ICT and Business Development

ICT and Business victimization In line with the principal(prenominal) priorities set by the URBACT Information nightclub Network, this theme foc intents on worry evolution and the role of ICT as a means of tackling economic restructuring and promoting employment and in doing so fostering well-disposed cohesion and economic inclusion. The purpose of this brief document is to act as a guide for colleagues when preparing material or presentations on this topic and to elicit discussion on the forces raised in it. Business Development and its kin to ICT?Business Development is the process of improvement that enables a employment to make up to a greater extent efficient, profitable, and thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. Business outgrowth hence does non only concern marting and sales de failments, and all separate of a byplay which constitute its value chain and requires effective communion and co-operation within a comp whatever. Over the last 20 years ICT has increa singly been identified as a major contributor to the process of concern development and improvement and it has been identified that ICT . is responsible for around half of productivity growth in modern economies.It drives improved efficiency and give way work and products across the entirety of the private and the public sectors. (Viviane Reding, Member of the European commitment responsible for Information Society). What has been the impact of ICT on Business? The use of ICT and applied science has affected every aspect of business, transforming not only the way that business is conducted but also creating new business sectors and jobs. The creation of companies like Google and e-Bay which did not exist 10 years ago, was only make assertable by advances in applied science and the changes that this has created in the way that nation e oblige ( currently Google is valued at ?44billion Source BBC 5th June 05). Some examples of the nature of this change allow merchandise The use of websites has allowed companies to develop new and cheaper ways of reaching new markets, oblation customers the opportunity of buying goods and services whenever they want and often at trim back cost, whilst also enhancing the level of customer service. This has been coupled with the expansion and use of e-mails which once again has been used by business to market their goods and services directly to dominance customers, as well as communicating with existing customers and suppliers.Increasingly the marketing campaigns of businesses include the use of technologies such as Contact Management Systems that allows them to co-ordinate, monitor and answer for on various aspects of their marketing campaigns in new ways devising these campaigns more targeted and effective. Finance Practically all companies direct use software product programs e. g. Sage or Excel to manage their accounts. This has allowed them to look at fiscal information when required, monitor and respond to their customers purchasing patterns by e. g. offering discounts and boilers suit improve the management of their finances.The upshot of this has been for many companies a reduction in their accountancy fees. Out of business leader working For many businesses the need for faculty to be away from the office attending meetings etc. or to be based in another geographical location has grown on board employee demands for more flexible working patterns. However effective communication and efficacy to approach shot information etc. remains critical to the productivity of these faculty members. Therefore with the use of technology many companies now use a range of technologies to enable this.These include mobile phones, e-mail, broadband, laptops, etc. thus ensuring that companies are able to be flexible and adaptive depending on their business needs. Networks Virtually all businesses now have or have access to a computer. The existence of two or more computers in an office almos t always leads to the creation of a network. The main advantage of doing so is that resources can be shared e. g. printers, internet access, files/information can be managed and shared amongst workstations and the security of information can be better managed through a network.Increasingly networks are not just confined to the office but are being adopted so that they allow home/ unlike working that keeps changing business needs. This transformation has really taken keister over the last 20 years and continues to transform the way business is done. No business today can ignore the use of technology as its effective use helps businesses to remain competitive and profitable, thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. The role of the Public Sector? What is the case for Public Sector intervention if this is already happening?Talking specifically about SMEs, the final field (Feb. 2004) of the European Go Digital Awareness campaign 2001-2003 shows that to help SMEs to Go Digital is still a policy challenge as SMEs remain sceptical about ICT and e-business. This is mainly the result of Their capture of procuring technology has often left an impression that the wrong decision was made as the expected benefits from using new technology have not materialised. This then affects businesses willingness to unless invest in technology and therefore threatens their further competitiveness. The creation of new businesses especially in new industries requires that the right congest and business environment are present.For example the figurehead of Science parking lots, Universities, and Research Centres etc. can help the spread of an innovative grow amongst businesses. In the absence of proper support and the right environment areas/regions risk of exposure losing the jobs and prosperity brought by the creation of new businesses. Procuring technology in itself is not a route to successful business development but requires that supply have the right skills to implement a nd use it effectively. Many of the new technologies and rising or existing businesses are increasing dependant on the presence of a relevant technological infrastructure to support business development e. g. Broadband access. The lack of this infrastructure can undermine business development, therefore damaging competitiveness and jobs. The issues above although not exhaustive are indications of market failure and therefore a challenge to the public sector in defining a role and developing come acrosss/iniatives to address them.Without effective proceeding areas/regions risk falling behind and therefore losing out in call of Developing new businesses in new business sectors made possible by advances in technology Ensuring that businesses by effectively using technology are competitive both locally and globally Ensuring that businesses have the incumbent information and support to develop into new markets Enabling businesses to become more flexible and responsive to the demands of their customers and their stave Developing a workforce with the requirement skills that are demanded in the present and future labour market.How did you develop your confound? Once you have identified a problem or issue then the next stage is to plan actions to overcome or correct these issues. This starts with the planning stage which is a critical component to the success of any show, starting with identifying the need for the project, and includes project time scales, project design, project finance, project partners and resources, project organisation and management etc. What were the key factors in achieving this and what barriers did you have to overcome to do so?Main outcomes of the project to businesses? Over the melody of any project measuring its success is a necessary part of project management, reporting and measuring impact or change. What therefore were the main outcomes of the project and how were they measured? ?Increased or improved use of ICT helped to hav e a fit business activities? ?Increased or improved use of ICT resulted in the development of new services and/or products? ?ICT usage has helped to create new networks at heart and outside the company? The adoption of ICT solutions has lead to the restructuring of working and communication methods in the enterprise? ?New models of working and/new jobs emerged? ?The implementation of e-work helped to integrate people who have been excluded from traditional jobs in the company before? ?The business now understands better the need for staff training? ?Additional jobs and/or the bread and butter of exiting ones as a result of the projects work? Lessons learnt?During the course of any project the experience of delivery often throws up many unforeseen issues, especially when you are dealing with technology, which are a result of internal and external factors. This then leads to lessons learnt which can range from better ways to manage a project through to innovative approaches to prov iding support etc. These lessons learnt are not only of value to the project staff but also for others interested in developing or currently running similar projects.