Scene1: A geeky IT specialist
Could you tell me the reason why you decided to become an IT technician? Is that because you do not have to talk to the others? Or is that because the program can be made by you alone, without being disturbed from the others?
Yes, you might have all of information of systems and software. But do you know how to apply those systems to business questions?
According to Mukhopadhyay et.al (1995), information technology (IT) is one of the essential issues in management nowadays. The dispute, if IT has brought positive impact to the organization, still remains open to be argued. Some systems do not work in a proper way due to their complexity or poor design. Now the distance between IT and management is getting closed, the meaning of value and management is also necessary to be redefined through carrying out business by using IT.
What is value that is brought by IT? Values cannot be measured in efficiency. Values are in effectiveness, in service rather than the product itself.
Data itself cannot generate anything. The process that makes data resulted in business action is necessary. How can data be used for business activities to ad value? Obviously there should be several steps in this flow. At first, data is processed to information, and then information is interpreted and understood to knowledge. In this stage, judgement of “good” or “bad” should be added by human being. Finally based on knowledge, decisions are made. That is, knowledge might not be created, perhaps it already exists and only needs to be stimulated though information?
Likewise, the question what systems, software and applications can bring to the company, still remains. What kind of value does an organization need? It can be replaced by another question: what is the role that systems, software and applications play in an organization? Information systems and applications will have their own meaning of existence. Needless to say, it is human being to use them. Are systems easy to understand for the end users? Does it have enough validity and reliability? Is it realistic? In order to make such useful systems that play a significant role to the core management, it is inevitable to communicate with the clients or colleague directly. The ability to understand and interpret the client`s needs correctly through discussions is required. Giving advice from IT technician’s point of view is important.
Interpreting and judging information is still necessary skill to be developed even though IT has been enhanced. IT cannot replace the interpersonal and basic skills. The key is not in system. Focusing on systems and software does not make any sense, grasping the whole picture of the organization through system is the objective.
Kanako Noji
