【正文】 connectivity to link different systems and works within the firm. Internal corporate works based on Inter technology are called intras. Private intras extended to authorized users outside the anization are called extras, and firms use such works to coordinate their activities with other firms for making purchases, collaborating on design, and other interanizational work. 46 ? Information Technology (IT) – refers to all of the puterbased information systems used by anizations and their underlying technologies（ the products, methods, inventions, and standards that are used for the purpose of producing information. ） – Information technologies and systems are revolutionizing the operation of firms, industries ,and markets. ? The business value of IT is determined is determined by the relationships among ISs, people, and business processes—all of which are influenced strongly by anizational culture. 47 Major Capabilities of ISs and Supported Business Objectives ? Perform highspeed, highvolume, numerical putations ? Provide fast, accurate munication and collaboration unrestricted by time and location ? Store huge amounts of information that is accessible via private works and the Inter ? Automate semiautomatic business processes and manually done tasks. ? Enable automation of routine decision making and facilitate plex decision making IS capabilities support these business objectives: ? Improve productivity (productivity is a measurement or the ratio of inputs to outputs) ? Reduce costs and waste ? Improve the ability to make informed decisions ? Facilitate collaboration ? Enhance customer relationships ? Develop new analytic capabilities ? Provide feedback on performance 48 49 CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS Technical Approaches Behavioral Approaches Management Science Operations Research Sociology Economics Computer Science Psychology The technical approach to information systems emphasizes mathematically based models to study information system. Computer science is concerned with establishing theories of putability, methods of putation, and models of efficient data storage and access.. Management science emphasizes the development of models for decisionmaking and management practices. Behavioral issues include strategic business integration, design, implementation, utilization, and management. Operations research focuses on mathematical techniques for optimizing selected parameters of anizations, such as transportation, inventory control, and transaction costs. Positioning IT to Optimize Performance ? During the 2023s , managers are exploring new strategies to improve business performance, or profitability. One approach is to develop the agility needed to identify and capture opportunities more quickly than rivals. ? Organizations can benefit from opportunities made possible by high performance mobile devices and highspeed mobile telemunication works. Examples are the 3G and 4G works of cellular service providers. Mobile technology has torn down the walls between our business, professional, and personal lives. 50 ? Organizations depend on IT to be able to adapt to market conditions and gain a petitive edge. That petitive advantage is shortlived if petitors quickly duplicate it. No advantage is very longlasting. Therefore, panies need to upgrade, develop, and/or deploy new ISs to remain in the petitive game. ? During the last decade, panies were adapting to social working, and became extensions of businesses to reach customers, prospects, and business partners. 51 ? A business model is a method of doing business by which a pany can generate sales revenue and profit to sustain itself. The model spells out how the pany creates or adds value in terms of the goods or services the pany produces. ? Some models are very simple. For example, Apple makes and sells cell phones and generates profit from these sales. On the other hand, a TV station provides free broadcasting. Its survival depends on a plex model involving factors such as advertisers and content providers. 52 ? A prehensive business model is posed of these six elements: 1. A description of all products and services the business will offer 2. A description of the business process required to make and deliver the products and services 3. A description of the customers to be served and the pany’s relationships with these customers, including what constitutes value from customers’ perspective (customers’ value proposition) 53 ? A prehensive business model is posed of these six elements: 4. A list of the resources required and the identification of which ones are available, which will be developed inhouse, and which will need to be acquired 5. A description of the anization’s supply chain, including suppliers and other business partners 6. A description of the revenues expected (revenue model), anticipated costs, sources of financing, and estimated profitability ( financial viability) 54 Business Performance Management and Measurement ? Performance is measured by how well those goals and objectives are met. Despite how simple this sounds, measuring business (or anizational) performance is extremely challenging. ? How do you manage performance? Assume that a pany’s goals are increased sales and improved customer loyalty. Sales revenue is a rather easytocalculate quantitative metric. In contrast, customer loyalty is a qualitative metric and probably has a longer time dimension. You can immediately know how much customers have purchased on a particular day, but not how many customers you’ve lost that day. 55 ? In order to manage performance, two fundamental requirements are: （ 1） Being able to measure. Y