Information Systems can be a tricky topic, especially for small business. And while computers and technology are currently playing a big part in IT systems, it is important to concentrate on the bigger picture, Information. No matter what size business you are thinking about, information is going to play a vital role. Information needs to be delivered on time to the right people, to make a difference. You are going to need to think about what information will be needed by different departments to maximize your profits.
There are a multitude of resources available to small businesses, almost too many. When used properly, technology should make day to day tasks more efficient. When used incorrectly, technology can become a very costly answer to a question that nobody is asking. Using the guidance of a professional IT firm allows you to carve away the solutions that make sense for other companies and design a system that satisfies your current needs and potential for growth, without going overboard. Only with this advice will your company avoid the trap of paying for options that you will never use. Having the latest and greatest technology available may seem wonderful, but may ultimately prove to be useless and expensive. Concentrate on what you need to get the job done at hand, while keeping an eye out to not paint yourself into a corner.
Some questions to think about before setting up your system:
- What information is going to be vital to my survival?
- Will the timeliness of certain data directly affect my profit?
- What resources might I already have that I am not thinking about?
This will be your project, it must adhere to your standards. One of the best ways for owners to have an overall vision without getting caught up in the details is to think about the problem backwards. Determine the goals for the system, and let those goals create the proper steps to get to the end product.
