APPLICATION OF IT IN BUSINESS Applications of ICT - Planning & Controlling Operations Stock control

Students will be familiar with the principles of stock management from the AS level studies. Increasingly, businesses use real time data from EPOS, on-line stores and electronic sales ledgers to drive their re-order processes. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) facilitates exchange of orders between different businesses and allows Just In Time stock ordering. Other businesses place orders electronically once production schedules have been set for the next period. With computerised stock control, businesses should be able to check stock levels almost on a real-time basis. Stock checks are still required to reconcile stock levels that may be incorrect due to faults in scanning or because of pilferage or other wastage.

CAD/CAM - Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacture

Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture are two systems that tend to work together. Computer Aided Design helps design products on computers, rather than having to create endless drawings. The system can create realistic 3D images of the finished product. CAD also allows virtual testing of the product before it is actually made, dramatically reducing lead times and minimising waste in new product development. As CAD acts together with CAM, its outputs are designed to optimise designs for efficient manufacture with CAM systems. CAM uses computers to control tooling such as CNC and other robotised machinery. Benefits would be expected to include; improved quality, reduced wastage, faster production and less reliance on labour, in other words, it is more capital intensive. In many cases, CAM facilitates the manufacture of designs that would have been impossible without this technology. Project management

The key Project Management tool that appears in A-level Business Studies is Critical Path Analysis (CPA), also known as Network Analysis see separate Tutor2U revision note for details of CPA. Project Planning software, such as Microsoft Project, allows project managers to enter tasks, lead times, dependencies and staff skills and availability, even allowing for holiday, and the system will produce an optimised work schedule. Any student who has attempted to produce even a simple CPA will appreciate how helpful such a software package would be!

Applications of ICT - Workplace Efficiency

Many of the key uses of ICT in the office will be familiar to A-level students from their own experience in particular, the Microsoft Office suite of software including; word processor, database, spreadsheet, presentation, email etc. Offices and many other workplaces typically have networked PCs with centralised databases and high-speed Internet connections just as seen in modern schools, except that most users would each have their own desktop or laptop computer.

Email
Increasingly, the majority of office workers have company email accounts available on their desktop PC. This provides a cheap and fast means of communication within the company and with customers and suppliers. Possible areas for discussion include; wasting time on non-company business, and, susceptibility to virus attacks. Refer also to your notes about communications and remember, not everyone checks his or her email regularly.

Word processing and Desktop Publishing (DTP)

Word processing has taken over from typing in most workplaces, and means that many if not most - office workers now create their own letters and documents, rather than pass written notes or a voice recording to typists. More sophisticated DTP software with graphics capability means that brochures, newsletters, pricelists and other official documents can easily be produced in-house, rather than having to pass the work to an outside agency.

Teleworking
Some of the above solutions, combined with relatively cheap desktop and notebook PCs and widely available broadband and connections, mean that many workers can do at least part of their job remotely. In some cases, this means workers working from home or when away on business (or holiday!). Teleworking can help provide practical ways of offering more flexible working conditions. This means that many people can work who would find it hard to manage regular office hours. In turn, this can widen the available pool of experienced and qualified staff such as people with childcare commitments, other carers and the disabled. Teleworking is also the key to outsourcing call centre and other office work to overseas centres such as India, where there is an abundance of low cost, well-qualified staff and a good infrastructure.

Document archives
Rather than store correspondence and other documents in paper form, they can be scanned and stored electronically for instant retrieval from anywhere on a companys network. This can dramatically reduce the cost of storing and managing paper files, although one only has to visit a typical office to see that we are a long way from being paperless.

Personnel management employee databases

Human Resources (or Personnel) Departments use employee databases to help with areas such as:
y y y y y

Payroll, Benefits, Holidays, Pensions and General administrative purposes

APPLICATION OF IT IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

A computer helps to manipulate data according to a list of instructions, called a program. It can save a lot of data and produce the same, instantly. It is also called a universal information-processing machine. It is a common operating system used in corporate businesses, educational organizations and many research programs. The computer technology has been used proficiently in various educational fields. There are many professional courses that program their curriculum on computers. It enables the students and teachers to methodically study or conduct classes.

Most schools highlight the importance of computer education. They provide computer education to children, at a very young age. It helps them to learn and develop interest in the basics of computers. The main purpose is to make them comfortable using the system, as the future holds a bright promise for the technology. Many students become proficient and plan to pursue careers in the world of computers. Computers are used in running school and college administrations, during the admission procedures, storing of official and student records. They are also used in syllabus planning and decision-making, controlling, assisting instructions and simulation. Computers are helpful in directing aptitude tests and achievement tests, at the time of entrance exams. There is computer software designed to process performances related to teachers and employees promotion avenues. They also process records of salaries, examinations, schemes of examination, printing of papers and question papers, evaluation of answer sheets, mark sheets and certificates. Computers are used in colleges, by the professors, to conduct special classes and enable their students to adopt a methodical way of study. Students take more interest in the documented programs, designed on different topics. Internet has provided a favorable means of pursuing courses from renowned universities, across the world. These facilities become available at a click of the mouse.