As we are all aware, global
business has increased over the last several years and through the use of
international information technology, companies can now design part of a
product in one country, engineer it in another, manufacture it in a different
country on the other side of the globe, and lastly sell it to whatever
countries will buy the product. But first, a framework must be constructed and
it’s called the international information systems architecture. This simply
means understanding the key information your company needs to conduct global
trade or business. The flow begins with your business drivers and challenges to
corporate global strategies, organization structure, management and business
processes and lastly, technology platform. Once the company knows each piece of
the flow chart, then you will be able to choose the right technology platform
to meet your needs for global business.
Just thinking of the hundreds of
different software applications and hardware we have at my employer is a chore
to keep up with. Imagine the mixture of hardware, software, and
telecommunications you would have across the globe, even within one company.
Many systems won’t be compatible with others and one laptop in the US will vary
greatly from a laptop in Africa. Companies need to recognize these challenges
and agree on common user requirements and coordinate applications and software
development in an effort to manage the global IT systems. Also, updating and
improving key business processes can help.
In addition to the basic challenges
of different hardware and software, there are also cultural, political, religious,
and language diversities that can affect global systems. These factors should
be kept in mind when designing a global IT system. Also, a company needs to
decide if they will build their own global network or use a virtual or Internet
network to support their global IT system. Implementing an incredibly in depth
and detailed global system is overall a huge undertaking and can be met with
many challenges but in the end, an effective global IT system can take a mediocre
company and change it into a global success.
Source: Laudon, Kenneth C. &
Jane P. Laudon. Management Information
Systems: Managing the Digital Firm 12th ed. Pearson Hall, 2010.
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