Information Systems

Information systems are very important in the world of business today. An understanding of the effective and responsible use and management of these information systems and technologies is imperative for managers and other business professionals who work in these internet worked enterprises. Each of these systems plays a key role in the e-business and e-commerce operations, enterprise collaboration and management, and strategic success of businesses that must operate in a global environment that is linked via the internet. Essentially, the field of information systems has become a major functional area of how businesses operate. Throughout many industries across the globe, survival and even existence without extensive use of information technology is deemed inconceivable as these systems play a crucial role in increasingly productivity. Furthermore, some of these systems help to provide a foundation for new products and services while finding ways to conducting business that provide many companies with a strategic advantage.

There are many organizational departments within a business. Two of the departments that many larger businesses heavily rely on for its information systems are its HR or human resources department and shipping/receiving which are sophisticated yet vital for operations to run efficiently. The Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is one that many organizational departments use for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources, payroll, management as well as accounting functions within their place of business. Usually an HRIS or human resource information system provides information such as management of all employee information, reporting and analysis of employee information, application tracking and resume management, complete integration with payroll as well as other company financial software and accounting systems and so much more. Efficient information systems that a human resource department takes full advantage of could help in saving time and money for an organization. A company's shipping and receiving department relies a great deal on many different types of information systems. However, while a supply chain management information system can also be utilized by the shipping and receiving department, it can also be used in the finance department in companies such as Wal-Mart. Supply chain management systems provide the oversight of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer. This type of system is comprised of software and hardware that individuals use to coordinate and integrate these flows both within and amongst other companies. Planning applications use algorithms to determine the best way to fill orders a company may want to have shipped to their location. Managers use these systems to ensure inventory is ordered in a cost effective manner while making sure shipments