Essay - Choosing A New Computer System for the 21st Century Business...

Choosing a New Computer System for the 21st Century Business Office

Propos*****l

It is impossible to imagine that any business can be run in the 21st century without an adequate computer system. And yet there***** lies the rub: Determining what computer ***** ***** adequate for any ***** purpose is in fact a complex and difficult process in many cases. All *****o often what happens when a m*****nager is faced with choosing a new computer system (usu*****lly at the point when ***** old one has completely crashed, losing valuable information ***** wasn't backed-up) is that he or she finds the brochure that's on the top of the pile ***** *****ders that ***** system.

But this is not ***** way to proceed. Acquiring the right informati***** system is essential in keeping a comp*****ny healthy. Th***** paper examines a real-world case of a corporation - in ***** case, Toys R Us ***** adopted a new computer information system, examining what went right in the process and what ***** wrong and what those involved might learn from this experience to make the next shift in information technology (for in the 21st century *****re will always be a next *****) go more smoothly.

A key element of analyzing the decision by Toys R Us executives ***** adopt various *****ms ***** Microsoft software is to investigate how closely these computer information systems mesh ***** the company's internal social and organizational structure, for software is only as useful as it ***** can ***** used by the particular workers *****.

Competition is fierce in the retail toy *****dustry, especially as more large discount chains enter the market. To help keep its competitive edge, ********** ***** Us, ***** worlds leading toy retailer, ***** Microsoft's Exchange Server and Microsoft NetMeeting's to improve communication among the ***** national offices and U.S. distribution centers. Thus one of the key questions ***** must be addressed here is to ***** extent the company's changes in its internal organization and especially in its communications infr*****tructure were sufficient to enable it to meet the challenges that it will face in the future.

Any company ***** ***** seek*****g to maintain its footing in the retail market - and even ***** expand ***** position - should consider implement*****g a systems approach to problem solving at every level. If such a system is in place it can be *****ed; otherw*****e, it ***** have ***** be blended into every department. The approach used by ***** consulting firm in determ*****ing how ***** the implementation of new ***** systems went (along with ***** smoothly ***** ***** were made to take advantage of new computing capabilities) must ***** considered ***** ***** all of the **********.

This ***** to analysis is referred to as the systems approach to problem solving, and it involves viewing the organization as a comp*****nt of ***** larger environment ***** which it interacts. Furthermore, the ***** *****self is viewed as a system with mutually dependent components. The behavior of any ***** department influences (and is influenced by) the ***** of