Introduction
In order to improve their performance in the market, companies are introducing information management systems into their work. A management information system is a set of elements that are in relationships and connections with each other, forming unquestionable integrity and unity for collecting, processing storing, and providing information about the activities of an enterprise. The overall goal of management information systems is to provide managers with the timely information they need to make operational decisions. Each manager needs access to the information they need, and the requirements for such information are high: efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility. For the commercial director to plan the sales volume, it is essential to have information about sales of the past period, the dynamics of market changes, and the dynamics of changes in customer behavior. For the financial director to plan and organize the constant liquidity of the company, he needs to see the forecast cash flows, their plan-factual deviation, and trends in the banking and foreign exchange markets. However, for the same CFO to perform his functional duties, it is practically not essential to know the dynamics of market changes and changes in customer behavior. It is for the better organization and distribution of all these types of knowledge that there is an information management system.
However, such systems have their drawbacks in addition to apparent advantages. If the system is hacked, the attackers have all the information about the company and its operations, which can significantly harm the business. Most business sectors often face cyber attacks aimed at undermining the stability of their systems and attempting to steal data. Apple is one of the global companies that has been using the management information system for a long time, constantly improving it. It makes sense to disassemble how it functions to better understand the nature of information systems.
Background
Throughout its existence, the company continued to grow and develop in many areas related to modern technologies. This gave it considerable experience in this area, allowing it to conduct various research to create a better management information system. Apple has been able to systematically develop from its inception to the present day thanks to the introduction of various developments in innovative information technology. This gave the company a lot of experience and opportunities to create its management information system. Today, the company produces various gadgets such as phones, laptops, desktop computers, processors, software, and innovative accessories. When it comes to customer satisfaction, Apple is one of the leading technology companies in the world.
The electronics industry is very competitive, and companies must develop different management theories to stay ahead of the curve. A management information system helps structure data and makes it easy for management to access it anytime. This allows to competently and quickly plan the company’s further actions based on current indicators and analyze the situation on the market. Various financial indicators are crucial factors in making any management decisions in a company. In financial terms, the company achieved significant success due to its strategy and became the first organization with a capitalization of $3 trillion (Leswing, 2022). This indicates that Apple’s management is attentive to the financial component of the corporation, and the management information system contributes to the generation of huge profits.
Implementation of the Apple Information Management System
When creating and using a management information system, a company must consider many factors in its segment’s operation. Apple has been able to enter the global market by selling various technology products and software, so it needs to have control. Management information systems are developed for specific goals and objectives, and they are slightly different for each company. With an effective management information system, a company can quickly manage and control its data and securely store user information. Apple has made significant strides in using and storing information through virtualization. To ensure smooth operation, the company uses digital spaces for intranet communication for internal and an extranet for external. Through the intranet used by Apple employees, they can efficiently and timely access all vital information (El Khatib et al. 2021). Thus, communication and efficiency between the company components increase significantly, allowing them to achieve more significant results through information processing.
At the same time, the company is actively using the extranet to communicate with its external partners and developers. Thanks to a long-established information management system, Apple outperformed many of its competitors with more outdated systems. In addition to communication, management information systems are used by the company to collect data from its users, with the help of which Apple manages to analyze their needs and implement them in time. This interaction system is used not only for inter-collaborative communication but also to communicate something to its customers worldwide.
An essential part of the organization’s functioning is ensuring the security of information stored about the company and its employees. For a thoughtful analysis of the current situation and modeling of the future, the company uses stored information. Management information systems store and accumulate information that helps managers make crucial decisions by comparing indicators, which increases the productivity of all departments. This is achieved because the arrays of information in such systems can be quickly extracted on demand and considered quickly, leaving room for decision-making (Liu et al. 2020). One of the main applications of Apple’s management information systems is a complex, dynamic business environment in which data can be updated frequently. An improved information system that instantly provides online access to any data helps to cope with such flows of changing information. At the same time, different departments of the company communicate with each other through the same scheme, transferring information almost instantly (Przybyłko et al., 2022). This approach provides the necessary advantage due to which competition is possible.
In addition to critical communication functions, Apple’s management information system enables managers to recognize various market trends and implement appropriate strategies for business success. It also avoids unnecessary litigation, legal issues, or reputational risks (Raguseo, 2018). Thus, the company ensures the protection of the image and the preservation of confidentiality, which favorably affects the preservation of positive development dynamics.
The management information system has enabled Apple to create a value chain in the information realm. Thus, a flexible network has emerged that connects suppliers and resellers to transmit necessary information about products or services to customers before they lose relevance. Thanks to this, the company can offer its customers a faster and broader range of services and data to improve the consumer experience. In addition, such a system also manifests itself within the company, allowing it to track and update information about the remaining stocks in warehouses or production facilities. In this way, Apple’s management information system helps create flexible supply chains. With the help of such systems, the company can correctly calculate the time required to supply or complete certain goods for different enterprises and sales centers. This, in turn, affects customer satisfaction and increases the company’s reputation by selling more services and products. For the consumer to receive a high-quality final product, Apple monitors the production quality and saves information about various incidents to a database so that later it will be possible to study errors and avoid them.
Despite the current effectiveness of Apple’s information management systems, Apple continues to look for ways to upgrade them to get more value out of work. The upgrades in management and communication capabilities will result in a higher level of product delivery for customers and provide a seamless experience with the company. Information management is one of the most important aspects of a company’s activities. With the help of management information systems, it is possible to receive instant data updates without loss of context.
Conclusion
The management information system helps managers cope with large volumes of data in many company areas. In addition, the information system plays a vital role in implementing e-commerce operations, which is an essential aspect of Apple’s activities. The company uses the Internet to process payments for its goods and services and manage finances. Management information systems have significantly contributed to Apple’s development as a leading electronics and media content manufacturer. With the help of management in such systems, the company manages to develop in an organized way, planning its strategy for a long time ahead. This makes it competitive and cutting-edge in its product sector.
References
El Khatib, M., Al Jaberi, A., & Al Mahri, A. (2021). Benchmarking Projects’“Lessons Learned” through Knowledge Management Systems: Case of an Oil Company. iBusiness, 13(01), 1. Web.
Leswing, K. (2022). Apple becomes first U.S. company to reach $3 trillion market cap. CNBC. Web.
Liu, Y., He, D., Obaidat, M. S., Kumar, N., Khan, M. K., & Choo, K. K. R. (2020). Blockchain-based identity management systems: A review. Journal of network and computer applications, 166, 102731. Web.
Przybyłko, S., Szpadzik, E., Marszał, J., Kowalczyk, W., & Wrona, D. (2022). Different Floor Management Systems Affect Soil Properties and Initial Development of Apple Tree (Malus× domestica Borkh.) in an Orchard. Agriculture, 12(12), 2070. Web.
Raguseo, E. (2018). Big data technologies: An empirical investigation on their adoption, benefits and risks for companies. International Journal of Information Management, 38(1), 187-195. Web.