E-commerce, the buying and selling of goods and services on the internet, specially the World Wilde Web (Ketel, Nelson, 2008, on-line), offers safety to its costumers and on-line merchants. Most costumers and businesses today worry about safety on their online shopping and selling, and E-commerce provides that trustworthy reputation, and privacy of information they wanted.
Many E-businesses want their costumers to feel secure while doing business with them. Amazon, for example, provide to its costumers a way to check the opinions and suggestions of other costumers who recently purchased some product. Costumers have access to those types of information and be assured of the quality and safety of their choice. Some people worry if it is safe to buy a product from a specific web-site or online merchant. eBay, which is a famous example of a E-commerce site, has a system on which costumers can check the reputation and history of registered sellers in the eBay web-site. That is a great tool to help costumers make a safe choice while purchasing products from E-bay web-site. In fact, the Vice President of Trust and Safety for eBay, Robert Chesnut, said that, “the Internet
makes it easy for shoppers to compare products within or between stores, to read product
reviews from other customers, to access vendor return policies and to find warranty
information.”
Regarding to payments and sharing of personal information in an online marketplace, Chesnut also said, “ In fact, online transactions can be as secure, if not more secure than payments mad by mail or in a store; and fraud can be avoided if costumers understand a few simple steps they should take when they enter the online marketplace.” Five steps are suggested by Chesnut to ensure costumers of a safe experience in the online marketplace. They are:
Learn as much as possible about the product and seller;
Understand the retailers' refund policies;
Choose a secure password to protect account information;
Use a secure checkout and payment process;
If an offer sounds highly suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.
As consumers pay attention on those steps, they can be assure of safe transactions.
Also, online businesses many times use companies, such as McAfee, to secure their Websites and create a trust mark. “To allay consumer fears and boost confidence, many online businesses use trust marks—seals, logos and icons displayed on a Web site that provide information about what steps an online merchant is taking to protect its customers" (Yankee Group, online). Online businesses build a trust marks such as Reputation, Privacy and Secure Sockets Layer.
My Personal Finance class required me to research the advantages and disadvantages of some Banks. As I researched some of Banks in Utah, I found out that many of them offers online baking, which is a kind of E-commerce. After I learned about the different options each Bank provided, I came to know that online banking is very safe and help me to optimize time as well. I am confident that this kind of E-commerce is secure and brings many advantages and benefits as well.
E-commerce can be considered safe and it offers the security consumers need. As we pay attention and learn about product and seller, policies, protect our information with secure passwords and use a safe check out and payment process we all can enjoy and good and safe experience in the online marketplace. Give a try.
Sources:
Ketel, Mark van; Nelson, Tim D., 2008, SearchCIO.com, http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid182_gci212029,00.html
Chesnut, Robert; E-commerce Safety Guide, (https://www.paypal.com/en_US/pdf/PayPal_Safety.pdf)
Yankee Group,online (http://www.mcafeesecure.com/content/mfes/trustmarkcampaign.jsp?gclid=CIL26__lwJ0CFRgbawod1hMDrQ
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I had a great experience learning about how to use Pivot Tables. It was very helpful while I was trying to find "meaningful" numbers that would help me to study the information in a given table. I did not know the availability, neither how to use, the Pivot Table tool. I was really excited to know that I could use in Excel a tool I thought was only available in Access.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Decision Support Systems (DSS) are essential for businesses that try to have a competitive advantage, provide services that will benefit costumers, and make correct and proper decisions. Decision Support Systems are “a specific class of computerized information system that supports business and organizational decision-making activities; they are intended to help decision makers compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make decisions” (informationbuilders.com, 2009 ). The next few examples show us how vital Decision Support Systems are to facilitated decision-making.
While I was working for Monte Klinikum Hospital in Brazil, I was able to see the Hospital managers using many IT systems, Business Intelligence, and more specifically the use of Decision Support Systems to decide if they should offer new services in the Hospital. After they did that, they received reports and identified that about forty percent of patients who came to the Hospital were foreigners. Using that information managers decided to offer a service of translation to those who’s Portuguese was not the first language. The Hospital even created a website in English to better serve foreigner costumers.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) also help me to make correct choices according to my needs and circumstances. In my Personal Finance class, for example, I use Excel to create some spreadsheets and to keep track of my personal budget. After gathering and analyzing all the information needed, I then begging trying to extract “the true meaning of the information” I have. (Haag, Cummings, Philips, 2007, pg.180) Through some Decision Support Systems I am able to see the directions I need to make. In fact, at the end of September I was able to analyze my budget for that month and realized that I almost went over the amount I had available for that month. As I compared that month with the ones prior I found out that I had spent too much money in entertainment and clothing. After that I understood the problems in my budget, and I made a plan of action to help me to balance my budget.
Even in the scriptures we learn the pattern of carefully analyze information, and then, make a decision based on what was learned and explored. For example, Moroni exhorts us to read the records has was making available. Not only that, he also urges us to ponder about the information, or in other words, to analyze and consider such information. Moroni then promises that if we do these things we will be able to make good and accurate decisions (Moroni 10:3-4). Also, Oliver Cowdery was instructed by the Lord to consider and study things before taking action. The Lord told Oliver, “Behold, you have not understood; I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind…” (Doctrine and Convenats9:7-8). Also, the Lord said to Oliver, “Do these things which I (the Lord) have commanded you, and you shall prosper.” Through Oliver’s experience we may learn that to make good decisions and to prosper we need to study and consider information.
In a near future I will be using Decision Support Systems to chose which Bank I will be investing some money. I want to compare and analyze carefully the advantages regarding to interest, fees, and even the different kinds of services offered by each Bank. After I use some IT tools to do that I will be able to decide which Bank will be more beneficial.
Also, in the future I will be able to use techniques I have been learning in class to manage the business I will be working for. Choosing solutions, evaluating data, estimate consequences, and deciding what costumers need and want are things I will be doing because of the principles I am learning in my IS 240 class. I will be a more capable manager.
Decision Support Systems are truly a great help to help us understand a course of action and to make precise and needful decisions.
Works Cited:
· Haag, Cummings, Philips. (2007). Management Information System for the Information Age, p 180. 2007: New York City.
· informationbuilders.com, 2009, Information Builders, 02 October 2009< http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss.html>
Bibliography
· Informationweek.com
· MISQ Journal
· LDSBC Library Databases.
While I was working for Monte Klinikum Hospital in Brazil, I was able to see the Hospital managers using many IT systems, Business Intelligence, and more specifically the use of Decision Support Systems to decide if they should offer new services in the Hospital. After they did that, they received reports and identified that about forty percent of patients who came to the Hospital were foreigners. Using that information managers decided to offer a service of translation to those who’s Portuguese was not the first language. The Hospital even created a website in English to better serve foreigner costumers.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) also help me to make correct choices according to my needs and circumstances. In my Personal Finance class, for example, I use Excel to create some spreadsheets and to keep track of my personal budget. After gathering and analyzing all the information needed, I then begging trying to extract “the true meaning of the information” I have. (Haag, Cummings, Philips, 2007, pg.180) Through some Decision Support Systems I am able to see the directions I need to make. In fact, at the end of September I was able to analyze my budget for that month and realized that I almost went over the amount I had available for that month. As I compared that month with the ones prior I found out that I had spent too much money in entertainment and clothing. After that I understood the problems in my budget, and I made a plan of action to help me to balance my budget.
Even in the scriptures we learn the pattern of carefully analyze information, and then, make a decision based on what was learned and explored. For example, Moroni exhorts us to read the records has was making available. Not only that, he also urges us to ponder about the information, or in other words, to analyze and consider such information. Moroni then promises that if we do these things we will be able to make good and accurate decisions (Moroni 10:3-4). Also, Oliver Cowdery was instructed by the Lord to consider and study things before taking action. The Lord told Oliver, “Behold, you have not understood; I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind…” (Doctrine and Convenats9:7-8). Also, the Lord said to Oliver, “Do these things which I (the Lord) have commanded you, and you shall prosper.” Through Oliver’s experience we may learn that to make good decisions and to prosper we need to study and consider information.
In a near future I will be using Decision Support Systems to chose which Bank I will be investing some money. I want to compare and analyze carefully the advantages regarding to interest, fees, and even the different kinds of services offered by each Bank. After I use some IT tools to do that I will be able to decide which Bank will be more beneficial.
Also, in the future I will be able to use techniques I have been learning in class to manage the business I will be working for. Choosing solutions, evaluating data, estimate consequences, and deciding what costumers need and want are things I will be doing because of the principles I am learning in my IS 240 class. I will be a more capable manager.
Decision Support Systems are truly a great help to help us understand a course of action and to make precise and needful decisions.
Works Cited:
· Haag, Cummings, Philips. (2007). Management Information System for the Information Age, p 180. 2007: New York City.
· informationbuilders.com, 2009, Information Builders, 02 October 2009< http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss.html>
Bibliography
· Informationweek.com
· MISQ Journal
· LDSBC Library Databases.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Databases and efficency
The main role of Databases in my point of view is to improve efficiency in general way. One the reasons and example of why I feel this way is that great number of organizations today, if not all, that use Databases to quickly, and with greater efficacy, share and provide information and service to both managers and costumers. And the second example is how more productive and efficient my studies have been because of the use of databases.
I have noticed that many businesses use different types of databases to save and use the information they need regarding sales, supplies (inventory) and suppliers, marketing, and costumer information. Theses business, then, can share crucial information with other branches of the business. Also, through the databases businesses can create a better relationship with their costumers by offering better services and provide the services costumers need or want. A great example of how this works is the Smith's Supermarket. All the stores of Smith's offer a free card for discounts as costumers purchase products. To get such a card they ask you to fill out a paper with your personal information, which is stored in a computer. When a person uses the card after buy groceries at Smith's, the information of which of Smith's store you were and the products you purchased goes to a computer system. These information later is used to control product sales in each individual store, and what kind of products individuals from a specific area are buy most. Managers and business intelligence can later use their databases to more efficiently and quickly evaluate the information received and make strategic plans to accurately invest in market, and offer quality service and different products according to the need of each area stores are located. I can see how more effective business can be using databases, and I also can see so great efficiency as I have used databases to help me in my studies.
I always need to do researches for my English class. Libraries are a great source to help me on my researches; not only because of books that are available there, bu also because of the internet databases they offer. A few years ago when I was living in Brazil I went to a old library to do a research for one of my classes in high school. There was only book catalogs there, and database researches were not available. Even though I could use a book to find some the information I needed it would be much more efficient for my research purposes if I could use some databases I would be able to find specific information, online documents and encyclopedia articles. It is clear that the use of databases maximize the efficacy of my activities today and in the future.
As I desire to be an Executive Business Manager I realize that an intelligent use of databases will help me and my company to increase our productivity and our business in general. I see myself using data warehouses for the “manipulation of information to support decision making.” (Haag, Cummings, Phillips, 2007, 124) This kind of databases will help me as a professional to understand and create business intelligence (BI), and have an advantage in a competitive market ahead. As Doug Henschen said, “ Business Intelligence initiative continues to top CIO priorities, as executives from the boardroom on down demand better visibility”.
Another impact databases will have on me in the future is for the use of it in genealogy. I have always been interested in genealogy, and will need the great advantage databases give to me in my efforts to find my ancestors. Through databases available I can search documents, records, birth and death certificates, and many other types of information that will allow me, eventually, to find all my forefathers. This kind of databases are the most efficient way to assist me on the pursue of the names of my deceased family.
Overall, it is simple to see that databases in general are a wonderful tool to increase businesses efficiency as it does efficiently helps me through my education and ambitions for the future.
Sources:
Haag, Stephen, Maeve Cummings, and Amy Phillips. Management Information System for the Information Age. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007. Print.
Henschen, Doug. "4 Technologies That Are Reshaping Business Intelligence." Informationweek.com. 29 Aug. 09. Web. 30 Aug. 09..
I have noticed that many businesses use different types of databases to save and use the information they need regarding sales, supplies (inventory) and suppliers, marketing, and costumer information. Theses business, then, can share crucial information with other branches of the business. Also, through the databases businesses can create a better relationship with their costumers by offering better services and provide the services costumers need or want. A great example of how this works is the Smith's Supermarket. All the stores of Smith's offer a free card for discounts as costumers purchase products. To get such a card they ask you to fill out a paper with your personal information, which is stored in a computer. When a person uses the card after buy groceries at Smith's, the information of which of Smith's store you were and the products you purchased goes to a computer system. These information later is used to control product sales in each individual store, and what kind of products individuals from a specific area are buy most. Managers and business intelligence can later use their databases to more efficiently and quickly evaluate the information received and make strategic plans to accurately invest in market, and offer quality service and different products according to the need of each area stores are located. I can see how more effective business can be using databases, and I also can see so great efficiency as I have used databases to help me in my studies.
I always need to do researches for my English class. Libraries are a great source to help me on my researches; not only because of books that are available there, bu also because of the internet databases they offer. A few years ago when I was living in Brazil I went to a old library to do a research for one of my classes in high school. There was only book catalogs there, and database researches were not available. Even though I could use a book to find some the information I needed it would be much more efficient for my research purposes if I could use some databases I would be able to find specific information, online documents and encyclopedia articles. It is clear that the use of databases maximize the efficacy of my activities today and in the future.
As I desire to be an Executive Business Manager I realize that an intelligent use of databases will help me and my company to increase our productivity and our business in general. I see myself using data warehouses for the “manipulation of information to support decision making.” (Haag, Cummings, Phillips, 2007, 124) This kind of databases will help me as a professional to understand and create business intelligence (BI), and have an advantage in a competitive market ahead. As Doug Henschen said, “ Business Intelligence initiative continues to top CIO priorities, as executives from the boardroom on down demand better visibility”.
Another impact databases will have on me in the future is for the use of it in genealogy. I have always been interested in genealogy, and will need the great advantage databases give to me in my efforts to find my ancestors. Through databases available I can search documents, records, birth and death certificates, and many other types of information that will allow me, eventually, to find all my forefathers. This kind of databases are the most efficient way to assist me on the pursue of the names of my deceased family.
Overall, it is simple to see that databases in general are a wonderful tool to increase businesses efficiency as it does efficiently helps me through my education and ambitions for the future.
Sources:
Haag, Stephen, Maeve Cummings, and Amy Phillips. Management Information System for the Information Age. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007. Print.
Henschen, Doug. "4 Technologies That Are Reshaping Business Intelligence." Informationweek.com. 29 Aug. 09. Web. 30 Aug. 09.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A competitive World ( Chapter 2)
More often than never before, small companies or big businesses use technology available to expand and offer better services and products. Many businesses have the so called creative works, which provide ideas, solutions and information to help their companies to see ahead and have a advantage against their competitors. Even though the technology that is out there is the same for everybody, the difference it makes in a competitive market is how companies use the information technology to present quality service to costumes and collect needful information.
SAP is a great example of an effective business strategy and how successful and competitive it is. In a B2B relationship SAP provides a comprehensive range of enterprise software applications and business solutions – designed for global operations and supported with globalization services – to empower every aspect of a business. On its website SAP gives a definition of how its Strategic IT provides and “deliver the efficiency, insight, and flexibility organizations need and “close the gap between business strategy and execution so as to sustain their competitive edge.”
Also, n Brazil a Pharmacy called Pague Menos developed an innovative way to offer a better service to its costumers. Pague Menos started to offer a online service allowing costumers to buy products online and have them delivered in lees than a hour. Pague Menos had a Computer Integrated System that connected them with their suppliers (partners). It was able to share the information of the quantity and type of products needed with the closest supplier to the address of delivery, optimizing time and presenting a fast and affective service to the costumer.
“(Business Intelligence) initiative continues to top CIO priorities, as executives from the boardroom on down demand better visibility” said from InformationWeek (August 29, 2009 12:02 AM (From the August 31, 2009 issue).He pointed out four technologies that are going to maximize the efficiency of BI and they will influence also define and give much advantage to organizations in a competitive market. Henschen wrote “Next-generation BI arrived, three major factors are driving it: the spread of predictive analytics, more real-time performance monitoring, and much faster analysis, thanks to in-memory BI. A fourth factor, software as a service, promises to further alter the BI market by helping companies get these next-generation systems running more quickly. Predictive analytics is a white-hot growth segment that got hotter with IBM's $1.2 billion deal to buy SPSS, a company that uses algorithms and combinations of calculations to spot trends, risks, and opportunities in ways not possible with historical reporting” (InformationWeek (August 29, 2009 12:02 AM (From the August 31, 2009 issue).
In a very competitive market I need to learn how to creatively and effectively use IT to prepare for the future,. I know that the same technologies that will be available to me will also be available to my competitors, but as I use the technology and information given to me in a way that is innovative and wanted I will be ahead on the race business competion.
Sources:
http://www.sap.com/usa/services/index.epx
(Management Information Systems for the Information Age, fourth edition)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Information technology today and the future
Recently, it seems that new technologies have been developed every day. Becoming aware of what is new as well as the tendencies for the future in the Computer World and Information Technology can affect and bring new horizons to our education and careers. Observing and understanding better the impact computer technologies have in the world today has made me ponder on how it influences my educational, personal and professional life.
When I think that about only 20 years ago most students had just a calculator to do their Balance Sheets in their Accounting classes I realized how hard it was for them to finish that task. On my college experience, I have seen how much Electronic Brains we call computers are useful and helpful in my education. For example, I have an Accounting class in which I am required to do Balance Sheets or Income Statements. The use of a computer, more specifically the Excel in this case, is a remarkable tool that helps me to do these activities and save all data necessary in a few minutes instead of hours if I would use a calculator like students needed to do years ago.
These advantages influence not only my education, but also, my personal life in general.
Even in my activities related to church I have been deeply benefited by the rapidly pace Information Technology grows. While trying to do the genealogy of my family I have been favored by an enormous amount of data which provides me with records of deceased people from all over the world, where they were borne, where they died, who were their parents and sometimes, even the information about their other relatives. This program’s name is Family Search, which provides many features that allow searches for deceased family members by name, place of birth, place of death or date of birth and death, allowing me to find those family members who came before me and their history. The influence that Information Technology has had in my education and personal life is enormous and it will have even a greater impact in my professional life and my future.
When I think about my future, specifically professionally speaking, I can see that I will need the advantages offered by technologies available today and the new ones that surely will be developed in a few years. I plan to be a part of the Business World as a professional. "Immediacy of informationis incredibly valuable to everything in our business, because it's changing very, very rapidly." (Michael Dell, Management Information Systems for the Information Age, fourth edition). I know that with all the data I can have, receive and store because of computer programs or software I will be able to learn and find out what my costumers need or want, for example, allowing me to offer better service and a way that I will always increase the quality of services or products I will be selling and offering. My future as a professional will be successful as I learn to use the tools that are accessible because of the Information Technology available to me.
Looking forward to a brilliant and triumphant future, I am willing and excited to learn and master the use of all technology that will improve my life and all aspects. Doing that I know I will be ready to a better professional, a faster learner and progress even more in my personal life.
When I think that about only 20 years ago most students had just a calculator to do their Balance Sheets in their Accounting classes I realized how hard it was for them to finish that task. On my college experience, I have seen how much Electronic Brains we call computers are useful and helpful in my education. For example, I have an Accounting class in which I am required to do Balance Sheets or Income Statements. The use of a computer, more specifically the Excel in this case, is a remarkable tool that helps me to do these activities and save all data necessary in a few minutes instead of hours if I would use a calculator like students needed to do years ago.
These advantages influence not only my education, but also, my personal life in general.
Even in my activities related to church I have been deeply benefited by the rapidly pace Information Technology grows. While trying to do the genealogy of my family I have been favored by an enormous amount of data which provides me with records of deceased people from all over the world, where they were borne, where they died, who were their parents and sometimes, even the information about their other relatives. This program’s name is Family Search, which provides many features that allow searches for deceased family members by name, place of birth, place of death or date of birth and death, allowing me to find those family members who came before me and their history. The influence that Information Technology has had in my education and personal life is enormous and it will have even a greater impact in my professional life and my future.
When I think about my future, specifically professionally speaking, I can see that I will need the advantages offered by technologies available today and the new ones that surely will be developed in a few years. I plan to be a part of the Business World as a professional. "Immediacy of informationis incredibly valuable to everything in our business, because it's changing very, very rapidly." (Michael Dell, Management Information Systems for the Information Age, fourth edition). I know that with all the data I can have, receive and store because of computer programs or software I will be able to learn and find out what my costumers need or want, for example, allowing me to offer better service and a way that I will always increase the quality of services or products I will be selling and offering. My future as a professional will be successful as I learn to use the tools that are accessible because of the Information Technology available to me.
Looking forward to a brilliant and triumphant future, I am willing and excited to learn and master the use of all technology that will improve my life and all aspects. Doing that I know I will be ready to a better professional, a faster learner and progress even more in my personal life.
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