Telecommunications
Business Objectives
Telecomms applications are developed due to business
demand. Each is designed to improve profitability or productivity
by meeting one or more of these business objectives:-
1. capturing information about business transactions
from remote locations
2. providing information to remote locations as soon
as possible after it is requested
3. reducing the cost of traditional means of communication
4. supporting mechanisms for gaining competitive
advantage
When business objectives are successfully addressed,
the telecomms application provides a business solution, in which expenses
have been reduced, sales increased, end-users become more productive, or
some other benefits have been gained.
Adding Value to Business
Telecomms can "add value to a business" by increasing
the efficiency of business operations and organizational structures.
This can make business practices more effective and supports innovative
business solutions. O'Brien suggests three strategic opportunities
follow from the major business impacts of telecomms:
1. compressing the time it takes to conduct business
activities
2. reducing the limitations of geographical dispersion
3. enabling new relationships with customers, suppliers
and other business partners.
Telecommunications System
Components
The following are essential components of a telecommunications
system:
1. Computers to process information
2. Terminals or any any input/output devices that
send or receive data.
3. Communications channels, the links by which data
or voice are transmitted between sending and receiving devices in a network.
Communications channels use various communications media for example telephone
lines, fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables and wireless transmissions.
4. Communications processors, such as modems, multiplexers,
controllers, and front-end processors, which provide support functions
for data transmission and reception.
5. Communications software that controls input and
output activities and managers other functions of the communications network.
Telecommunications Revolution
Telecommunications can be defined as the communication
of information by electronic means - usually over some distance.
At the present time we are in the middle of a telecommunications revolution
which has two different components - rapid changes in the technology of
communications and equally important changes in ownership, control and
marketing of the telecommunications services.
This page was created by Jill Hone on 22.5.00. If you have any
further queries do not hesitate to contact me
References
Laudon & Laudon (1998) "Management Information Systems". Prentice
Hall, 5th edition
www.prenhall.com/laudon
APR's BT1002 Notes: Telecommunications
Back to the Home Page