Computers Notebook

INTRODUCTION

Almost all of us are involved, in some fashion, with computers on a daily basis. They are in the cars we drive, the televisions we watch, the clocks that tell us the time, the microwave ovens that heat up food and, of course, in the machines that populate many of our desktops. Without computers, life would certainly be a lot different. Computers notebook, however, are relatively new on the human scene. We can measure civilization in thousands of years and the industrial revolution in hundreds. Yet, computers have only been around for tens of years. This relative newcomer has been quick to take hold, dig in, and proliferate.

Most people know that a computers notebook is a fast calculator, but it is much more than that. It is a machine, which performs fast calculations plus performs burdensome chores such as choosing, copying, moving, comparing and performing other operations on alphabetic, numeric and other symbols which represent data (raw material of information).

A computer may be defined as a machine that can solve problems by accepting data, performing certain operations and presenting the results of those operations under the direction of detailed step-by-step instructions. Such a set of sequenced instructions, which cause a computer to perform particular operations, is called a program.

Computer science is the study of the operating principles of computers, computer programming languages and algorithms for solving theoretical as well as practical problems. It involves the development and use of devices for processing information. Information in one form is presented to the device (input information) and information in another form is required from it (output information). This process of conversion of raw material into the finished product is nothing but data processing. Data processing may be defined as the process of transforming data (raw material of information) into useful information by the computer.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

A computer is an intelligent amplifier that performs the above-mentioned operations in a faster, accurate and efficient way. Thus, it frees humans to use their time in matters involving creativity and judgment. The characteristics possessed by computers can be listed as follows:

Speed:

A computers notebook can add and subtract numbers, compare letters to determine alphabetic sequence, move and copy numbers and letters. As such, there is nothing profound in these operations. What is significant is the speed with which computers carry out these operations. This speed varies from a few microseconds (millionth of a second) to nanoseconds (billionth of a second). For instance, a small computer can evaluate investment decisions by performing hundreds of thousands of machine operations in a second.

Accuracy:

Computers are very accurate. They can perform their hundreds of thousands of operations with great accuracy as their circuits have no mechanical parts to wear and malfunction. They can run errorless for days at a time.

Reliability:

Computer output is generally very reliable, subject to the condition that the input data entering the computer should be correct and the program of instructions should be reliable and correct. Incorrect input data and unreliable programs give us computer errors and wrong results. Hence, the phrase GARBAGE IN-GARBAGE OUT (GIGO).

Provides a Capability that would otherwise be Impossible:

Because computers can operate on data at such phenomenal speeds, they can produce results that would simply not be feasible otherwise. For e.g. computers notebook can be used to provide management with up-to-the-minute figures on all aspects of its business. With this information, managers can make decisions that are more meaningful.

Similarly, computers enable companies to provide customers with instantaneous services, such as airline flight availability and charge account status. The result is that these companies can offer far more customer services than would be possible without the computer.

Storage Capability:

Because various computer media can store millions of characters of data in a condensed form, there are tremendous savings in the storage area required to maintain the vital records necessary in a business environment.

Intangible Benefits:

There are many companies that utilize computers for intangible benefits such as flexibility, ability to accommodate growth, and the psychological factor, that may give them a competitive edge in attracting consumers to buy their products or services.

Reduced Cost:

With the ever-increasing advances being made in the state of the art, the cost of computers notebook equipment has dropped drastically over the years. Hardware costs have been decreasing at an estimated annual rate of 25 percent. Thus, companies that at one time could not justify the cost of acquiring their own computer system may now find it not only feasible to acquire a system, but cost-effective as well.

NEED FOR NEW CAPABILITIES

*During 1980s & 1990s, executives in large companies focused on downsizing, delayering and reengineering. Forming strategic alliances was emphasized to build capabilities and expertise.

*In the mid 1990s, executives felt the need for a new business model to cope up with the changing environment.

*They were not able to gain efficiency and maintain control together at the same time.

*External Challenge * Slow growth, strong global competitors taking only a small piece of the pie.

*Internal Challenge * Not able to combine power & resources of a large company with the hunger and spirit of a small company.

*In this era of Internet and associated networked technologies, large established companies and entrepreneurial firms, cope with the challenge of being big and small simultaneously.

*There is a need for small firms to expand product lines and geographic reach quickly to keep pace and do business with large firms dominating markets.

HISTORY REPEATS

*In 1950s and 1960s, *hybrid* organizations were designed to enable companies to act big and small simultaneously.

*This served the need for control and efficiency as well as enable flexibility and speed of response.

*Today*s 21st century demands:

*Adaptive, information-intensive, team-based, collaborative and empowered organization*

*Companies that adopted this structure realized that this model is further leading to conflicts, confusion, information overload and costly duplication of resources.

*The problem is not that of strategy development, but proper strategy management in conjunction with new & complex environment.

*The emergence of the Internet, e-commerce, and integrated, powerful & flexible databases & business systems in late 1990s * information processing & communication infrastructures matching the needs of big and small companies.

*However, networked technology cannot define the information to be needed in the system.

*It can enable new organizational structures & systems, but cannot motivate people to use information to make decisions & take strategic actions.

*In the last five years, there has been some real progress in creating information links between companies. First EDI, and now XML are easing the technical burdens of sharing information. There is a need for new organizational capabilities.