Functional Business Systems and Important Applications

Functional Business Systems The advancements in technology and the internet have significantly enhanced the manner by which corporations do businesses nowadays. In this regard, most of the corporations have adopted measures to incorporate the same into their operations. As such, the term e-business has been introduced (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Generally, e-business pertains to the term often used in order to describe the use of the internet, networks and other pertinent technologies to support e-commerce, enterprise communication, collaboration and business processes that are web-enabled. This paper generally discusses the most common business applications that are incorporated into the e-business system (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). The chapter generally identifies three important business applications, to wit: (1) enterprise application integration, (2) transaction processing systems and finally, (3) enterprise collaboration systems. The aforementioned applications have numerous advantages and disadvantages to the business process. One of the most significant and obvious advantages of the aforementioned business applications pertains to the fact that it enhances the business processes (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). In fact, these applications serve as a foundation to improve business processes such as the customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning and supply chain management. For instance, the enterprise application integration is considered of paramount importance to the business in view of the fact that it enables the company to share pertinent information throughout the entire structure in order to effectively improve the efficiency and the effectiveness of the business processes (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Furthermore, it has also been pointed out that the said application is also crucial to provide essential support to business processes that are necessary to the operations of business. Aside from enterprise application integration, another important application pertains to transaction processing system. Basically, transaction processing systems play an important role in businesses that are web-enabled. This is advantageous to the businesses in view of the fact that the fact that they provide superior service to the customers and the other trading partners. Finally, enterprise collaboration systems are also beneficial to the corporations in such a way that it enables them to work more easily and effectively, enabling the people to communicate, coordinate and collaborate (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Notwithstanding the numerous benefits associated with the implementation of information systems in the different organizations, it is undeniable that the same is likewise accompanied by various ethical dilemmas. Undeniably, computer technologies have significantly changed the manner by which pertinent data are gathered, stored, manipulated and communicated. More significantly, it has also been mentioned that in this information age, most economic activities are based on advancements in technology. As a result, ethical and juridical issues surface with respect to the right of privacy as well as those in relation to the protection of intellectual property. There is no question that information systems are crucial to global businesses today in view of the numerous advantages related to the same. Without a doubt, global businesses benefit extensively from the adoption of information systems as it enhances the efficiency of the same, ensuring the high quality performance of the same which in turn results in the eventual success of the firm. Aside from this, information systems also aid businesses today as they operate in a global level. As previously mentioned, there are numerous costs that are associated with operating on a global level which could threaten their stability. Nevertheless, such information systems help in terms of bringing down the said costs. Unfortunately, the use of information systems and other technological advancements could result in numerous disadvantages pertaining to the privacy of the employees and other substantial issues as regards the same. However, given the numerous advantages that global businesses can reap from the adoption of information systems, the former are advised to come up with various ways by which such problems can be addressed to maximize the benefits of the same (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Unfortunately, the said applications can also be disadvantageous to the corporations. Parenthetically, the disadvantages lie on the fact that the same results in added expenses for the corporations that adopt the same (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Aside from this, it has also been pointed out that the same also results in numerous problems for the corporations, exposing them to risks and problems that could threaten their businesses and relationships with their respective customers. In addition thereto, there are also numerous issues that the company may face as regards the incorporation of such e-business applications into their operations. Apparently, not all employees or members of the organization are ready for the incorporation of such into the system. In this sense, there is a need to plan for the proper implementation of e-business applications. Furthermore, the importance of planning is also attributed to the fact that it would enable the corporations to maximize the benefits of using e-business applications whilst reducing the risks associated therewith (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). The importance of planning to businesses in modern times is undeniable. In its simplest sense, planning pertains to the decision that managers undertake in determining what they must do in advance, how to do the same, when to do it and finally, the role that people within the organization must play in order to achieve the same. Thus, planning commonly begins with the identification of the objectives of a certain company (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). Parenthetically, their failure of the organization to identify such objectives would result in their ability to commence with the process of planning. It is therefore in this regard that planning is considered as the main function of the management. Thus, all the other functions of the management such as the organization, staffing, direction and controlling of the organization. As mentioned, planning is the primary and the most important function of the people that are responsible with the management of the organization. In this regard, planning is considered essential in all aspects of the organization as the absence thereof would render the latter meaningless. Researchers also consider the following as the main purposes of planning: (1) planning provides direction, (2) planning reduces uncertainty, (3) planning minimizes waste and redundancy and lastly, (4) planning helps in setting the standards used for the effective control of the organization. However, while planning is considered as an important aspect of the organization, the same is commonly criticized in view of its tendency to impose limitations upon the proper functioning of the organization. According to various researchers, it is through the proper understanding of such limitations that the managers could ensure that the effectiveness of the plans that they have formulated (Rainier & Ciegelski, 2012). The importance of planning is also associated with the fact that the failure to achieve the same would result in the eventual downfall of the incorporation of e-business applications into the operations of a particular company. Clearly, such failure would be detrimental to the business as it could effectively ruin the same. Reference Rainier, R. & Ciegelski, C. (2012). Introduction to information systems: enabling and transforming business. UK: John Wiley and Sons.

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