Technology Case

Abstract

Technology has come a long way and internet has created new ways to do business for organizations with much less capital planning as opposed to the high capital needs of traditional brick and mortar organizations. I am going to discuss how management and leadership will be addressed for each type of business. I will chose a successful traditional and online retailer and address the organizational structure along with management and leadership challenges.

Information System in Business Today

Technology has changed organizations to change the way they operate and manage their businesses. Organizations have been transformed by the ongoing change in technology in our world today. Without information systems businesses today would have no foundation. Most of all communication is conducted through the use of email, online conferencing, and international teleconferencing. The impact on advanced technologies still have the same basic goal as traditional brick and mortar organizations which is the process of managing relationships involved in the chain from suppliers to producers to distributors to the end user, with the outcome of providing the right product or service in the right quantity at the right desired time. GM (Traditional)

General Motors is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. In the 1990's this company was losing profits to newer more technical efficient manufacturers. General Motors then updated its factories and streamlined its operations trying to cut and reduce costs and because of this it became known for its agility, efficiency, and quality. GM can now respond instantly to customers and changes in the marketplace as mishaps unfold, along with working closely with suppliers and retailers. As part of its ongoing achievement and loyalty to its customers to monitor quality, efficiency and costs, General Motor's management saw an opportunity to use information systems to improve business performance as technology alone would have not been the ideal solution. GM carefully revised its business processes to support a build-to-order production model that based vehicle production on actual customer orders rather than on customer demand. Technology played into GM as a useful tool when it came down to production, ordering, invoicing, retailers and suppliers. The technology system also increased customer satisfaction by making it convenient for customers to buy exactly the model, make and style they desired. The information provided by the technology system helped management monitor trends, wants and demands and production requirements more accurately, while making its ordering and production processes more efficient and effective. The management challenges GM faced:

* GM Wrestles with Legacy Expenses

* Challenges of Product Innovation

* Reliance on Incentives and Financing Cash Flow

* Failed Overseas Initiatives Sap Resources from U.S Divisions

* Saturn Experiment Ends in Failure