Basia Burch created GEOMETRY-133:
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Summary: Information Technology Contribute
Key: GEOMETRY-133
URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/GEOMETRY-133
Project: Apache Commons Geometry
Issue Type: Bug
Reporter: Basia Burch
Information technology (IT) has significantly affected many organizations. The
dramatic growth of the Internet and telecommunications technologies offers
various benefits to organizations. For instance it allows many supporting
operations to be outsourced to countries like India, Singapore, Philippines and
the like.
Some IT products such as the Internet, Intranet, voice mail, e-mail, voice and
video conferencing, groupware, Web services, and knowledge management can help
organizations to provide faster, more efficient, and more complete services to
the customers.
Before discussing whether information technology contributes to organizational
performance, let us define organizational performance. Although many
researchers have tried to provide a clear definition of performance, there is
still no universal definition t. In general, organizational performance refers
to how well an organization is doing relative to a predetermined set of
standards.
For example, let us say, the company "ABC Logistics Inc." might define their
performance in terms of quick response time, improve customer service, reduce
error, improve data control, reduce paperwork, reduce manpower in terms of
percentage as a goal for this year. If we want to see the role of IT in
organizational performance for this company, we need to investigate how IT
contributes to these performance indicators.
I should confess that I have not done any serious extensive research to explore
how IT contributes to organizational performance. However I have looked at the
IT enabled activities of 2010 Baldrige Winners to explore the role of IT in
organizational performance. For those who are not familiar with Baldrige award,
let me give a quick summary about the award. The U.S. government established
the Baldrige Award in 1987 to promote awareness of quality excellence; to
recognize quality achievements of U.S. companies, and to publicize successful
quality strategies. The dual goals of the Baldrige criteria are to improve
value to customers, which results in marketplace success, and to improve
overall financial and company performance to meet the needs of shareholders,
owners, and other stakeholders.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) manages the award and
it may be given each year in six categories such as manufacturing, service,
small business, health care, education, and nonprofit organizations. The Award
criteria classify performance into five major categories: customer evaluation
of product and services, financial and market results, human resource results,
supplier and partner performance, and organizational effectiveness results.
Below shows the Information Technology enabled Activities of 2010 Baldrige
Winners.
MEDRAD: This Company develops, markets, and services medical devices that
diagnose and treat disease. In this company, Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) databases being used to understand the voice of customers. They use
extensive IT networks to understand the voice of processes. They use Systems
Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) to manage their daily
operations. Also, MEDRAD utilizes SharePoint extranet capability to establish
collaboration forums with key partners and outside organizations, including
suppliers and OEMs. Databases and IT tools being used for collecting and
transferring workforce knowledge.
Freese and Nichols Inc: It is a water and wastewater engineering firm from
Texas, US. Their majority of work was done by CAD and 3-D software. They use
web-based software for project management, accounting and payroll functions;
they use customer surveys to identify customer needs. They use databases to
store all type of data including clients, staffs and projects. Employees
working in multiple locations have laptops. Web, audio, and video conferencing,
as well as chat and desktop sharing being used to support collaboration across
all locations. Electronic newsletters being used to communicate organizational
updates. Microsoft Outlook is being used for day-to-day communications.
Studer Group: It is a healthcare consulting firm in the US. They use public
websites and emails as one of the approaches to obtain information about
customer. Also, they use Portal, VPN access, online expense reporting systems
for Information Sharing.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS): They use electronic grade book, online
assessment applications, and Web-based application for completion of the state
Individualized Education (IEP) form; online student surveys and online Parent
surveys to handle their day to day operations effectively. Similarly, a
web-based system for human resource management and online access to MCPS
curriculum guides being used help the students. Also, a Web-enabled solution
being used for tracking and managing MCPS financial business functions
K & M Management: This company operates two fast-casual restaurant in Texas,
US. Real-Time dashboard being used for decision making and process management.
Likewise, Website, e-mail, and phone communication being used to gather guest
comments.
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital: This hospital uses various IT products
including Network attached and wireless computers, Voice over Internet Protocol
(VOIP) telecommunication devices Wi-Fi connections, a secure internet portal
and secure hardware based business-to-business virtual private network
computers. Microsoft Online Services being used for email communications. Also,
Decision support tools/resources including electronic scorecards on the GSAM
G2G intranet, the AHC data warehouse (CHIS), the Advocate Learning Exchange
(AleX), Nursing Compass, Revenue Cycle Compass and AMS are being used for
decision making and process management. Likewise, electronic medical record
(EMR) system, e-ICU® technology, Centralized telemetry system and Electronic
bed board information system being used to help patients. Also External GSAM
website being used to provide patients, families, and the community the ability
to find a doctor, research an illness, register for various health programs and
screenings.
*Check out this article: [https://complextime.com/]*
If we look at the previous year awards recipients, we can see the IT role in
organizational performance. For example, few awards recipients have used Online
computer databases to find customer growth opportunities; paperless technology
(EDI and electronic funds transfer) for customer communication; data warehouse
to measure the performance of processes; appropriate software for SPC charts,
process control charts, design of experiments, and Intranet; and VPN and Lotus
Notes and e-mails for information sharing. Likewise, few recipients have used
Real-Time dashboard and customized software for decision making and process
management, Internet as communication medium and installed various software
including payroll software; accounting software; production software to handle
the processes effectively. Also, few used Dashboard/balanced scorecard for
strategic planning, Internet/intranet for customer relations, and a centralized
IT enterprise network (some of the components included EDI, paper, fax,
intranet, e-mail, personal computer bedside workstations, and voice
recognition) for better management and online training to employees.
By looking at the IT enabled activities of Baldrige Winners, I would say
Information Technology contributes to Organizational Performance. An effective
IT system and various IT-related products can provide the infrastructure to
facilitate information flow between processes; between people inside and
outside of an organization; help organizations to automate more processes;
provide more flexibility and several other benefits which can be closed to link
to organizational performance. In summary IT can act as an enabler to improve
organizational performance.
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