Introduction

1.Organizations use ICT in three main ways

Each way requires different sorts of software

- to make individuals and routine organisational processes more efficient and effective.

-automating routine processes e.g. using ES (cashier)

-individual productivity tools e.g. MS-Office

- to facilitate communication and collaboration between members of organisation and outside parties for non-routine processes.

 e.g. email, mobile phone, collaboration tools for designing and video conferencing.

- to collect and analyze information to improve decision making.

 e.g. business-intelligence tools, search engines, what-if analyses using spreadsheets.

2.Enterprise Systems

-Enterprise Systems (ESs) are large-scale and integrated packaged software applications that connect and manage processes and information flows across complex organizations.

-ES packaged software applications include:

-Enterprise Resource Planning

-Customers Relationship Management

-Suppliers Chain Management

-the software platforms on which these applications are built (e.g. SAP's NetWeaver)

-ESs are difficult, expensive and time-consuming to implement

The implementation cost is much more than the initial cost of the software.

3. Summary

- ICT is a major force in western organizations today.

- Organizations use ICT in three main ways: to do things, to communicate, and to obtain information.