The term information technology refers to an entire industry and it is the use of computers and software to manage information. This is also referred as Management Information Services or Information services in some companies. In a large company the information technology department would be responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing information, conveying the information and later recovering information. To perform these functions the modern IT department would use computers, database management systems, servers and cryptography. The department is made up of several system administrators, Database Administrators and at least IT Manager. The group will reports to the Chief Information Officer. The department is concerned with data storage and management and will find that the information security will be continued to be at the top of the priority list.

 

Now-a-days personal PCs, cell phones, fax machines, pagers, email and internet become an essential part of our day to day activities. Once the things were done manually and now manual work is replaced with computer operating system which need only in a single mouse click. There are advantages and disadvantages.

 

The advantages are globalisation, communication, and cost effectiveness, bridging the cultural gap, enough time and creation of new jobs.

 

Globalisation - The world has come closer and IT allowed the economy of the world to become interdependent system. Through this the information can be shared quickly and efficiently and also brought down the linguistic and geographic barriers.

 

Communication- Because of the information technology communication also becomes cheaper, quicker and more efficient. After the advent of IT, people can communicate to any one around the world use messages or by sending email for an instant response. With the help of video conferencing people can communicate face to face from different parts of the world.

 

Cost effectiveness- It also helped to computerize the business process and thus reorganizing businesses to make them cost effective. This increased the productivity which in turn increased the profit to have a better pay with less strenuous work.

 

Bridging the cultural gap- IT helped people from different cultures to communicate with each other and thereby reducing the cultural gap to allow for the exchange of ideas and views and also helps to increase awareness and reducing prejudice.

 

Enough time- The businesses are open 24×7 all over the world and can be open at anytime and anywhere, can make purchases from different countries easier and more convenient and it also help to buy things through home delivery.

 

New jobs- The major advantage of IT is new and interesting jobs such as computer programmers, system analyzers, Hardware and software developers and web designers.

 

Disadvantages

 

Unemployment- Lots of middle and lower level jobs are being done causing more people unemployed.

Privacy- It brought privacy issues such as cell phone signal interceptions to hacking emails and the private information may thus becomes public.

 

Lack of secure job- Job security is a big issue as the technology is changing.

 

Dominant culture- The weaker culture is being dominated by the stronger one.