'Information systems have revolutionised the way we work'. Critically Essay - 1

'Information systems have revolutionised the way we work'. Critically discuss this statement using two concepts from the mod - Essay Example Information systems control almost all aspects of an organization’s management ranging from planning, controlling, co-coordinating, and recruiting of new staff. The technology also s companies to conduct business in virtual locations within the cyber space. Information systems have also created new challenges to businesses; for example, hacking and identity theft, which are the commonest cyber crimes (Panigraphy, 2010). Therefore, understanding of the way information systems have revolutionized the way businesses work is critical in the digital age. This study will focus on creation of virtual organizations and reduction of bureaucratic inefficiencies as the main ways through which information systems have changed the working of firms. Virtual Organizations Virtual organizations refer to those that carry out business in implicit environments that have no physical locations. These companies use computers, information systems, and the internet in carrying out all their functions . The offices of such companies are paperless and the non-physical offices are assumed to be in the cloud (Winfan, & Davis, 2005). These companies do not have boundaries in their workplace in terms of the employees they recruit and the regions they reach. This is because cyber space allows them to employ workers and reach customers from all regions of the world. Amazon, Google, and E-bay are examples of virtual companies that sell their products and services through virtual offices, and their workers are located in every corner of the world. The existence of virtual organizations may be explained by the theory of social determinism, which argues that technology changes the society. This is because if it were not for the development in technology, these firms would not be in existence (Laudon, & Babston, 2013). Corporate Culture of Virtual Organizations Corporate culture determines the success of a company because it creates a notion of how activities should be conducted in the organ ization. Existing and outgoing employees of a company usually pass the organization’s culture to newly employed workers. The corporate culture of implicit organizations differs from physical companies because it requires workers and managers to possess characteristics such as trust, valuable leadership skills, and efficient communication (Hess, 1995). Trust is an essential factor in virtual organizations because it enhances managers to manage employees who work in different locations. This means that the lack of trust in these companies may prevent the firms from performing their functions efficiently leading to poor performance. Efficient leadership and communication skills, on the other hand, also help in ensuring that there is cooperation and coordination in the company (Clegg, Harris, & Hopfl, 2011). Lack of these qualities in a virtual company may lead to the breakdown of activities. Working Techniques used in Virtual Organizations Virtual organizations use unique techni ques to bring workers together and to ensure that work is completed efficiently. These companies mainly use telecommuting to complete their jobs. Telecommuting is where workers are connected to the organization by information systems that operate through the internet. Managers connect with employees through emails and telephones