Why an information system or an information technology project could fail in an organization?

Résumé du document

While the terms Information System and Information Technology are sometimes used interchangeably, they are two distinct concepts. The information system is an organized combination of several entities which stores, retrieves, transforms and disseminates information in an organization like a company. These entities could be people, software, data resources, procedures, hardware or communication network. MSN messenger or AIM are softwares which allow people to communicate with other people live. For example, I am currently in New York and this kind of information system allows me to communicate with my family and my friends who live in France. Information system has been used since the dawn of the civilization, that is why we don't necessarily associate it with computers. Indeed, during the middle ages, they used birds like homing pigeons in order to send messages. It was a system of information. A simple road sign is an information system. Smoke signs are part of the information system and will be more used in bars and restaurants in Europe in order to inform people not to smoke in public places.

Extraits

[...] I think it is probably the same thing in Enterprises. They forecast to install a specific kind of technology. Moreover, not many people decide to become computer engineers, consequently, enterprises who want to have or change their information systems often have to wait one's turn. Sometimes, enterprises decided to invest in a certain kind of technology, it has to wait and when it is efficient, a new technology arrives on the market. Consequently, if the competitor buys this new technology, he will have the competitive advantage. [...]

[...] They found in the three vital roles that information system can perform for a business enterprise. Support of its business processes and operations: For example, as a consumer, you regularly encounter information systems that support the business processes and operations at the many retail stores like AUCHAN where I work, now use computer based information system to help their employees record customer purchases (loyalty cards), keep track of inventory, pay employees, buy new merchandise, and evaluate sales trends. Store operations would grind to a half without the support of such information systems. [...]

[...] Indeed, if you choose to use information systems, you have to hire informatics' engineers in order to be reactive. As I said previously, anything that is in short supply is expensive. If the company will have a bug, it has to repair it as soon as possible. Materials, software and hardware are very expensive too. Some of the organizations have to use IT in order to make money. Consequently, if the website was hacked, the results are very expensive for them. [...]

[...] Types of information systems Information systems are categorized this way to spotlight the major roles each plays in the operations and management of a business. Let's look briefly at some examples of such information systems categories. Operations support systems: Information systems have always been needed to process data generated by, and used in, business operating. Such operations support systems produce a variety of information products for internal and external use. However, they do not emphasize producing the specific information products that can best be used by managers. [...]

[...] That is why it is so important to protect information systems with anti virus software like Norton, and to save data regularly in order to limit risks. I think this analysis allows us to define the difficulty to achieve successfully an IS and IT projects. Indeed, after having defined the both entities, we have sawn the main problems which could interact the achievement of these kinds of projects. Indeed, money is one of the main problems and creates inequality between the several organizations. [...]