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Information Technology and Business |
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How Lotus Notes Improves Productivity |
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As a business owner or manager, you may have often wondered how much return on investment you can realize from information technology expenditures. According to results from an exhaustive study of businesses in the UK , investing in IT is a sure-fire way to increase productivity. The study, authored by Tony Clayton and conducted by ONS and LSE economists, took place from 1998 to 2003. The conclusions were based on 59,000 observations on software and the business output for 23,000 companies. Increased productivity was linked to two main types of information technology improvements: system integration and knowledge management. This is how utilizing enterprise software such as IBM Lotus Notes will improve your firm's productivity… |
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System Integration |
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Throughout the statistical analysis of the research, electronic process integration was associated with higher productivity. The companies that had the most integrated processes and the best networks had the highest labour productivity. System integration is about combining all the components so that they work together smoothly. When parts of a process function as a unit, employees get their work done more easily and quickly. For instance, Lotus Notes has the flexibility to work with Linux and Macintosh. For firms already running SAP business applications, Lotus Notes will integrate effortlessly. Companies using Microsoft technology will find great interoperability. Employees can use Microsoft Word as an alternate email editor. They can also edit attachments in place. For users with Microsoft 2000 or XP, Lotus Notes offers a single sign-on. An integrated system also means better reliability and availability. That translates into less downtime. And when your business has grown, Lotus Notes will allow for no-hassle scaling up. No lost productivity due to system changes. |
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Knowledge Management |
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Many of the most successful companies profiled in the study had efficient knowledge management systems in place. Knowledge has to be collected, structured, and shared. Lots of documents need to be organized; lots of data needs to be categorized. Lotus Domino Document Manager provides centralized document storage in a super-secure library. Users don't have to waste time trying to locate the business documents they need. They can access, manage, organize, and share knowledge. Going beyond storage issues, this software will also enable employees to use the desktop applications with which they are familiar. Team members can write documents, send them for review or approval, and exchange them inside or outside of workgroups. Lotus Domino Document Manager helps groups track documents through all their iterations with innovative services such as document check-in and check-out, version control, revision histories, and audit trails. Publishing, archiving, and threaded discussion capabilities round out the array of functionalities this business tool provides. |
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The conclusions in Clayton's study were clear: investments in information technology resulted in improved productivity and “an additional return in terms of value added”. Results also showed “significant, positive returns in manufacturing and services which are broadly consistent with growth accounting results.” Now you don't have to wonder any more whether or not investing in information technology is worth it. All you need to do now is pick up the phone. |
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The conclusions in Clayton's study were clear: investments in information technology resulted in improved productivity and “an additional return in terms of value added”. Results also showed “significant, positive returns in manufacturing and services which are broadly consistent with growth accounting results.” Now you don't have to wonder any more whether or not investing in information technology is worth it. All you need to do now is pick up the phone. |
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