Business in the information age

PRESSURES
1) Global competition for trade and for labor
Low labor costs make chineses firms attractive as partners in joint manufacturing ventures

2)Changing Work force
An intresting number of females, single parents, minorities, and physically challenged persons work today in all types of postions. More employees than ever before prefer to defer retirement. It is easing the integration of these various employees inot the traditional workforce.

3)Customer orientation
Customer sophistication and expectations increses as customers become more knowledgeable about the availability and quality of products and services. Customers are demanding ever-more detailed information about products and services. They want to know what feature warranties are available.

4)Information overload
The Internet and other telecommunications nteworks increase the amount of information available to organization and individuals. The amount information available on the Internet more that doubles every year and most of it is free.

5)Social responsibility
Social issues affecting organizations range from the state of the plysical environment. to non discriminatory employment practices, to the spread of infectioud diseases and other health concerns. Failure to accept social responsibility can result in employee dissatisfaction and trunover, a tarnished corporate reputation with the public, and in some cases, governmental samctions.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES
1) Strategic systems
Organizations seek to implement systems that will significantly impact the organization's operations, sucess or survival. Such strtegic systems provide organizations with strange advantages in meeting organizational objectives, enabling them to increase their market share, to better negotiate with their suppliers, or to prevent competitord from entering their markets. There are a variety of IT-supported strategic systems.

2)Customer focus and service
Organization must may more attentions to customers and their preferences. Sometimes such an approach even involves reengineering the organization to better meet customer demands. This can be done in part by changing manufacturing process from mass production to mass customization. In mass production, a company produces a large quantity of titems that are manufactured to fit the desires of each customer. Information technology supports mass customization.

3)Continuous improvement efforts
In response to business pressures, many firms also make continous efforts to improve their productivity and quality.

4)Business alliances
In response to some of the competitive pressures of the global economy, many firms are realizing that alliances with other firms, even competitors, can be very beneficial.