,
, analysts, security analysts, web developers, systems administrators, software
product man- agers, and IT managers.
3. Is Information Systems a part of IT or is IT a part of information systems? Does it
matter which is a part of which?
IT is part (or a subset) of information systems. Yes, it matters as it can lead to
misunderstandings, trivialization of the importance of one or all terms, and feelings
of overwhelm for some stakeholders outside of the IT or IS profession (at times even
within the IT/IS professions). It is these misunderstandings of the slippery and
overlapping terms that often drives some accountants to trivialize, or only see a part
of, the importance and value of information systems and digital technologies to
business operations and strategy. In turn, this leads them to misunderstand their role
in IS and digital technology issues and therefore sideline them, or to see such issues
as ones that can be relegated to the IT/IS/Technology function. This
misunderstanding and the resultant attitudes and actions can be a risk to both
managers’ careers and the fates of their organizations.
IT, Information Systems, and Digital Technologies
4. What is the best metaphor you can think of to explain the interrelationship between
digital technologies and information systems?
Lots of different metaphors can be used here. E.g.:
-digital technologies are like a catalyst for information systems
-digital technologies are like jigsaw pieces in an information system
-digital technologies are like components of a computer
-digital technologies are like building components of an IS building
-digital technologies are like athletes on an IS team
5. Are digital technologies a part of IT or is IT a part of digital technologies?
Digital technologie scan be a part of IT and IT can be a part of digital technologies.
The term “digital technologies” refers to combinations of information (or data),
computing (or computation), communication, and connectivity technologies. Digital
technologies include all types of electronic hardware and software that use
information in the form of binary code (information represented by strings of 0's and
1's). Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal
computers, calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite
, technology, high-definition television, the internet and other networks, software
applications, email, mobile apps etc.
6. What is the role of digital technologies in information systems?
Used the right way, information systems can become very pow- erful strategic
weapons capable of conferring often insurmountable strategic advantages. The right
digital technologies can supercharge this strategic power of information systems by
drastically enhancing how efficiently and effectively such information systems
function. For example, the right combination of digital technologies can speed up the
rate at which data flows between hardware, software, networks, business processes,
and people, making it near instant. The right combination of digital technologies can
transform all of an organization’s infrastructure (buildings, machinery, furniture, cars,
stationery, etc.) into smart things capable of collecting data, communicating data,
and acting on data insights, and doing all of these things autonomously. The right
combination of digital technologies can enable an organization’s employees to work
from anywhere in the world, to collaborate with any of the organization’s
infrastructure and other physical things, and to serve large numbers of customers
globally in real time, irrespective of their location. The right combination of digital
technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of interactions between
people, technology, and processes. These examples only scratch the surface of the
power of digital technologies to supercharge the strategic power of information
systems.
7. What are five different types of digital technologies?
Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal computers,
calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite technology, high-
definition television, the inter- net and other networks, software applications, email,
and mobile apps.
They also include emerging digital technologies such as the internet of things,
blockchain, LPWAN, LEO satellites,
8. Assuming that an organization is not already using the digital technologies you
identified in question 7, how could using them improve each component of an
information system?
Answers will vary depending on the specific digital technologies chosen. Below is a
suggested solution for one digital technology (the internet of things)
, analysts, security analysts, web developers, systems administrators, software
product man- agers, and IT managers.
3. Is Information Systems a part of IT or is IT a part of information systems? Does it
matter which is a part of which?
IT is part (or a subset) of information systems. Yes, it matters as it can lead to
misunderstandings, trivialization of the importance of one or all terms, and feelings
of overwhelm for some stakeholders outside of the IT or IS profession (at times even
within the IT/IS professions). It is these misunderstandings of the slippery and
overlapping terms that often drives some accountants to trivialize, or only see a part
of, the importance and value of information systems and digital technologies to
business operations and strategy. In turn, this leads them to misunderstand their role
in IS and digital technology issues and therefore sideline them, or to see such issues
as ones that can be relegated to the IT/IS/Technology function. This
misunderstanding and the resultant attitudes and actions can be a risk to both
managers’ careers and the fates of their organizations.
IT, Information Systems, and Digital Technologies
4. What is the best metaphor you can think of to explain the interrelationship between
digital technologies and information systems?
Lots of different metaphors can be used here. E.g.:
-digital technologies are like a catalyst for information systems
-digital technologies are like jigsaw pieces in an information system
-digital technologies are like components of a computer
-digital technologies are like building components of an IS building
-digital technologies are like athletes on an IS team
5. Are digital technologies a part of IT or is IT a part of digital technologies?
Digital technologie scan be a part of IT and IT can be a part of digital technologies.
The term “digital technologies” refers to combinations of information (or data),
computing (or computation), communication, and connectivity technologies. Digital
technologies include all types of electronic hardware and software that use
information in the form of binary code (information represented by strings of 0's and
1's). Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal
computers, calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite
, technology, high-definition television, the internet and other networks, software
applications, email, mobile apps etc.
6. What is the role of digital technologies in information systems?
Used the right way, information systems can become very pow- erful strategic
weapons capable of conferring often insurmountable strategic advantages. The right
digital technologies can supercharge this strategic power of information systems by
drastically enhancing how efficiently and effectively such information systems
function. For example, the right combination of digital technologies can speed up the
rate at which data flows between hardware, software, networks, business processes,
and people, making it near instant. The right combination of digital technologies can
transform all of an organization’s infrastructure (buildings, machinery, furniture, cars,
stationery, etc.) into smart things capable of collecting data, communicating data,
and acting on data insights, and doing all of these things autonomously. The right
combination of digital technologies can enable an organization’s employees to work
from anywhere in the world, to collaborate with any of the organization’s
infrastructure and other physical things, and to serve large numbers of customers
globally in real time, irrespective of their location. The right combination of digital
technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of interactions between
people, technology, and processes. These examples only scratch the surface of the
power of digital technologies to supercharge the strategic power of information
systems.
7. What are five different types of digital technologies?
Digital technologies include electronic tools, systems, devices, personal computers,
calculators, traffic light controllers, mobile telephones, satellite technology, high-
definition television, the inter- net and other networks, software applications, email,
and mobile apps.
They also include emerging digital technologies such as the internet of things,
blockchain, LPWAN, LEO satellites,
8. Assuming that an organization is not already using the digital technologies you
identified in question 7, how could using them improve each component of an
information system?
Answers will vary depending on the specific digital technologies chosen. Below is a
suggested solution for one digital technology (the internet of things)
