INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information technology (IT) involves the study and application of computers and any type of telecommunications that store, retrieve, study, transmit, manipulate data and send information. Information technology involves a combination of hardware and software that is used to perform the essential tasks that people need and use on the everyday basis.
Most IT professionals work with an organization and technically understand what they need in order to meet their needs, showing them what the current technology that is available to perform their required tasks, then their current implementing technology in the setup, or creating a whole new set up. Information technology in today’s world understates the scope of the critical career field.
The 1958 article published in the Harvard Business Review that information technology consists of three basic parts: computational data processing, decision support, and business software. Information technology refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or people working with these technologies.
Many companies now have IT departments to manage computers, networks and other technical areas of their businesses. IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, web development, technical support, and many other related occupations.
Since we live in the “world of information”, information technology has become a part of our daily lives. In the coming decades, many corporations will create so-called “IT departments” to manage computer technologies related to their business.
BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEFINITION
The importance of Information Technology in business is vast. It helps each and every business sector in automating their processes and their systems to target objectives, generate revenue and reduce inefficiency of their work. The value of Business information technology is increasing day by day in areas such as in commercial transactions, to fulfill demands of customers and regulatory requirements.
The purpose behind Business Information Technology is to fulfill the everyday growing needs of industries and to fulfill the growing expectations of customers of every field.
To maintain the balance between complex computer systems and right practices of business, employers eye on sound business information technology.
Business IT backs the companies in a hardware system, software, system and all the changes in procedures. With the proper technology management, serving customers more will become really easy as it helps in increasing employee engagement, gives access to information and provides flexibility in responding to business challenges.
IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANIZATION
Information technology helps to build and grow the commerce and business sector and generate maximum possible output. The time taken by different sectors to generate business is now minimized with an advancement in Information technology. It provides electronic security, storage, and efficient communication. Gives access to information and provides flexibility in responding to business challenges.
To conduct the work, Information technology needs computer applications. Computers connect IT to the different organizations of the world. It helps the employees to maintain records of their numerous clients of various companies. It helps patients to contact physicians’ online and take advice regarding their health problems. Also, records of patients can be managed properly by the system.
To collect information, programming/coding, data conversion, data communications retrieval and storage, system analysis are used. Even the education sector has been dramatically changed with the arrival of Information Technology. To run business in the right way and generate expected outcomes, computers, software, and the internet helps a lot.
Companies are now having the virtual vaults which is a new form of storage system which allows users to keep or withdraw their documents. The IT department is providing a strong communication system to communicate effectively.
The use of computers and the internet increases the quality of education. The pedagogical method of teaching and learning has been improving and IT contributes to improve school systems, student’s activities and teaching practices.
Students are more open to learn with modern technologies and focusing on online teaching more. Their learning methods are depending on live interaction with the teachers and special classes for special children.
Students are not bound to use the same old traditional method of learning. And all this made possible by the introduction of Information Technology in the education field and the importance of technology can be seen.
The aura of Information technology can be seen in almost all fields including work, learning, leisure, and health. From ministries to classrooms, every sector uses IT for the best results.
Physicians also use Information technology to check record entries, patient history and their prescribed dose to move accordingly. The use of Information technology can also be seen in agriculture and to increase productivity. Satellites are connected with agriculture to predict monsoon and smog. Through drone technology, mass data collection, land survey, use of pesticides, seeds planting, water irrigation, and use of fertilizers are possible.
USES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
We can see the uses and role of information technology in our society in many fields:
Business
Since the arrival of computers, the entire face of the business world has been changed. To run the different departments of business swiftly, use of Information Technology is important and it is possible with computers and software. The use of information technology can be seen in departments such as finance, human resources, manufacturing, and security. Role of IT can’t be ignored.
Education
Technology enables teachers to be up to date with new techniques and help their students to be updated with latest technologies such as use of tablets, mobile phones, computers, etc. in education. Information technology not only helps students to learn new things but also helps students of college dropouts.
Finance
Information Technology opens the doors for traders and common people to do online purchases. Banks keep records of all the transactions and accounts through computers. Unlike before, now the transactions and other deals have become faster and easier.
Healthcare
With Information Technology, the field of medicine and health has been seeing tremendous improvements. For doctors, sending and receiving information, checking patients, and discussing with other experts have become very convenient. Also, it reduces the time taken in paperwork.
Security
Online transactions and keeping records of all the online transactions are now safer than earlier times. Only proper management and a person responsible for the system can access the data online. It prohibits any random person from checking the details. All these have been made possible by keeping the system passwords proof. Only permissible authority can access your information.
Communication
With improvements in information technology, globalization has increased. The world is brought closer, and the world’s economy is quickly becoming a single interdependent system. Information can be shared quickly and easily from all over the globe, and barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries can be torn down as people share ideas and information with each other.
Employment
With Information Technology, new jobs have been introduced. It creates new jobs for programmers, hardware and software developers, systems analyzers, web designers and many others. Information Technology has opened an entirely new fields and thousands of jobs for IT professionals.
BENEFITS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information technology has changed our lives drastically. You are only a single click away from everything. So here is a list of the benefits of information technology in our lives and also there is a need of the Information Technology in every field.
- With the advancement in IT, one can access the system of the company from any place. It is not necessary for the authority to be in the office only. They can submit their work from home as well. Easy access to the system has surely increased one’s productivity without any physical presence of the person in the office.
- There is a huge demand for IT professionals in various fields. The demand opens an immense opportunity for IT professionals to explore the field and show their talent. The IT field offers people to work for computer programming, system analysis, testing, software and hardware development, web application design etc.
- With the advancement of information technology, the education field has transformed its outlook and has adopted a modern way of teaching and learning. Teaching on the blackboard is now an old thing. Teachers and institutions are using modern gadgets to teach their students. A computer with an internet connection helps students to learn new things and understand the topics easily and deeply.
- Information technology helps patients as well. They can now connect with physicians and take advice online. Also, there are many virtual healthcare applications available to provide guidance. Electronic health records and tele-medicines are delivering efficient and quality health to patients.
- In the technology world, with information technology, the drawback of time and distance in business activities has been removed. Now, buying and selling are too easy. Customers can buy online from their locals and international vendors as well.
- With wireless communication mediums, news broadcasts have become so easier. Only a few seconds are needed to know the news from any corner of the world.
- Use of the internet on mobile phones, tablets, laptops, iPods, and other gadgets has been offering us unlimited access to entertainment mediums. People can watch movies or new songs on OTT platforms.
- With the Information technology, communication between people has become cheaper, easier and faster than ever before. Texting, video calling, sending e-mails are so easy nowadays. There are so many apps available online to provide these services.
- With the Information technology, we have seen and understood the meaning of globalization. Today, the world is on one platform and there are no physical barriers between nations. People are now ‘global’ citizens.
The above discussion clears that Information technology is very important in this 21st century. Each and every field needs Information technology. Without the internet and technical system, no business, education, agriculture work and health sector can produce an expected outcome. Technology in today’s world is important.
FIELDS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
There are many types of roles in the field for IT such as:
- Data scientist
- Network Administrator
- System Administrator
- System analyst
- Technology Specialist
- Data scientist
- Database administrator
- IT Manager
- Support Analyst
- Database developer
- A software tester, Engineer, Architect
- Software Development Manager
- Network engineer
- Software / Application developer
- Technical consultan