Information Systems – Why They Are Essential

Information, in a broad sense, is structured, processed and organised information. It gives context to data and allows intelligent decision making. For instance, a single customer’s sale at a fast food restaurant is information this becomes information if the company is able to categorise the most popular or least common dish. However, it is much more than this.

Information systems are used across organisations because storing, accessing and sharing information has become much easier with the use of computers and the internet. Information systems are becoming an integral part of business and increasingly complex systems are developed to deal with ever increasing requirements. Storage is a very important area. This can be done using proprietary software, cloud computing or a combination of these. Controlling access to information is another aspect.

Information systems have also become a lot more complicated due to the explosion of large volumes of information and increasing demand for faster processing. Big data is being used to improve decision making and reduce cost. Information is used to support strategic decisions such as those related to product design and development and marketing initiatives. Processes need to be verified and understood before people can share information.

There is a need for systems which people understand, can process and access quickly. These must be easy to use, consistent, robust and adaptable. Information systems have developed over the years and there are many technologies and processes involved. For instance, CRM may have originally been developed for the retail industry but is now used by finance and banking, supply chain management, health care and education.

Information technology professionals are faced with the daily challenge of developing, deploying and maintaining information systems. They must be highly skilled, problem solvers and creative thinkers capable of producing clear, meaningful and repeatable results. Being the person in the middle between people and information is a daunting task. Information technology professionals should have a strong background in research, business, engineering and programming disciplines. They should be able to work flexibly and develop a good working relationship with others in the IT industry.

The need for information systems is growing at an exponential rate. This means that the demand for qualified personnel to deal with it is growing rapidly every year. IT jobs are in high demand and usually go unfilled for many months or even years. This makes it extremely important for professionals to start looking for jobs now while there is still availability. By securing a job in IT, you will increase your chances of gaining promotion and getting much higher compensation.