INTERNET AND INFORMATION SYSTEM MANAGERS

Conclusion

The Internet is certainly the place for businesses to expand, reach new markets and provide new services but there must be a balanced approach to the Internet. The Internet must be regarded as a strategic resource important to the whole business. The technical detail of the Internet can be complex. Management responsibility however is more productively focused on managing the implementation process to achieve strategic goals and assure smooth, secure operations. The IS Manager must first define why the company wants to be connected to the Internet then move to establish the appropriate connection, choosing the most cost effective option between capacity and speed. For medium businesses it is recommended that high speed modem links to a provider with dedicated telephone lines would be most appropriate. Issues such as how to advertise and promote the company on the Web must then be tackled, taking into account the human and social issues on the net. Users of the Web can include both employees and potential customers. By learning what and how the Internet can help the employees in their day to day work, non-business use of the Internet can be reduced, and by offering on-line services and supporting the customer via the Internet, a whole new market can be created for the business. A medium business would consider having a Web site with the Internet provider but perhaps creating and updating the web pages themselves. Finally security against intrusion has to be maintained. Technology is a vital tool to IS Managers to cope with this. Also by having the Web site at the provider and linking to the Internet by regular telephone lines it makes the company's data safe from hackers. In conclusion, with careful planning and proper management, putting a business on the Internet can make it more effective and productive. However understanding and knowing how the rapid changes and various complex issues that can be encountered in getting the business onto the Net is imperative to its success. This responsibility lies largely on the IS Manager who must know what options are available to him or her before being able to cope with it.

References

Sources

a) Books

Cronin, Mary J (1994). Doing business on the Internet, New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Cronin, Mary J (1995). Doing more business on the Internet 2nd Ed, New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Cook, David (1995). Launching a business on the Web, Indianapolis, IN : Que.
Ellsworth, Jill H (1994). The Internet Business book, New York : J.Wiley.
Ellsworth, Jill H (1995). Marketing on the Internet, New York : J.Wiley.
Janal, Daniel S (1995). Online marketing handbook, New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Janal, Daniel S (1996). 101 business you can start on the Internet, New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Lucas, Henry C (1990). Managing Information Services, New York : Macmillan Publishing Company.

b) Magazine Articles

(17 March 1996). "Internet Access : Just Browsing", PC Magazine, pp100. - 147.
(11 October 1994). "Internet Access : Making the Internet Connection", PC Magazine, pp118. - 140.
(11 October 1994). "Internet Access : Services for Connecting", PC Magazine, pp141. - 158.
(11 October 1994). "Internet Access : Tools for Connecting", PC Magazine, pp159.- 184.

c) Internet Sources

Shah, Rawn (1994). The Business of the Internet : An Introduction to the Internet for Commercial Organisations.
URL : http://www.rtd.com/people/rawn/business.html
Jones, Knoedl, Mavott, Petri, Rivero, Sumpter (1995). How the Net changes Business.
URL : http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~jpetri/business.html
RSA Data Security Inc, RSA's Frequently Asked Questions About Today's Cryptography.
URL : http://www.rsa.com/rsalabs/faq/faq_gnrl.html
Crispen, Patrick Douglas (1994). Roadmap.
URL : ftp://ftphost.auckland.ac.nz/pub/Documentation/roadmap

Author : Boon How Keng, E-Mail : bhkeng@ihug.co.nz
This essay was written and presented on 29th Of April 1996.
Written as an assignment for the first semester paper Management Information Systems
Paper number 636.323 at the University Of Auckland, New Zealand.

Topic
Introduction
Background
1) Connection And Communication Costs
2) Marketing, Human And Social Issues
3) Non Business Use By Employees Of Internet
4) Demand Of Customers For Online Service
5) Cost Of Developing Software and Services
6) Security And Maintaining Security
Conclusion
References