Introduction

Technology has become central to almost all businesses. Many start-ups in this day and time are tech-based, and established companies must be competitive from a technology standpoint. Data security is also a crucial issue to businesses - and governments! Technology has transformed the way people work in a majority of professions and impacts day-to-day life in ways not contemplated only a decade or two ago. No study of business functions would be complete without looking at this critical area.

Learning Outcomes

After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer these questions:

Describe how information technology has transformed business and managerial decision-making.
Explain why computer networks are an important part of today’s information technology systems.
Name the various types of systems that make up a typical company’s management information system.
Explain how technology management and planning can help companies optimize their information technology systems.
Describe the best ways to protect computers and the information they contain.
Outline the leading trends in information technology and how they can impact business.

Preparation for Class

To complete this lesson, you will need to do the following activities:

Review the Learning Objectives
Read Chapter 13 from the OER Textbook, Introduction to Business.