amount).
Concluding the conversation about a networked computer, it should be said that we, of course, will witness the emergence of many Networked Devices (in the sense of devices for accessing the Network). These will be devices for various purposes, both for household, entertainment and professional needs. Starting from set-top boxes to special devices for working with databases, for example, for ordering tickets in transport agencies. And it is not at all necessary that they be based on Java technology, it can also be a special version of Windows, as in the example described above. Along with such devices, there will also be a network computer itself, as it is now understood. Most likely, the main area of its application is specialized complexes. They will coexist with networked personal computers and other options, making up a small portion of the market.
All the leaders of the computer industry have released their strategic plans for the Internet / Intranet and the new technology stack, rushing to establish themselves as an Internet company in public opinion. Not doing this and not backing up your claims with deeds means losing customer confidence and losing. A corresponding strategy has been announced by Microsoft. An internal restructuring has already been carried out, a whole range of products for the Internet has been released, all existing products are supplemented by means of integration with the Internet, new technologies are being developed. Work is underway in independent committees and consortia to agree on standards. Microsoft today spends more on Internet research and development than any other company.
Do not lag behind the developers of computer technology and other developers of technical support. By the end of the century, it is planned to deploy a global satellite telephone network, consisting of 86 LEO satellites, which allows communication by satellite phone from anywhere in the world. A Russian missile manufacturer, the V.I. Khrunichev.
Anyone who thinks that the Internet was created only for "techies" is wrong. This global network is attracting more and more subscribers, for whom the computer is only a tool in their professional activities.
It is worth recalling the history of the development of the Internet. In the 1970s, the US military began developing a global network capable of withstanding nuclear war. This was achieved by the possibility of using servers in the form of a "web", that is, the routes of connecting computers of different users were almost endless. In the late 70s, universities and research centers were allowed access to the network, and in the 80s, the network was open to all users. A variety of standards, software, and computer hardware hindered the commercial use of the network in day-to-day activities.
The advent of WWW technology has revolutionized the use of the Internet. The Wold Wide Web (WWW) is the latest and fastest growing information technology on the Internet. In just six months, the number of WWW-servers in the world has increased from 3000 to 10000. And the "weaving of the web" continues, new data storages appear every day, containing a variety of information. Topics range from fly fishing and home brewing to movie reviews and electronic newspapers.
The WWW supports a set of standards that allow users to access information resources on the Internet. A distinctive feature of the Web is its hypertext means, which can be used to access information on the other side of the world without complex manipulations. The first strands of the "web" were woven in 1989 at Herne, European particle physics laboratory under the direction of Tim Berners-Lee. WWW was conceived as a holistic world in which information from any source is easily available on any type of computer, in any country, using standardized programs.
The WWW is a new medium for the publishing business and the number of publications appearing as electronic versions is constantly growing.
Another interesting fact is that, in contrast to the usual practice of global networks, when a user pays an entrance fee and pays for the "on-line" time, there is a tendency in the WWW towards a free service supported by advertising revenues.
This technology, coupled with the industry-record projected adoption of the Windows 95 operating system, will make the Internet as familiar as the telephone.
In industry, simulation systems make it possible to dispense with expensive testing and reduce the time to create products. Systems computer-aided design accelerate the design of complex products, make it possible to better use the potential of working groups. The electronic data transfer system allows for more efficient enterprise management, fast correspondence between partners, allows you to create working groups within the corporation that are not geographically united, and even due to the difference in time zones, to extend the time of work on projects.
New payment systems, card systems, electronic wallets, electronic clearing systems based on the achievements of IT are emerging in the banking system. Initially, the cards used the principle of magnetic tape, later it was possible to create microcircuits that have a miniature size, greater capabilities and better protection.
In relation to Russia, the following can be said. A good (stable) bank should work with clients on a range of services, best shape work is the user's permanent access to his account, which is provided by a plastic card. However, this requires large investments, so banks are forced to merge into various payment unions.
To service small payments, chip (smart) cards are used, periodically "recharged" by the owner. They do not require authorization for purchases and are more secure than conventional magnetic cards.
New IT makes it possible to expand the scope of services, speed up payments, and reduce the cost of money turnover.
Despite the difficulties in the state of the reliability and security of the Internet, the OpenFinancialConnectivity (OFS) specification has already emerged, which regulates financial transactions on the Internet and the MerchantServer trading system from Microsoft.
The entertainment industry is actively using the achievements of information technology in a variety of ways. This is the development of new computer games, new attractions, the use of IT in film and video production.
Complex software has flaws that can be exploited by outsiders (hackers) and exploited to their advantage. For example, a hacker stole about $ 7,000 from credit cards of Parex Bank, and a database on all cars credited to the hijacking not only from the former USSR, but also passing through the Interpol search bases, disappeared from the computers of the police of one Baltic republic. In 1993-1995, more than 300 attempts were recorded to penetrate the computer network of the Central Bank of Russia. For 8 months of 1996, material damage in Russia amounted to 7 million dollars, in 1995 - 250 billion rubles.
To prevent unauthorized access, expensive security systems are used, software is being improved.
When using software, there is a possibility of data loss from computer viruses that exploit software flaws. Due to the increasing cost of information, the losses can be very significant. Viruses are created by people, either mentally unhealthy, overwhelmed by destructive motives, or to harm the user using an unlicensed copy of the software, or a novice programmer who does not have a decent scope for his energy. For protection, you have to use special antivirus programs. It is gratifying to realize that Russian programmers are leaders in the development of antivirus software.
Due to the fact that there has now been a concentration in the information technology industry, and there are only a few large companies in each specialized area, the IT user is faced with the dilemma of choosing an information technology platform, since in the future he will depend on his supplier.
The ease of replication of information products allows you to easily violate the copyrights of the IP developer. This applies, first of all, to audio and video products, software. So, in the USA, according to rough estimates, 20% of the volume of all products is illegally used, in China - up to 80%, in Russia - about 70%. The way out for IP developers is the prosecution of "pirates", government pressure on countries that violate copyright. In particular, in Russia, Microsoft, Russian software manufacturers won several lawsuits against pirates in 1996. Symantec is going to do the same. And pirates in Russia are already switching to civilized methods of selling individual entrepreneurs. The US government is putting strong pressure on China to stop the illegal replication of information products, as a result of which illegal IP replication factories are being closed in China. The same is happening in Bulgaria.
At first glance, nothing supernatural is happening - the information industry is a new branch of technology, it has always developed rapidly, acceleration alternated with relatively smooth periods. What is happening today is compared with such milestones as the emergence of personal computers in the era of the dominance of mainframes and the widespread integration of personal computers into local networks. While agreeing with this comparison, we note, however, the evolutionary nature of the phenomenon. It's just that when people want to reflect the importance of a moment, they call it revolutionary - this is from the field of marketing.
No one can ignore new technologies that are pervasive in our lives, let alone the immediate benefits that consumers can derive from them today. The results of these efforts are already being translated into real projects.
As a result of the development of information technology and the high profitability of projects, many firms have been attracted to the industry. As a result, a situation of perfect competition was created. The result of today's heightened competition will be the improvement of IT, new industries will appear, the supply market will become more transparent.
These are the main features of the development of today's industrial business - this multifaceted phenomenon of this century, which is already competing with industry and in the future may be the main type of economic activity.
Market economy. In 3 volumes-V.2- "Business fundamentals" in 2 parts.-M .: Somintek, 1992.
Introduction to Information Business: Tutorial/ O.V. Golosov, S.A. Okhrimenko, A.V. Khoroshilov and others; Ed. V.P. Tikhomirova, A.V. Khoroshilova - M .: Finance and Statistics, 1996.
Information systems in economics: Textbook / Ed. prof. V.V. Dick. - M .: Finance and Statistics, 1996.
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