MIS - Discussion 2

Data collection and storage methods can be both beneficial and detrimental to a company or organization from a management perspective in several ways.  Looking at this subject from a cautious individual perspective, data is a wonderful tool available to each of us.  Access to the information superhighway is literally in our hands.  When you need information to assist with a project we can simply search for specific answers on the Internet.  The available volumes of data will answer questions so specifically it is almost scary.  I personally search for document outlines to complete business projects.  For example if you enter in the subject line on Bing, “root cause 8d 5 why template word document” You have a variety of forms and instructions available to choose from.  This is very industry specific information that is now available for anyone to utilize.  The possibilities are endless.  Like wise if you enter your own name into the same search window it might surprise you on how much information is available on you.  This information is available because we choose to give it up freely and in some cases unknowingly.  We must pay attention to what we are clicking when we chose to explore social media and other Internet sites. 

Data collection and storage methods from a business perspective can be just as challenging.  Each day I depend on internal and external data input and mined by our organization to complete day-to-day business functions.  The capabilities are as varied as the data collected.  In my current position I rely on an ERP system to deliver the necessary data to complete daily operations.  I am able to pull reports related to product shipping today, upcoming shipments, inventory, customer contacts, customer service contacts, vendor information, I can order necessary equipment, supplies, and communicate within our organization all because we have a data management system.  Our organization utilizes information on our customers to better understand sales trends; in turn this helps me set demand schedules based on historical data. 

While most realize the benefits of information each organization must beware of those organizational adversaries and savvy customers.  Wal-Mart is an organization I have had several dealings with over my career.  I find that private organizations have a better chance of surviving when doing business with this organization.  Data is used by Wal-Mart and other large organization to strategically manipulate a competitive edge.  Wal-Mart utilizes public information and internal business intelligence to organize its business negotiations.  By understanding your capacity, which is derived by your annual sales volume.  Mining information both publically and privately from your other customers, they are able to take advantage of your pricing structure by dictating how much volume they will choose to purchase from you.  Unfortunately much of the data is based on the information unknowingly provided by you.  This in turn will help them determine their own pricing structure.  Organizations that fail to protect their data, or become deeply involved with companies like Wal-Mart find themselves in terrible dilemmas.    

The controversial data collection actions of windows 10, should drive professional and individual users away from the platform.  Information is and will continue to be collected by software developers.  This provides start up companies very lucrative careers keeping action and private data inaccessible by the data miners.  We must understand the ramifications of our own actions.   By the acceptance of the user agreements we risk private data breaches. 

A growing concern related to social media is the available information individuals and companies choose to share on social media.  Ethical concerns are just a click away in many ways.  When we share our personal beliefs and thoughts on social media, what we choose to do at home or personal beliefs are now available to everyone.   Companies in today’s business world must take into account these publically existing pools of information, to protect their corporate image, and public acceptance.