Technology Enablers - Information System

The progression described above has been enabled by five main factors:

• Increases in processing capability allowing smaller and smaller pieces of hardware to perform more and increasingly complex functions 
• The convergence of computing and communications technologies
• The development of easy to use human machine interfaces 
• The emergence of design standards for information systems making it easier for companies to design, procure and install these systems
• The use of standardised hardware combined with customised software leading to a more capable and cost effective system.

The progression detailed and increases in functionality and utility has also led to some changing assumptions about IS. In the early days due to various factors including technological immaturity, poor definition of organisational requirement and operator apprehension and unfamiliarity, IS was initially sub-optimised and therefore received a lot of bad press. However recently this has been changing. Some examples illustrating the nature of this change are illustrated in the table below.

Previous assumption

Is unfamiliar and frightening

Provides masses of unusable data

Is separate from value added steps

Does not play an active role in the business D

Operational processes are designed to compensate for the inadequacies of IS

New assumption

Is user-friendly

Interprets data and produces useable information and knowledge

Is a source of value and may bring competitive advantage

Drives the business

Operational processes are designed around the enablers provided by IS.