Management of information in an organization and its related issues
I
Introduction
Business activities are becoming increasingly global as numerous firms expand their operations into overseas markets. Many U.S. firms, for example, attempt to tap emerging markets by pursuing business in China, India, Brazil, and Russia and other Eastern European countries. Multinational corporations (MNCs), which operate in more than one country at once, typically move operations to wherever they can find the least expensive labor pool able to do the work well. Production jobs requiring only basic or repetitive skills such as sewing or etching computer chips are usually the first to be moved abroad. MNCs can pay these workers a fraction of what they would have to pay in a domestic division, and often work them longer and harder. Most U.S. multinational businesses keep the majority of their upper-level management, marketing, finance, and human resources divisions within the United States (2002). They employ some lower-level managers and a vast number of their production workers in offices, factories, and warehouses in developing countries. Mergers and acquisitions are also becoming more common than in the past. With large mergers and the development of new free markets around the world, major corporations now wield more economic and political power than the governments under which they operate. In response, public pressure has increased for businesses to take on more social responsibility and operate according to higher levels of ethics. Firms in developed nations now promote and are often required by law to observe nondiscriminatory policies for the hiring, treatment, and pay of all employees. Some companies are also now more aware of the economic and social benefits of being active in local communities by sponsoring events and encouraging employees to serve on civic committees. Businesses will continue to adjust their operations according to the competing goals of earning profits and responding to public pressures for them to behave in ways that benefit society (2002). This research paper intends to discuss what are the three main issues facing business. The paper also intends to discuss how the issues impact the business. Moreover the paper intends to discuss how negative impact can be overcome. Through the information gathered a summary and proper conclusion can be made.
Issue one
One of the main issues facing business is discrimination. According to (2003), Discrimination is an enduring feature of labor markets everywhere in the world. The prevalence of particular forms of discrimination based on race, sex or religion or their manifestations may vary across countries, and within countries, over time. But even in societies where equal opportunity practices have been part of working life for some time, members of discriminated groups are far from enjoying equal status with members of dominant groups. Discrimination is one of the problems businesses face everyday it is also one of the issues or problems difficult to solve. Discrimination creates factions or group within the business that makes cooperation difficult to attain. Discrimination makes it difficult for a company to manage information.
Issue two
Another issue faced by business is some of the people most especially those young ones having no ethics. (1993) stated that Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct with respect to the rightness or wrongness of certain actions. There is a great deal of complexity to the problem of ethics. People perceive things in different ways, but most people agree that ethics involves a lot of common sense. People’s ethical standards are often based on values instilled in them in their youth, and in their environmental background. Codes of ethics have been drawn by business people, ministers, government officials, schools, professors, etc. A code is merely a guideline for those who already possess a basic moral sense. It can help to define the practical, specific, and detailed implications of this basic morality. Company policy, set forth in formal statements to all employees, can be a useful device for maintaining a good company reputation and can produce an ingrained manner of thinking and acting within the firm which is highly ethical. Business people would like a code of ethics to help them clarify their own values and standards. In many instances, individuals do not know what is ethical, and so feel they need help. In one study which was made, it was found that business people attribute significantly higher ethical standards to themselves than they do to their peers. Business people become more ethical as they grow older, and it is hypothesized that this may be due to their greater financial security (1993). Ethics can be a problem by the company since it may be the reason for having no success in a company. Due to arguments and miscommunication among workers because they have no ethics information cannot be produced and managed well. The company would then be missing some needed information to survive the business environment and counter threats from its competitors.
Issue Three
An issue faced by business is lack of technology. (1992) states that technology is general term for the processes by which human beings fashion tools and machines to increase their control and understanding of the material environment. The term is derived from the Greek words tekhnē, which refers to an art or craft, and logia, meaning an area of study; thus, technology means, literally, the study, or science, of crafting. Many historians of science argue not only that technology is an essential condition of advanced, industrial civilization but also that the rate of technological change has developed its own momentum in recent centuries. Lack of technology means that a company cannot compete with competitors. They cannot overcome competitors and may have a hard time in encouraging clients. Lack of technology also means that the information cannot be managed by the company.
How the three main issues impact the business
The three main issues make management of information harder for a company. These issues prevent companies to gather information that can be used for the company to be successful. The three main issues make competitors acquire the information ahead of the company. These issues cause companies some time to gather information and give the competitors privilege gather information before them. The three main issues prevent the company from gaining success it desires. These issues prevent the company from moving up from its current status in the market. Moreover the three main issues cause disintegration and no cooperation in the company. These issues cause the employees to go separate ways and do unnecessary things. Lastly the three issues make the company give services inappropriate to clients.
How the negative impact can be overcome
There are three things that can be done to overcome the negative impact of the issues. First companies should take a look or give appropriate solutions to these issues. Through giving proper solutions and actions to these problems the impact can be overcome. Second companies should create contingency measures that can counter the effects of these issues. Contingency measures keep the company operating even if such problems occur. Third strengthening the foundation of the company can be done to overcome the negative impact of the issue. A strong foundation of the company gives it a fighting chance when the negative impact tends to be felt.
Summary/Conclusion
Business activities are becoming increasingly global as numerous firms expand their operations into overseas markets. Businesses will continue to adjust their operations according to the competing goals of earning profits and responding to public pressures for them to behave in ways that benefit society. Companies encounter different issues in their environment. These issues can have different impacts depending on the how worse the issue has become. These issues can hamper the success of a company. These issues may destroy the chance of the company to be successful. Through the mentioned ways to overcome the negative impact the company has companies may prevent themselves from losing their focus and achieving their goals.
References
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