Management information and communications systems - MICS Essay

Management information and communications systems - MICS - Essay Example The rapidly advancing MICS has presented the organizations with immense benefits in terms of efficient data collection, processing of data to support managerial decision making, problem solving processes and enabling a highly collaborative work environment. Transformations in business processes and managerial strategies have been guided by the developments in MICS for enhanced productivity, performance and competitive advantage. However, the challenges exposed by such systems cannot be ignored since it requires in-depth understanding and effective policies to control the ill-effects of MICS. Organizations make use of various techniques like data mining and warehousing to analyse online user behaviour and accommodate strategic practices to achieve higher traffic to their websites. Personal information and vital data related to financial transactions are exposed to threats of misuse by fraudsters. Thus, privacy and data protection issues are some of the vital challenges to which indivi duals are exposed today and this is one of the primary factors guiding online user behaviour. Issues like online frauds, identity theft, information leakage, and hacking have become the buzzwords for Internet users. How vulnerable are we to such frauds and invasions on our personal spaces and what measures can we take to protect ourselves from such incidents? These are some of the vital questions that are faced by the Internet users. Organizations and institutions are grappling with the challenges of protecting customer data and ensuring ethical practices while dealing with sensitive personal information provided by users. The paper provides an in-depth assessment and analysis of these issues by highlighting key aspects of MICS and the ways in which information is handled in today’s world. The report identifies common practices adopted by online websites and organizations to tap into individual information easily available on the Internet and use it to promote its business go als and objectives. The ethical concerns raised by such practices has become the focal point of quite a lot of research studies and efforts are on to control the negative impacts of MICS through efficient practices and policies that guide online behaviour. MICS and privacy – an overview of current and traditional theories The global economy is deeply influenced by innovations and technology breakthroughs that have opened new opportunities and new models of operating in an increasingly complex environment. The complexities arising from globalization of economies and opening of markets to foreign trade and capital have created new possibilities for organizations, despite the fact that this has also presented new challenges and difficulties for managers in devising effective strategies for promoting business goals. Technology in such instances has proved itself a boon in assisting managers to pursue international marketing goals and objectives. Businesses are driven by profits a nd goals that constantly seek new markets and opportunities for growth. However, this is not an easy task given the wide diversities existing in global regions and markets. One of the popular means of exploring new markets and business growth potentials is the Internet that has provided the global managers with an innovative tool to assimilate vital data and statistics that aid in faster decision making and accurate problem solving mechanism. Organizations thus rely on information transfer and knowledge processing