Running any kind of business is an extremely challenging thing to do with all of the problems that arise every single day. Business owners have to keep a close eye on managing the company and every movement and activity each person makes. One little mistake can blow up into a massive dilemma. It is crucial for companies to be prepared and well-equipped to deal with these troubles. Not much can be done to avoid them, but a lot can be done to fix them. The remedy to these issues is Decision Support Systems (DSS).  Decision support systems are a controlled group of people, procedures, software, databases and devices used to help formulate decisions to resolve problems. [1] These groups examine business data and provide interactive data support to companies during the decision-making progression. In today’s business world, business-owners and managers are not only making many decisions, but they need to act fast and make instant decisions. Companies always want to keep up and gain competitive advantages over others to successfully operate, which Decision Support Systems can help achieve. Decision support systems allow businesses to respond and acclimatize to the constantly altering business environment. Their function is to offer and produce the greatest possible profits, lowest costs, and best products and services by assessing and resolving “everyday business questions by compiling useful information from a combination of raw data, documents, personal knowledge, or business models.” [2] The other benefits Decision support systems provide companies are: “Speeding up process of decision making, Increasing organizational control, Speeding up problem solving in an organization, Helping automate managerial processes, Improving personal efficiency, Eliminating value chain activities” [2]  Decision support systems can be employed by many businesses or organizations, including school systems. “There is growing pressure for teachers to adapt to external competitive demands (e.g. statewide assessments, student selection based on school profiles) as well as to respond to demands from a diffuse set of clients, such as the local community or taxpayers, who wish to see a return on their investment.” [3] Old techniques of education such as intuition, teaching philosophy and personal experience are not too adequate anymore. In the United States of America, by law, it is required for every state to implement an assessment system intended to measure and validate student achievement and overall school performance. [4] Schooling systems have drastically changed from the way they were years ago and it is crucial for present-day schools to adapt to the changes that have been made.  The requirement to collect information from students in order to assess their success and use this data to advance school excellence is very much similar to the introduction of data-driven decision-making processes in business in the 70s and 80s. “Yet, despite both the mandates and the rhetoric, schools are woefully under-prepared to engage in such inquiry. There may be a wealth of potential data available to schools, a growing number of tests mandated at the state, local, and school levels for various purposes: dropout statistics, attendance figures, course enrollments, SAT and ACT scores, and results of teacher and parent surveys. But such data are not easily accessible or available for comprehensive analysis. [...] The practice of applying large-scale data to classroom practice is virtually nonexistent.” [3] The main concern is what should information systems look like to support informed decisions at the different levels of the school system, and how can diverse information needs of teachers, principals, administrators and politicians be recognized and met.  An example of this situation in the real world occurred in 2001, when the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) introduced a system-wide data-support tool for its school systems with the help of the Grow Network Company. The goal of these Data Reports was to utilize paper and online reports to present appropriate standardized test results to teachers, principals, and parents with specific recommendations of responsive actions. [5] Essentially this was done with a focus on grades 3-8 and had to incentive to use standardized assessment data, coupled with supporting resources and professional development, to significantly enhance the quality of instructional practice and student results.  In all kinds of businesses and organizations, it is important to always be well equipped and prepared for a bump in the road. To be successful, its key to have a Decision support system to provide the best service to clients and to run a successful company. Overall, school faculty and parents have found the Data Reports very successful, one of the reasons being “Information systems are often flooded with data, offering more data than decision-makers can effectively synthesize and use. The Data Reports present one specific and crucial data point – the standardized test scores. Because of the demanding accountability context in the United States, this is significant data to most teachers and administrators regardless of their concerns about the data’s reliability and validity.”[3] Data-driven decision-making will be an essential mission for school administrators and teachers in the future; and more countries will follow the U.S. example. [1] pg. 288: Fundamentals of Information Technology by Ralph Stair and George Reynolds. 6thEdition. [2] http://www.targit.com/en/landingpages/decisionsupportsystem/dss [3] http://www.ifib.de/publikationsdateien/SIGDSS03-1582.pdf [4] www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/cpg.doc‎ [5] www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/data-to-inform-instruction/report.doc

As technology significantly improves, once complicated, time-consuming activities are getting much easier for the public and businesses. People expect easy, instant results for every little job they do. In terms of business activities, business owners and employees only have a few hours in their workday to get things done. Job duties such as accounting, finance, marketing, manufacturing, and human resources have been made extremely easy and quick with the introduction of electronic business (e-business). In electronic business, e-commerce is taken to a whole new level as information systems and the Internet are utilized to conduct all business-related activities.  Business activities that are strong applicants for transferring to e-commerce are ones that are strictly on paper, long and tedious, and inconvenient for customers. E-commerce is just any business transaction executed electronically between companies, whether it is business-to-business, companies and consumers, consumers and other consumers, business and the public sector, and consumers and the public sector. [1] These business activities may include things such as distribution, buying, selling, marketing, and servicing of products or services.  As e-commerce is already a great development, e-business takes the concept of e-commerce a step further. Electronic business works directly with suppliers and partners, linking internal and external data processing systems more proficiently and flexibly, to better fulfill the needs and expectations of their customers. E-business fully utilizes the Internet to achieve their goals and could be said to have a more strategic concentration and emphasize on the functions that arise using electronic resources, while e-commerce is a division of a general e-business strategy. “E-commerce seeks to add revenue streams using the World Wide Web or the Internet to build and enhance relationships with clients and partners and to improve efficiency using the Empty Vessel strategy. Often, e-commerce involves the application of knowledge management systems.” [2]  Websites such as Yahoo!, AltaVista and Lycos were a few of the first to connect users to the Internet. In addition to search functionality, search engines like Yahoo! Offered its users services such as websites and email accounts at no extra charge. Search provides also sold advertising and marketing services to businesses that were eager to hook up with the millions of people using the Internet. Social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube are all models of social media platforms that enable users to share content over the Web. “These e-businesses normally get their start from venture capitalists who invest in the companies with the anticipation of getting a return. Social media companies have to determine how to monetize their services or seek acquisition from a larger company. Google's acquisition of YouTube in 2006 is an example of how social media e-businesses can continue to grow even when they do not have a defined way of capitalizing on their user base.” [3]  In conclusion, many businesses today are rethinking their business strategies in terms of the Internet and its great new culture and capabilities. It is extremely important for companies to stay updated with the growing technology world to satisfy customer wants and needs. Many companies are using the Internet to purchase parts and supplies from other companies, to work together on sales promotions, and to do dual research. “Exploiting the convenience, availability, and world-wide reach of the Internet, many companies, such as Amazon.com, the book sellers, have already discovered how to use the Internet successfully.” [4] [1] pg. 17: Fundamentals of Information Systems by Ralph Stair and George Reynolds 6thEdition [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business [3] http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/examples-ebusinesses-11344.html [4] http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/e-business

1. Concur: Business activities such as traveling, purchasing items or other expenses are extremely time-consuming. Concur gathers all of ones travel, receipts and other expense reports into one place so he or she can keep a check on them and can also stay productive. This application allows users to import data from credit cards, check, approve and submit expense reports and manage airfare, hotels, and dining itineraries. 2. CareerBuilder for Employers: It’s hard for businesses to find just the right employees for the positions they need filled. On this application, businesses can search for talented professionals to find the most suitable candidates. Through this account, one can review the resumes of the applicants they receive and contact them directly. Once someone finds an applicant that seems like he or she can have potential, they simply save them to a file and call or email them through the application. 3. Go Daddy Domain and Email Manager: This application helps businesses renew all of their products on time. People can send and receive emails from Go Daddy in its Mobile Workspace mail client. Managing ones dedicated and virtual servers, Go Daddy settings, hosting, and email accounts can be done through this application. Also, this application includes Online Storage, where users can easily manage his or her documents from anywhere. 4. Smart Office 2: Businesses utilize and rely heavily on Microsoft Office software. This application enables editing, creating, and sharing Microsoft Office documents in an easy manner. The application is incorporated with printing, so an extra printing application is not necessary. Cloud file access is enables so users may important files directly from Dropbox and Google docs. This application also provides a wide range of imported languages. 5. Parkmobile: If you are working for a business, and especially a business that requires many trips, you are visiting many different places so it’s important to be on top of your parking data. This application provides users with secure online access to parking data so one can keep track of any change/update in his or her account settings and of parking expenses. It also is a better and much simpler way to pay for parking by just using your iPhone. 6. LinkedIn: In today’s business world, it’s hard to find the job you are looking for. With this application, people can easily establish a profile, enter in all of their information and resume, and apply to jobs. Also, businesses can easily find and choose suitable applicants for positions they need filled. People can easily connect and find the right career. 7. Cardmunch: This business card scanning application is much better than others as it simply syncs the uploaded information one has with his or her LinkedIn contacts. All one has to do is take a picture of the card and within a few minutes all of the data is transcribed, stored, and cross-referenced. Also, after scanning ta contact, there’s a list of mutual contacts included within that person’s profile information. 8. Intuit: Intuit Online Payroll Plus is the most advanced, affordable online payroll website available today. Its appealing, intuitive interface and broad set of record keeping, processing and reporting tools make it a businesses best choice.

Whether it is searching for a good deal on a car or simply finding an affordable pair of designer shoes, online shopping has got you covered. Just a few years ago, if you needed things like these, you had to get up and get to the store, but that is not necessarily true anymore. Over the years, many stores have begun to add online websites for marketing and selling items. Not only has this greatly increased the success of these businesses, but it also has made life much easier for its users.  One of the most convenient stores online for many people is Peapod, developed from Stop & Shop. Peapod is an online grocery delivery service. The company is based in Skokie, Illinois, and operates out of several US cities. Now, instead of walking up and down aisles for one, two, three hours, one can simply sit at their computer or even on their iPhone with the Peapod App and click on grocery items they need. Everyone one may find in a grocery store, they can find on this website. Once the order is placed, it’s usually delivered the next day. It can’t get much easier than that![1]  With the Internet fiercely growing, thousands of online businesses have also been developed, one of the most successful being eBay. On eBay, users have the ability to conveniently sell and buy items all around the world, new or used, usually at affordable prices. The items people market and sell range from a bag of potato chips to a Lamborghini. Anything one could possibly want, they could most-likely find on eBay. eBay is also a wonderful creation for making a business out of old, worthless items one has laying around his or her house- as they say “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Buyers have the option of purchasing an item at a fixed price or bidding on an item and the highest bidder obtains the product. On any given day, millions of products are listed on eBay across thousands of categories. [2] As personal experience, I love shopping in stores and online but designer names could get extremely expensive. You could walk in Nordstrom and fall in love with a pair of shoes but then have your eyes melt off your head once you see the price tag on them. One could find that same $200 pair of shoes at a price of $60, or even lower in some cases on eBay.  Similar to eBay, websites such as Overstock.com offer great deals on high-quality, designer items. Again, there are thousands of different categories but people can only buy on this website, not sell. It is an online discount retailer based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. “Overstock initially sold surplus and returned merchandise on an online e-commerce marketplace, liquidating the inventories of at least 18 failed dot-com companies at below-wholesale prices. In recent years it has expanded to sell new merchandise, as well.” [3] Purchasing items such as furniture to decorate a house or a new family car could really get expensive. Overstock always has new great deals on everything posted daily on their website. For example, if one chooses to decorate a bedroom with furniture from overstock, in comparison with Pier 1 Imports, he or she would probably spend half, or even less the price. [4]  It’s amazing how many companies have begun utilizing the Internet to sell products and the amount of successful businesses that have generated from the Internet. Features such as free shipping/store pickup, promotions, simplicity, and convenience are what have brought of the great victory in each and every one of these companies. Things are constantly being established to make things easier, which the public and businesses are all over. [1] http://www.peapod.com/ [2] http://legacy.ebayinc.com/who [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overstock.com [4] http://www.overstock.com/

Cloud computing has become the latest buzz in today’s technology world for the public and businesses. Millions of people trust this software to store their e-mail, appointment calendars, and address books through websites such as Google. It is a type of Internet-based computing that relies on sharing computing resources as opposed to having local servers or personal devices to control applications. Various services such as servers, storage, and applications are sent to a company computers and devices via Internet through this computing.  [1]  Business owners have big ideas to streamline and simplify their businesses and have the greatest amount of sales possible. Accomplishing these goals, by things such as business applications, on top of the expenses to just run a business, is extremely expensive. There’s all of this software and applications out like Windows Vista SP2 and Oracle 11.1 GP1, that’s not only expensive, but once there’s a problem, it’s long and sometimes unsuccessful job. Cloud computing is much more lucrative and simple than this because instead of a business running apps itself, cloud computing is run on shared data- all one has to do is just plug it in, login, customize it and get started. Not only is this easy and saves a great amount of time, but it also costs much less. This is similar to comparing Gmail and Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft Exchange requires servers and storage, upgrades, and a technical team to keep it up and running. This model is so much better that it is changing the way many think about software not only for consumer apps but also business apps, which is referred to as Enterprise Cloud Computing. [2]  Although cloud computing seems like a great idea for everyone, many businesses do not agree. That is because they are more cautious with trusting the Internet with their precious, private corporate information. Cloud computing services do have the risk of failure, which will leave its users with no access to programs or data. Online companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft all do experience server outages every once in awhile. [3]  One of cloud computing’s largest failures was in October 2009 with T-Mobile’s Sidekick Smartphone. This Smartphone utilized cloud computing data service from Microsoft, known as Danger, Inc. to backup user data from his or her phone. The data included user contacts, calendars, notes, photos, messages, etc., which was all deleted from each and every phone as this system failed and had no backup system. Fortunately for some people, they were able to recover their data, and for the ones who were not able to, they were compensated with a $100 credit. [4]  Yes, many users fear of losing all of their important, but the success cloud computing could bring out for many people and businesses is incredible. A great, recent example of this is Tim Bell, who works as a CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) infrastructure manager and has found a way to accelerate science with cloud computing. Every day, Bell and his co-workers work towards making sure operating systems, mail and security infrastructure are working properly and efficiently to serve 11,000 physicists. CERN maintains 11,000 servers at its location outside of Geneva, Switzerland, that create preliminary reconstructions of particle collisions before sending data to similar, smaller organizations all over the world. Bell says, “Roughly 600 million collisions a second are whittled down to 60,000 to make them possible to compute, and then 600 are selected as especially interesting for further review. That results in about 25 petabytes of data that need to be stored each year...It has become a key tool for physicists to able to understand the nature of matter and the universe itself...The ability to turn around rapid amounts of analysis and allow the physicists to explore the results [is part of] delivering discoveries.” [5]  Overall, the success of cloud computing overrules the possibility of failure for many users. All of the new netbooks and small notebook computers are ultimately designed for accessing Web applications, and nettops, which are an indication of the direction of computing. The strength and storage size of computers can fade away greatly as cloud computing expands. High-speed wireless access, a keyboard, and a screen is all that is necessary for “computing in the cloud”. [1] http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/cloud_computing.html [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms [3] pg. 179: Fundamentals of Information Technology. By Ralph Stair and George Reynolds. 6thEdition. [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Sidekick_data_loss [5] http://gigaom.com/2013/07/22/at-cern-tim-bell-is-accelerating-science-with-cloud-computing/

            As technology significantly improves, once complicated, time-consuming activities are getting much easier for the public and businesses. People expect easy, instant results for every little job they do. In terms of business activities, business owners and employees only have a few hours in their workday to get things done. Job duties such as accounting, finance, marketing, manufacturing, and human resources have been made extremely easy and quick with the introduction of electronic business (e-business). In electronic business, e-commerce is taken to a whole new level as information systems and the Internet are utilized to conduct all business-related activities.

            Business activities that are strong applicants for transferring to e-commerce are ones that are strictly on paper, long and tedious, and inconvenient for customers. E-commerce is just any business transaction executed electronically between companies, whether it is business-to-business, companies and consumers, consumers and other consumers, business and the public sector, and consumers and the public sector. [1] These business activities may include things such as distribution, buying, selling, marketing, and servicing of products or services.

            As e-commerce is already a great development, e-business takes the concept of e-commerce a step further. Electronic business works directly with suppliers and partners, linking internal and external data processing systems more proficiently and flexibly, to better fulfill the needs and expectations of their customers. E-business fully utilizes the Internet to achieve their goals and could be said to have a more strategic concentration and emphasize on the functions that arise using electronic resources, while e-commerce is a division of a general e-business strategy.  “E-commerce seeks to add revenue streams using the World Wide Web or the Internet to build and enhance relationships with clients and partners and to improve efficiency using the Empty Vessel strategy. Often, e-commerce involves the application of knowledge management systems.” [2]

            Websites such as Yahoo!, AltaVista and Lycos were a few of the first to connect users to the Internet. In addition to search functionality, search engines like Yahoo! Offered its users services such as websites and email accounts at no extra charge. Search provides also sold advertising and marketing services to businesses that were eager to hook up with the millions of people using the Internet. Social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube are all models of social media platforms that enable users to share content over the Web. “These e-businesses normally get their start from venture capitalists who invest in the companies with the anticipation of getting a return. Social media companies have to determine how to monetize their services or seek acquisition from a larger company. Google's acquisition of YouTube in 2006 is an example of how social media e-businesses can continue to grow even when they do not have a defined way of capitalizing on their user base.” [3]

            In conclusion, many businesses today are rethinking their business strategies in terms of the Internet and its great new culture and capabilities. It is extremely important for companies to stay updated with the growing technology world to satisfy customer wants and needs. Many companies are using the Internet to purchase parts and supplies from other companies, to work together on sales promotions, and to do dual research. “Exploiting the convenience, availability, and world-wide reach of the Internet, many companies, such as Amazon.com, the book sellers, have already discovered how to use the Internet successfully.” [4]

[1] pg. 17: Fundamentals of Information Systems by Ralph Stair and George Reynolds 6^th Edition

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business

[3] http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/examples-ebusinesses-11344.html

[4] http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/e-business

In today’s business world, it has become extremely common for many companies, small and large, to convert their systems over to certain databases to provide better service and care to their customers. One of the most important businesses that have greatly enhanced their care to patients by the use of databases is in hospitals.  One of the most common medical databases utilized is called UpToDate. This clinical knowledge support system database displays modestly improved length of stay, mortality rates, and quality of care. It could be best described as “premier evidence-based clinical decision support resource authored by physicians to help healthcare practitioners make the best decisions at the point of care. By combining the latest clinical knowledge with cutting-edge technology, UpToDate changes the way clinicians practice medicine and has become an indispensable part of clinical workflows in institutions and practices worldwide.” [1] UpToDate is accessed through Web browsers or through electronic health records (EHRs) using desktops, laptops, or mobile devices.  Hospitals and care-giving centers constantly have to stay updated on new information, treatments, etc. as new studies and innovations are being released. Nurses and doctors go to years and years of school learning about these things, but eventually things they learn become outdated and they have to keep up to date with things. In order to provide the best care and obtain the best knowledge, it’s essential for hospitals to have databases like UpToDate. Technology has significantly changed from just four years ago, especially in the medical field.  The Journal of Hospital Medicine held a study comparing the performance of 1,017 hospitals that used UpToDate to that of 2,305 facilities that did not, employing freely available administrative databases. “During the three years covered by the study, UpToDate hospitals had slightly shorter average lengths of stay than the control group did (5.6 vs. 5.7 days), and the same was true for each of the six conditions studied. The study group also had slightly lower risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rates, although the difference was significant for only three of the conditions. On all four conditions studied for quality scores--heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical infection prevention--the UpToDate users did better than non-users.” [2]  The Ottawa Hospital in Canada just acquired this database and has a very positive outlook on its performance. The Chief Medical Information Officer Glen Geiger, M.D. at Ottawa Hospital said, “Our use of UpToDate Anywhere is a direct outgrowth of our advanced mobility strategy and mission to equip clinicians with the tools they need to answer questions quickly at the point of care...We are confident that, as the latest tool in our online arsenal, UpToDate will have a significantly positive impact on both our physicians and the patients they treat.” [3]  UpToDate is really self-explanatory. It is extremely important and beneficial to all people in the medical field. Not only does it help keep everyone “up to date,” but it also is readily available just about anywhere, providing doctors with additional access to UpToDate, whether they are on-site, at satellite offices, at home or on the go by using the award-winning UpToDate mobile app for iOS, Android and Windows. [1] http://www.uptodate.com/home [2] http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/clinical-systems/medical-database-linked-to-better-hospit/232200181 [3] http://www.nationalpost.com/markets/news/Ottawa+Hospital+Launches+UpToDate+Anywhere+Mobile+Enabled+Clinical/8671040/story.html Answers to Questions: 1. What specific challenges does your database system implementation have?   I think one of the very few challenges UpToDate may face is trying to get businesses to adopt it. Many still use older databases and don’t really think to change things around since their current databases are doing the job they need to. UpToDate just takes many databases to the next level. 2. In what ways does it provide competitive advantage for the organization using it?   Just as illustrated in one of the many studies, UpToDate really has such a competitive advantage over other hospitals not employing this technology. Again, many hospitals still utilize publicly available databases, which is somewhat, but not as advanced and cutting edge as UpToDate. More than 700,000 clinicians in 158 countries and almost 90% of academic medical centers in the United States rely on UpToDate to provide the best care. That trust has been earned because of the reliability of the databases’ recommendations, including the fact that they never accept funding from pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers or other commercial entities, which many other databases do. Again, this database has been linked shortened hospital stays, fewer deaths and better quality performance than non-UpToDate hospitals. 3. What improvements would you suggest?   I think that UpToDate is really a great and successful database already. One thing I would maybe suggest for UpToDate to do is advertise more and go around to medical businesses and display the importance of adopting this database, in relation to other used databases. They should inform medical employees how they are different and the studies that have been conducted to exhibit their success.

Every day companies are trying to figure out ways to make their jobs easier and more efficient, for all. In today's society, technology is growing every day so these desires could be made possible for businesses. The hardware and software that has been developed has allowed businesses to establish more adequate, convenient workload. One of the most recent products that has been designed for solving these issues are TABLETS. I think that tablets are a genius device to add to any work place. These versatile products are fairly small in size and weight, especially Apple's new iPad mini, and are easily accessible at any time. Businesses utilizing tablets with overloaded workers do not have to stress about finishing a project/assignment during his or her work day. They can work on their tasks just about anywhere they desire- at home, in the car, while traveling, etc. They also have an incredible amount of storage, so running out of space is usually not an issue. Tablets capture data with the touch of a finger or pen, which significantly improves worker productivity every day. MAGNETIC DISKS are devices that provide quick, easy access to stored information. They are direct access storage devices that enable fast data retrieval and are used by companies that need to respond quickly to customer requests. These are extremely crucial in businesses who need instant information. For example, when booking a flight, customers need to view the seat availability in the click of a button. Or when a manager needs to review a customers credit history. Fast, direct access to information is critical for many companies, which is why having magnetic disks is very important. Another device that provides fast, easy feedback is a LASER PRINTER. Some normal, inkjet printers, can take up to five minutes to print just one page. Businesses need to work in a speedy manner to ensure they have time to work with every customer and not have any hold ups to prevent that. This is why utilizing laser printers in high volume businesses is extremely beneficial. They provide instant, efficient printings/copyings, which is very helpful at the end of the day for everyone. Another essential enhancement to companies is utilizing DATABASE APPLICATIONS, such as Microsoft Access, IBM Lotus Approach, Borland dBASE, and Sun Base. These applications are ideal for storing, manipulating, and retrieving data. They are very useful when companies need to manipulate a large amount of data and produce reports and documents. This is very helpful for employees in an environment such as a doctors office. I know in my dads office they just recently converted over to an online database application (I forget which one) and it has been very beneficial to everyone. Patient information can be easily stored and readily accessible at any time. Things such as contact information and medical history is stored not only on paper, but also on the computer. There's no time wasted fiddling through files, everything is found in the click of a button on the computer. Another software that could extend the use of information systems into the mobile regime of work is SPREADSHEET ANALYSIS. This is very important in businesses for things such as managing money. It can prepare budgets, forecast profits, analyze insurance programs, suarizr income tax data, and analyze investments. Optimization is also another powerful feature of many spreadsheet programs. This allows the spreadsheet to maximize and/or minimize a quantity subject to certain constraints. For example if a business, such as a deli may not be gaining enough profit and want to figure out ways to maximize their profits. This spreadsheet will provide information on all of their costs and will display things to cut down on to increase net income. The deli could do things such as not buying as much cold cuts because many are put to waste once the day is over or perhaps even fire some employees. Another software that has become widely popular is GRAPHICS PROGRAMS. With these programs, it is easy to develop appealing graphs, illustrations, and drawings. Businesses can establish attractive brochures, announcements, and full-color presentations. This is very useful to companies because they can advertise and provide information to viewers to get them into their stores/offices. It can also allow giving a presentation to become more entertaining and enhance it a great amount as most presentation graphics come with many pieces of clip art, success as drawings and photos of people meeting, medical equipment, telecommunications equipment, entertainment, and much more. All of these hardwares and softwares (plus many more!) have greatly improved productivity and significantly advanced the amount of time put into every task in workplaces. These features have extended the use of information systems into the mobile regime of work and have made everything much easier than it previously had been!

Utilizing social media is a vital skill in today's business world. My father is an optometrist, and the owner of both of his practices. In today’s economy, everyone is cutting back on every little penny they spend. This is really hurting small, local businesses, including my father’s. People are holding off on things such as making doctors appointments and getting fit with proper glasses. They are managing with the eyewear they have and are not coming in until it is an emergency.  Until the economy improves, businesses need to start thinking out of the box and advertise deals to get current and new customers into their businesses, and the social network is a perfect place to achieve this goal. Just about everyone has a Facebook and/or in today’s society. People are checking these pages 3, 4, 5 plus times a day, so this is the perfect opportunity for businesses to advertise, as many people will see it.  Many people refrain from going into certain stores or offices because things are just too expensive and they wait for a promotion so they can get a good deal. In terms of my dads business, just a ten-minute eye exam, alone, has an average price of about $50, depending on the insurance the patient has and requires follow up exams after being fit with glasses and/or contacts. This all adds up, especially if it is an entire family going into the office.  Recently, I got my dad to set up a Facebook page for his business, providing office hours, directions, phone/fax numbers, and advertising deals and new products. This has allowed his patients to easily connect with him and has increased business already. Once a person comes across his business’ page and likes it, they then have basically subscribed to all of the posts my dad puts on the page. Once people like this page, it will come up on their Facebook friends’ newfeed and those friends may be interested in the location and deals and click on his page to check it out, which leads to more new customers.  I also want to help him create a Twitter page doing something similar. In my opinion, I think Facebook has been fading out and Twitter and other social media websites have become more popular. On Twitter he can advertise and do all of the same things as he did on Facebook, but also Twitter has the aspect of “hashtagging”. Hashtagging is a great feature for businesses and organizations to utilize in marketing to build a temporary community, create a buzz, or start a discussion around a particular topic. While you talk about that issue, other people will start to talk about it, too. I think this will also greatly increase business and profit for my dad!

Just about every little thing on this planet has a system functioning behind it, whether it is something such as the life of an insect or managing a successful business. Many people overlook the importance of these systems and never really think too deeply behind them. Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy, developed the General System Theory, which he used to explain the behavior of a variety of complex, organized systems.  Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy explained his rationale behind “building a science of social systems is based on the assumption that social organizations are like living organisms in the sense that both display wholeness, interact with their environment, exhibit strategies of self-maintenance, and experience cycles of birth, growth, maturity and decline”. [1] His idea of a general system insights into biological, behavioral, social and epistemological domains, while fighting specifically against the reductionist approaches and the mechanist interpretations that dehumanize human beings through robotomorphism, zoomorphism, scientism and other narrow-minded and shortsighted assumptions that have been used extensively by people without realizing that it is impossible and improper to simplify the complexity inherent to whatever human concern. [1]  Through behavioristic psychology and the ideas of Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy, leading personality theorists developed many new concepts, one of the most interesting being human nature. A man is portrayed as a computer, an animal, or an infant. His entire life is based upon things such as the genes passed down by his parents, instincts, mishaps, early conditioning, and cultural and social adaptations. All of these attributes and events of ones life are things that shape how he or she will live their life. People do not choose what color eyes they have, what ethnicity they are, or if they have a mental disorder. These are all characteristics people are born with and can be traced back to relatives. “In the majority of our models of personality, there are no provisions for creativity, and no fitting recognition of the power of ideals." [2] This is a continuous cycle through generation to generation.  Over the past century, American psychology was taken over by the concept of the model of man as robot, which has been greatly criticized. It has remained dominant, as it serves as a foundation for behavioral engineering in commercial, economic and political propaganda; the escalating economy of the 'affluent society' could not exist without such manipulation. “By manipulating humans into homeostatically adjusted conformists, consumers and opportunists, the principles of academic psychology were identical with those of the commercialization of Man.” [2] All of these concepts of robotomorphism and scientism, which Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy was completely against, are creating an extremely narrow-minded society. These people are physically and theoretically dissecting these systems into isolated elements and are destroying systemic properties.  Systems exist everywhere around us, without many people realizing. Each system is dependant upon certain circumstances and conditions. This has allowed “scholars and scientists to make sense of system characteristics such as wholeness, differentiation, order, equifinality, progression and others.” [3] It is to one’s advantage to expand some basic understanding of how systems work. One can more efficiently care for patients, families and communities when they are able to comprehend the explanation behind things. Understanding systems can also allow one to produce more effective changes in his or her business once they able to step back and think about how best to achieve this success within their workplace system.

1. I am an accounting major and am also looking into minoring in Italian as well. 2. The operating system on my computer is Mac OSX. 3. I do have the right to upgrade software on my computer. 4. This is my first Internet/computer related course I have taken. I do use the Internet a lot for email, shopping, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc. 5. Over the past month I took my first online class, which was Business Law I at Ramapo. 6. I have MS Office 2008 installed on my computer. 7. I work at The Gym in Montvale and also babysit about 25 hours a week. 8. I am entering my sophomore year at Ramapo so I am expected to graduate in 2016. 9. I spent my first year of college living at Monmouth University and I really did not enjoy being there one bit. Ramapo seemed a better fit for me as it is extremely close to home (I live on Upper Saddle River) and has a high ranked business school. 10. I am a former club swimmer and still enjoy staying in shape whether it is swimming, running, etc. I also really love animals!!!

One of the most common types of information systems utilized in business organizations is electronic and mobile commerce. E-commerce involves business transactions performed electronically between companies, companies and consumers, consumers and other consumers, business and the public sector, and consumers and the public sector. E-commerce is important because it holds opportunities for businesses, small or large, to market and sell at a low cost worldwide, therefore, enabling them to enter the global market. It also helps enhance a company's stock prices and market value. Today many e-commerce firms have come together to share each others strengths and special techniques. 

 Mobile commerce is the use of mobile, wireless devices to conduct orders and administer business anywhere at anytime. The use of wireless communications allows managers and corporations to do all of these business activities with the touch of a button on handheld computers, portable phones, laptops, etc. M-commerce has become extremely popular in today's world with all of the advances in smartphones and other devices, especially Apple's iPhone and iPad. Basically everything one can do on a computer, such as online shopping and banking, one can now do on his or her mobile device. 

In addition to E-commerce, business information systems also use telecommunications and the Internet to perform many similar tasks, such as electronic procurement. The given example of Electronic procurement is utilizing information systems and the Internet to obtain parts and supplies. 

Electronic business takes one step further from e-commerce and e-procurement as it flexibly  uses information systems and the Internet to conduct all business related activities and responsibilities, such as accounting, finance, marketing, manufacturing, and human resource activities. This also involves engaging customers, suppliers, strategic partners, and stakeholders. 

For these systems, the process of purchasing something, such as concert tickets from Ticketmaster, is greatly simplified as many of these businesses have free Apps for their consumers. The input is the suppliers/e-procurement, who gather and capture raw data. For example, once someone places an order on Ticketmaster, the suppliers receive the request and prepare the ticket order, gathering all of the required supplies. The processing is conducted by the organization and it's partners, converting/transforming data into useful outputs. An example of this could be processing the ticket order and figuring out all costs-ticket price, tax, etc. The output by customers/e-commerce produces useful information,  most commonly in the form of documents and reports. In the case of purchasing concert tickets from Ticketmaster, customers could review the service they received and provide whether it was well conducted or not. The management is then responsible for feedback, output used to make changes to input or process activities, and also for forecasting, predicting future events to avoid problems and improve the business. So, if the consumers were unhappy with their service, the management is responsible for changing things to provide better service to consumers.