The Role of Computers in Business

When first developed, computers were not used in business. It was not until the late 1950s and early 1960s that computers began to be used to organize, store, process, and present vast amounts of business information. In 1954 the first business application of a computers system was made for the processing of payroll. Today payroll is just one of many routine computer operations. There has been a rapid increase of computer usage into almost every aspect of business: factory production, inventory control, warehousing and distribution, record-keeping, and even assistance in problem-solving and decision-making.
Computers handle large amounts of data rapidly and can efficiently categorize, process, and report information for a variety of business operation. Computers, in fact, have a virtually unlimited capacity for processing business data, However, since computers cannot think, their role in business is limited to those areas in which they can process information more effectively and efficiently than human beings. Figure 2 lists a number of tasks and compares the effectiveness of computers and human beings for each task. At the administrative level, managers decide how computers and humans can be used most effectively to perform a particular business task.

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Tesco Functional Areas

All businesses need to be well organised to achieve their aims and
objectives. Certain tasks, or functions, must be done regularly and
these are usually grouped into specific types of activities. In a
large organisation like Tesco PLC, people work together in functional
areas. Each functional area has a specific purpose. Below are the main
functional areas:

Finance

The main activities of the finance department are:

* To record all the business transactions

This means that they record in their schedule all the expenses that
have been paid and all incomings. They also make sure that each
department does not spend more than it has been allocated.

* Measure the financial performance of Tesco

This means the finance department look at how well or badly Tesco is
doing financially.

* To control the finances and cash flow so Tesco stays reliable.

This means that they make sure that there is enough money in the
business to pay off debts, bills and the employees. They also make
sure that there is enough money to survive for the company.

* To take timely financial decisions by comparing the predicted
performance with actual performance.

This means that if the company wants to invest more in Tesco, then it
would be up to the finance department to make the decision on whether
there are enough funds to do. They would do this by looking and
comparing the financial situation in previous years with the financial
situation of the present year. By this they can see the expense will
leave them with enough money at the end. They also prepare all the
accounts each year so that the company comply with their legal
responsibilities to the Inland Revenue and complete VAT returns which
they send to HM Customs and Excise.


SOURCE :
http://story-en.blogspot.com/2009/08/role-of-computers-in-business.html
http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Role-Of-Computers-In-Business/424504


CONCLUSIONS :  Information Technology, like language, affects us on many levels and has fast become integral to all of our lives.   In this course we aim to strike a balance in studying both the social and commercial forces of Information Technology, and networking, in particular.