Solutions Manual for Navigating Digital

Solutions Manual for Navigating Digital Transformation in Management (Business and Digital Transformation), 1e by Richard Busulwa (Selective Chapters, [Chapter 2-4],[8],[10-16] )

Chapter 2:

Getting out of the digital terminology zoo

IT, ICT, and Information Systems

• What is the difference between IT and ICT?

The term ICT (information communications technology) is sometimes used interchangeably with IT. It refers to the convergence or integration of IT with audio- visual technologies and telephone networks (e.g., media broadcasting technologies, audio and video transmission, and telephony). Thus, the term ICT can be thought of as an extended synonym for the term IT.

• What is the difference between IT and Information Systems?

Although people use the terms IT and IS interchangeably, information technology is actually a subset of information systems. As a subset, it typically only focuses on the technology component of information systems. IT specialists focus on ensuring the organization has the right hardware and software products, installing them, customizing them, integrating them with existing products, maintaining them, supporting users to use them, and ensuring that the security, availability, and accessibility of each product (and of the information system as a whole) is optimized.IT specialists typically require degrees in information technology or computer science. Within such degrees, they often specialize in hardware and/or software areas such as network design, hardware design, software design, software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things (IoT).They enter jobs such as network architects, software developers, IT systems analysts, security analysts, web developers, systems administrators, software product man- agers, and IT managers.

• Is Information Systems a part of IT or is IT a part of information systems? Does it

matter which is a part of which? 1 / 4

IT is part (or a subset) of information systems. Yes, it matters as it can lead to misunderstandings, trivialization of the importance of one or all terms, and feelings of overwhelm for some stakeholders outside of the IT or IS profession (at times even within the IT/IS professions). It is these misunderstandings of the slippery and overlapping terms that often drives some managers to trivialize, or only see a part of, the importance and value of information systems and digital technologies to business operations and strategy. In turn, this leads them to misunderstand their role in IS and digital technology issues and therefore sideline them, or to see such issues as ones that can be relegated to the IT/IS/Technology function. This misunderstanding and the resultant attitudes and actions can be a risk to both managers’ careers and the fates of their organizations.

IT, Information Systems, and Digital Technologies

• What is the best metaphor you can think of to explain the interrelationship between

digital technologies and information systems?

Lots of different metaphors can be used here. E.g.:

-digital technologies are like a catalyst for information systems -digital technologies are like jigsaw pieces in an information system -digital technologies are like components of a computer -digital technologies are like building components of an IS building -digital technologies are like athletes on an IS team

• Are digital technologies a part of IT or is IT a part of digital technologies?

Digital technologie scan be a part of IT and IT can be a part of digital technologies.The term “digital technologies” refers to combinations of information (or data), computing (or computation), communication, and connectivity technologies. Digital technologies include all types of electronic hardware and software that use information in the form of binary code (information represented by strings of 0's and 1's). Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal computers, calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite technology, high-definition television, the internet and other networks, software applications, email, mobile apps etc.

• What is the role of digital technologies in information systems?
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Used the right way, information systems can become very pow- erful strategic weapons capable of conferring often insurmountable strategic advantages. The right digital technologies can supercharge this strategic power of information systems by drastically enhancing how efficiently and effectively such information systems function. For example, the right combination of digital technologies can speed up the rate at which data flows between hardware, software, networks, business processes, and people, making it near instant. The right combination of digital technologies can transform all of an organization’s infrastructure (buildings, machinery, furniture, cars, stationery, etc.) into smart things capable of collecting data, communicating data, and acting on data insights, and doing all of these things autonomously. The right combination of digital technologies can enable an organization’s employees to work from anywhere in the world, to collaborate with any of the organization’s infrastructure and other physical things, and to serve large numbers of customers globally in real time, irrespective of their location. The right combination of digital technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of interactions between people, technology, and processes. These examples only scratch the surface of the power of digital technologies to supercharge the strategic power of information systems.

• What are five different types of digital technologies?

Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal computers, calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite technology, high- definition television, the inter- net and other networks, software applications, email, and mobile apps.

They also include emerging digital technologies such as the internet of things, blockchain, LPWAN, LEO satellites,

• Assuming that an organization is not already using the digital technologies you

identified in question 7, how could using them improve each component of an information system?

Answers will vary depending on the specific digital technologies chosen. Below is a suggested solution for one digital technology (the internet of things)

Information System Component Improvement / Positive Impact Hardware IoT can enable bringing all IS hardware online so that real-time monitoring and preventative maintenance of IS 3 / 4

hardware can occur to minimise disruptions in IS functioning.Software IoT enables software to play a significantly expanded role in IS. For example, instead of the activities software can perform being limited to a specific device (e.g. a computer), these activities can be expanded to every internet enabled thing (e.g. other software, all online hardware, connected buildings, connected devices etc.).This enables software to coordinate / facilitate the performance of almost all activities people and machines are able to perform.Data The IoT significantly expands the availability of data and the ability to route data to different parts of an IS. This can profoundly change the efficiency and effectiveness of decision making throughout the IS.Network The IoT can significantly improve network efficiency and effectiveness through real-time monitoring and preventative maintenance of network hardware and software.People The IoT can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of people within IS. For example, by enabling them to real- time decision-making information.Processes The IoT can profoundly improve efficiency and effectiveness of processes. For example, through real- time monitoring of activities within IS, through automation of activities within IS, and through expanded integration of activities within IS.

• Assuming that an organization is not already using the digital technologies you

identified above, how could using them improve the functioning of its information systems? (e.g. how would using them impact efficiency, effectiveness, strategic position?)

Depending on the digital technologies identified, examples of improvements in IS

functioning due to use of digital technologies includes:

• Speeding up the rate at which data flows between hardware, software, networks,

business processes, and people, making it near instant.

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