Business organizations are set up to make as much profit as possible, while maintaining lowoperational costs and keeping up with competition. The dynamics involved call for a creative approach in order to remain profitable for the foreseeable future. It is for this reason that information systems arecurrently at the center of all ambitious organizations. My goal is tocentralizethe role of information systems in my chosen career path as a proprietor of multiple private fitness facilities in my hometown of Corona, California.
There are several important Information Technology Management concepts that are applicable in a fitness facility business (Pearlson, Keri, Saunders, Galletta 34). Some of these concepts are:
Information Storage and Analysis. With the advent of information systems, organizations no longer manage their information and data in a manual format. Comprehensive databases that have the capacity to collect, analyze and store big dataare the norm (Galliers, Robert, Leidner 22). With such a facility, an organization can utilize customer information make future marketing plans and pinpoint any challenges that need to be addressed in real time. Furthermore, information systems can be used to interlink the internal business data with various external databases therefore nurturing available opportunities and tackling any emerging problems.
Porter’s 5-force model. This model was developed byMichael E. Porter, with the main objective of helping companies to assess business competitiveness and initiatecounter- strategies in order to keep anorganization in business. For instance, the information on other fitness facilities operating in my locality can be analyzed to come up with a strategy that will seek to leverage on customer needs, therefore increasing profits generated by the business. Assist With Business Processes.
Information systemshelp businesses to develop a pool of value added-systems that are necessary in ensuring the existence of a company. A good example is where a company integrates information systems with the marketing cycle to ensure that products or services sold to potential clients meet the quality standards set by the various regulatory bodies.
Wall Street Journal articles to better understand technology. Two Wall Street Journal articles have played an important role in my understanding of technology. “Amazon’s Cashierless ‘Go’ Convenience Store Set to Open” by Laura Stevens is one such article. Amazon isimplementing a cashless system whereby customers donot need cashiers to calculate the value of products they have purchased. This type of system can be adapted for use in a fitness facility by integrating a check-in system that can identify the user, log their workouts and record the hours spent working out.
Similarly, “Netflix Continues Landing Customers, Even After Increasing Prices” details the Netflix strategy of spending more money on infrastructure and technology to increaserevenue regardless of rising prices. This will apply to my company, as increasing margins will always be an end-goal, even if it requires investing in better technology.
My goal is to complete my degree at UC Riverside and thereafter continue working onmy career to the point where I have enough financial resources to operate a personal business. It is my ambition to develop a chain of customized fitness facilities to meet customer needs, while increasing operating profits.
