What is a Blog?

A weblog is a hierarchy of text, images, media objects and data, arranged chronologically, that can be viewed in an HTML browser.

A blog usually written by person, in their area of specialized or what they are really interested in. You can write any topic in the blog and updated regulary.in the same time, blog has many applications. It also help people to contact with each other, where they can learn, share ideas, make friends with and even do business with people with similar interests from around the world.

Blogs tend to have a few things in common:

·         A main content area with articles listed chronologically, newest on top. Often, the articles are organized into categories.

·         An archive of older articles.

·         A way for people to leave comments about the articles.

·         A list of links to other related sites, sometimes called a "blog roll".

Definition of 'Electronic Check'

A form of payment made via the internet that is designed to perform the same function as a conventional paper check. Because the check is in an electronic format, it can be processed in fewer steps and has more security features than a standard paper check.

The security feature required: authentication, public key cryptography, digital signatures and encryption.

The appear of electronic commerce is encourage to have an electronic check. Electronic checks can be used to make a payment for any transaction since it covers the same law as paper money. It allows business to route payment more quickly. Also, we have first to make sure that enough money is in our checking account before we write the check.

Electronic Check Problems:

Mistake happen. So you need to contact your bank immediately if you find an error because of electronic transaction.

Competitive advantage and strategic information systems

A competitive advantage is statement that identifies business strategies to compete, its goals, and plans and policies that will be required to carry out those goals. Through its competitive strategy, an organization seeks a competitive advantage in an industry.competitve advantage helps accompany control a market and generate larger than average profits.

Most companies use porter’s model to develop strategies to increase their competitive edge.

Now let’s show you porter’s five forces

1)    The threat of entry of new competitors:

The threat that new competitors will enter your market is high when entry is easy and low when significant barriers to entry exist. Like when they open lulu in Nizwa    this leads to loses in small shops like supermarket.

2)    The bargaining power of suppliers:

Supplier’s power is high when buyers have few choices from whom to buy and low when buyers have many choices. So most organization prefer to have more potential suppliers which give them the ability to negotiate price, qulity, and delivery time. For example, lulu and karfour are not friend and they competing in customer satisfaction, each one have suppliers ,they now that to success those  suppliers have to  deliver the products in the right time. This gives suppliers bargaining power.

3)    The bargaining power of customer (buyers):

Buyer power is high when buyers have many choices from whom to buy and low when buyers have few choices.

4)    The threat of substitute products or services

Minds of people changes, your products my substitute with products that have the trend that people want. Today new technologies create substitute products very rapidly.

5)    The rivalry among existing firms in the industry

The threat from rivalry is high when there is intense competition among many firms in an industry. The threat is low when the competition is among fewer firms and is not intense. So you need to watch out, if you see a product that might be substitute for your product .you well need to adjust to the new trend.  

Business pressure, organizational responses, and IT support

The business environment is the combination of social, legal, economic, physical, and political factors that affect business activities. Changes in any of these factors are likely to create business pressure on organization.organisation respond to these pressure with activities supported   by IT.

There are three types of pressure that business face: market, technology, and societal pressure.

• Market pressure: 
• Global economy and strong competition

Global market makes pressure through the decrease of labor cost, especially in developed country. For example, when china copy everything and do it the same such as; macbook air. An example of strong computation is the restaurant which located in the same region.

•   The changing nature of the workforce

Like increasing numbers of women in the work comparing with past. Also, people with disabilities now work in all type of position.

•      Powerful customer

Customers nowadays are having knowledge to realize what’s the appropriate cost for certain kind of products and the quality of products and services.  

Technology pressure

•   Technological innovation and obsolescence

New technological are creates many substitutes for products and alternative services quality. These changes require business to keep up with consumer demands. Sometimes the brand is become popular then it absolute like floppy.So, company has to adopt the new technology.   

•  Information overload

Data are register daily so it becomes hard to track all of these information. Information technologies, such as search engines and data mining provide valuable support in these efforts.

Social/political/legal pressure

•   Social responsibility

Each company have to keep some money from there budget to society. As government force the company it become pressure especially  in terms of treated all people the same.

•  Compliance with government regulation and deregulation

Change government regulation and policies are makes big pressure for company. Like what happens nowadays in Oman.

Organizational responses

• Strategic systems

By adopting special technique that’s differentiate you from your competitors.

 Customer focus:

By take care of profitable customer.

3)      Make to order and mass customization:

Make to order by producing customized products and sevices.In mass customization you produces a large quantity of items, but it customize  them to fit the desire of each customer.



Business pressure, organizational responses, and IT support

Business pressure, organizational responses, and IT support

The business environment is the combination of social, legal, economic, physical, and political factors that affect business activities. Changes in any of these factors are likely to create business pressure on organization.organisation respond to these pressure with activities supported   by IT.

There are three types of pressure that business face: market, technology, and societal pressure.

Market pressure:

1)      Global economy and strong competition

Global market makes pressure through the decrease of labor cost, especially in developed country. For example, when china copy everything and do it the same such as; macbook air. An example of strong computation is the restaurant which located in the same region.

2)      The changing nature of the workforce

Like increasing numbers of women in the work comparing with past. Also, people with disabilities now work in all type of position.

3)      Powerful customer

Customers nowadays are having knowledge to realize what’s the appropriate cost for certain kind of products and the quality of products and services. 

Technology pressure:

1)      Technological innovation and obsolescence

New technological are creates many substitutes for products and alternative services quality. These changes require business to keep up with consumer demands. Sometimes the brand is become popular then it absolute like floppy.So, company has to adopt the new technology.  

2)      Information overload

Data are register daily so it becomes hard to track all of these information. Information technologies, such as search engines and data mining provide valuable support in these efforts.

Social/political/legal pressure

1)      Social responsibility:

Each company have to keep some money from there budget to society. As government force the company it become pressure especially  in terms of treated all people the same.

2)      Compliance with government regulation and deregulation:

Change government regulation and policies are makes big pressure for company. Like what happens nowadays in Oman.

Organizational responses

1) Strategic systems:

By adopting special technique that’s differentiate you from your competitors.

2) Customer focus:

By take care of profitable customer.

3)      Make to order and mass customization:

Make to order by producing customized products and sevices.In mass customization you produces a large quantity of items, but it customize  them to fit the desire of each customer.

Her i show you what pressure can organization face and how to avoid it.