Communication Driven DSS

A decision support system (DSS) is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities.[2] A DSS is something that can be very helpful to help improve a business' organizational skills. DSS generally make it easier for companies to compile data and organize information in a way that is easy for them to discover it. 

The type of DSS I wold like to focus on is Communication-Driven DSS. Communications-Driven DSS is a type of DSS that emphasizes communications, collaboration and shared decision-making support. [1] Communication-driven DSS has offered a lot of help to the business world. When thinking about communication-driven DSS you have to think about a few characteristic that make it special toward that form of DSS. These characteristics are enables communication between groups of people, facilitates the sharing of information, supports collaboration and coordination between people, and supports group decision tasks. [1] Examples of Communication-driven DSS's are Groupware, chat, Videoconferencing, and web-based bulletin boards. [3]

A specific example of a Communication-driven DSS is Windows Meeting Space.  Windows Meeting Space (codenamed Windows Collaboration) is the name of a peer-to-peercollaboration program in Windows Vista that supports 2–10 users. [4] WIndows Meeting Space offers many features to users that could be very helpful to businesses. Some of these features include, application sharing and file transfer. With these features and also the improvements of Microsoft SharedView it allows employees to work on tasks together no matter where they are located. Coworkers can collaborate on projects and produce work together.

Another form of Communication-driven DSS are online bulletin boards. I thought this was an interesting example so i decided to do some research on a specific one. I found http://www.stixy.com/. On Stixy you can create your own person Stixyboards that include such things as, your family's schedule, projects at work, an upcoming holiday, and share files with friends. [5] Stixy creates a unique experience that is different than your ordinary calendar and to do list. It in a weird way is a combination of the two and can prove to be extremely helpful in organization especially when it comes to business. When you have numerous projects to complete you may have trouble staying on top of it all. The ability to share files also adds a helpful aspect to the site. It offers you the option of sharing tasks with fellow coworkers as a deadline is approaching. 

Overall I feel as though Communication-Driven DSS's have offered a lot of improvements to companies. These specific DSS's allow employees to conduct video-conferences, share files, and communicate over the internet. These new improvement provide successful organization techniques that companies integrate in their everyday business model. The improvements DSS's have made for businesses are countless and I believe as technology improves so will the capabilities of these systems. 

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 that even without realizing it is something that most people use daily. If you are using applications such as Gmail, Google Maps, or Flickr than you are using a form of Web 2.0,  [1] When Web 2.0 first came out, and people were rather unsure what to market it or consider it as. Eventually it became known as the interactive software that makes up the Internet. Web 2.0 is all about changing how the Internet interacts with its customer. [2]

Web 2.0 offers a lot of tools for communication. These communication tools offer an easier form of person-to-person communication. [3] Many companies are integrating these forms of communication into their business. Such things as Skype make meeting easier to be had between larger companies. Instead of having to take a trip half way across the world to talk to someone face-to-face you can now easily do it over video chat.

Email is a huge advantage with Web 2.0. Instead of sending mail that can take over a week to arrive, you now have the option to email people. You can scan documents and send them as attachments over Email as an easy way to send someone a document. More than 1.5 billion email users send183 million email messages a day. So email is obviously a very vital part to most people’s communication.

Instant messaging is another big part in Web 2,0 communication. Instant messaging (IM) is a real time communication tool that allows users to type into a chat box and send the info to one or more other IM users. It can be useful because it offers the sender to be able to receive an immediate response from the receiver.

Web 2.0 has also done a lot for the education system. It offers colleges and universities to be able to have online classes. Online classes provide an alternative opportunity for people who do not have the time to make it to a classroom everyday. This allows people to still be able to hold full-time jobs and attend college through online classes.

Web 2.0 is playing a role in children’s curriculum. A research study conducted displayed how a lot of the Web 2.0 applications actually improved many children’s creativity. Even though this research study that was conducted displayed a lot of plus’ that Web 2.0 had on a child’s education, teachers are still having a hard time implementing the applications into their classrooms. They said, most teachers do not use Web 2.0 technologies in the majority of their lessons, and many schools do not allow pupils’ personal devices in classrooms due to fears of bullying. [4]

In conclusion I believe that there are a lot of aspects that Web 2.0 offers improvements in. I think it has become a huge part of everyone’s daily lives.

[1] http://webdesign.about.com/od/web20/a/aa021306.htm

[2] http://webdesign.about.com/od/web20/Web_2_0.htm

[3] http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com/2007/10/thing-7.html

[4] http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/Resource/CMS/Assets/5c10130e-6a9f-102c-a0be-003005bbceb4/form_uploads/Analysis_of_emerging_trends_affecting_the_use_of_technology_in_education___BECTA.pdf

T1.5

With technology becoming such a huge part of our everyday lives, it means that we have also been seeing a change in the way the company runs. With computers becoming so advanced the way the operations of successful companies have turned off the traditional route and are now upgraded to newer quicker measures.

E-commerce offers companies many easy benefits that make keeping their company afloat much more simpler. Simply things like telling how much inventory is in stock can now be told from by a computer screen using a document automation system. These systems allow the company to compile invoices, packing lists, bill of lading, etc…[1]

As E-commerce is becoming an everyday part of most companies many companies are trying to go above and beyond to adapt new concepts to make their business stand out. Companies are introducing mobile commerce. M-commerce “is about the explosions of applications and services that are becoming accessible from Internet-enabled mobile devices.” [2]

M-commerce allows companies to use mobile devices to conduct their everyday business. With this it leads people to live a more convenient life-style and can get away with carrying around not much more than their cell phone. Mobile commerce is exploding and becoming more and more popular. With the advances in smart phones it is giving the consumer and the company more opportunities to use the advantages of mobile commerce.

One company that I believe has successfully instituted the use of M-commerce in their day-to-day business is Starbucks. The app that allows customers to make purchases using nothing more than a  card on their phone, that can be reloaded and scanned, was released in December 2011. By April 2012 the app had gained such momentum that it reached 42 million mobile payment transactions.[3] I think that this is a prime example of the impact mobile commerce can have on consumers. Consumers like convenience and that is what this app offers.

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_automation

[2] http://mcom.cs.cmu.edu/

[3]http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/2012/04/11/starbucks-reaches-42m-mobile-payment-transactions-as-app-gains-momentum

Value Chain

I opened a new Internet shopping site that primarily focuses on the sale on new CD’s. At my site customer are able to buy new CD’s. My website entails a value chain, using downstream management. We have an automated storage and retrieval system that allow us to keep an ample amount of CD’s on hand to satisfy the customer’s needs. Once the customer places an order on our website they receive their product through the distribution in a timely manner. We are able to stay afloat even in these harsh economic times by are amazing marketing skills. Using premiere pricing strategies and running great promotions it keeps the customer coming back and wanting more. Our marketing team also is in charge of making sure our website is always current and up to date. Without a good customer service team our business would never be able to prosper. They really are the glue that keeps the company together. If ever there is a mistake or a defective product given out, it is their job to make sure it gets handled in a timely manner. With these systems in place the value chain proves to be a success for this website. 

E-commerce

After looking at the different types of business information systems, I chose to cover E-commerce. E-commerce E-commerce as an information system for a company is something that can be very valuable for them. It is something that is very appealing to businesses of all sizes. From large to small business E-commerce gives them the opportunity to market and sell at a low cost. This gives small businesses the opportunity to compete worldwide.

E-commerce has made the exchanges between the business-to-business, business-to-consumers, and consumer-to-consumer effortless. With improvements in technology it also offers E-commerce opportunities to expand their network. This involves the evolution of M-commerce. Which is where mobile phones are used to conduct business. It is becoming more and more popular by both businesses and consumers.

With the evolution of E-commerce, simply daily business activities have had a step removed. Instead of having to get approval on large orders, employers can now go directly to a supplier’s web site and order the information they need directly from the catalog. With the change in companies systems, E-commerce is creating many new business opportunities.

E-commerce is also drawing many people to a new company, which is helping to increase their stock prices and market values. People like the convenience of being able to shop from home, but they also like when they have the chance to pick up that item from the store so they do not have to wait or pay for shipping.

In a Business Information System, such as E-commerce, four components are represented. These components are input, processing, output, and feedback. E-commerce makes imputing data for a company a lot easier. You can easily keep a computer system to tell what items are being sold and what items you are getting in without having to do a manual count. Processing of data is made easier with the E-commerce system. With a computer you can easily process and compare data using calculations. E-commerce allows the output of the information you have very easy to be received. You can easily turn your data into organized documents using a computer. E-commerce offers feedback for business and consumers in very different ways. For consumers you can now leave on-line comments to review a product, which not only gives other prospective customers an idea if the want to buy it, but it gives the business and opportunity to review the feedback and make changes to improve the product.