UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO IT – ITeS INDUSTRY
Information Technology
It is the practical application of technology. Most businesses have a team of IT professionals who are responsible for managing the company’s IT infrastructure and assets.
ICT – ICT is an acronym for Information and Communication Technology. It refers to all the devices, networking components, applications and systems that allow people and organizations to interact with the digital world. ICT comprises all communication technologies, such as Internet, mobile phones, satellite communication, wireless network etc.
UNESCO – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
UNESCO defined the term “ICT” as “The system of technologies, tools and devices that are used to transmit, process, store, create, display, share or exchange information by electronic means.
Information Technology enabled Services
- Call Centre
- Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
- Business Process Management (BPM)
- Multinational Companies (MNCs)
- Indian Service Providers (ISPs)
- Global In-house Centres (GIC)
- Data Entry and Processing
- Telecommunication Services
Applications of Information Technology
- IT in Home and Everyday Life
- IT in Education Sector
- Educational Resources
- Online Learning
- Applications in Class RoomsUse of Audio-Video Teaching Aids
- Learning Management System (LMS)
- IT at Workplace
- IT in Library
- IT in Business and Marketing
- E-commerce
- IT in Banking
- Online Banking
- ATMsBanking Apps
- Tele-banking
- Debit and Credit Cards
Business Process Management (BPM)
Business Process Management (BPM) refers to the systematic approach of identifying, designing, implementing, monitoring, and improving business processes within an organization to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. It involves analyzing how work is done, identifying bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and finding ways to optimize processes for better outcomes. BPM often involves using technology and automation to streamline workflows and improve collaboration across departments. The goal of BPM is to align processes with the organization’s strategic goals, deliver better products or services, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. It’s a continuous cycle of analyzing, improving, and managing processes to ensure the organization operates more smoothly and achieves its objectives.
Example: Business Process Management (BPM) is like making a recipe for a cake. Imagine you’re baking a cake, and you want to do it perfectly. BPM is like figuring out the best way to mix the ingredients, bake the cake, and decorate it. You might find a faster way to mix the batter or a better temperature to bake the cake. That’s what BPM does for businesses. It helps them find the best and fastest ways to do their work. For example, a company that makes clothes could use BPM to figure out the best steps to design, make, and sell the clothes. This makes the company work better and makes customers happier!
How does IT help a business organisation?
Using Information Technology a business can marginalize its processes by having a database warehouse. The data gathered over time can be analyzed to make predictions and to understand where the organisation is headed.
In terms of security, IT provides the infrastructure to implement networks protocols to safe the organisational information from unintended access. By using IT, data can be processed fast and securely.
List any four social media services that help you to keep in touch with your family and friends.
There are many services available that helps in keeping touch with family and friends.
- Skype
- LinkedIn etc.
What do you understand by LMS?
A Learning Management System is software or web based application or technology used to plan, implement and assess a specific process.
- Learning – Use an LMS to deliver online courses and training material to the participants in your class or training session.
- Management – Organize and manage your online courses, participants or users, their results etc.
- System – System is another word used for software, which makes it sound bigger and more expensive.
Give an example of the use of IT in the following areas.
| Service | Example |
| Online Banking | Bill payment |
| E-learning | Live Debate |
| Library Management | Indexing |
| Hospital management system | Diagnose and treat the body |
What is BPO? Mention any five BPO services and its types.
BPO stands for Business Process Outsourcing. It’s when a company hires another company to handle certain tasks and processes for them. This helps the company focus on its main work while the BPO handles the other tasks. Here are five common BPO services:
- Customer Support: BPOs often handle customer inquiries, complaints, and support through phone calls, emails, or chats.
- Data Entry: BPOs manage data input and management tasks, like entering information into databases or spreadsheets.
- Human Resources: BPOs can assist with HR tasks like payroll processing, employee benefits administration, and recruitment.
- Finance and Accounting: BPOs may take care of tasks like bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, and financial reporting.
- Telemarketing: BPOs may provide telemarketing services, making calls to promote products or services and gather customer feedback.
Other BPO services are as follows:
- Transaction and Payment Processing services
- Document Management services
- Order Management services
- Accounts Management services
- Technical Support services
BPO is often divided into two main types of services — back office and front office.
- Back office services include processes, such as billing or purchasing.
- Front office services pertain to the support provided to its customers, such as marketing and technical support.
Briefly describe the impact of IT in your everyday life.
IT, which means using computers and the internet, has changed our daily life a lot. We can talk to people far away quickly, find lots of information online, watch movies and shows on our phones, and even work from home. We learn new things online, buy stuff on the internet, and doctors can help us using video calls. We also use computers to do banking, find directions when we’re lost, and share pictures and stories with friends. IT is like a helpful friend that makes everything easier and more fun!
OR
Information Technology (IT) has fundamentally transformed daily life by enabling instant global communication through the internet and social media, granting easy access to vast amounts of information, revolutionizing entertainment via streaming platforms, reshaping work patterns with remote options, expanding educational horizons through online learning, revolutionizing commerce with e-commerce platforms, enhancing healthcare through telemedicine and digital records, streamlining financial transactions through online banking and digital wallets, guiding navigation with GPS technology, redefining social interactions via social media, fostering the rise of smart devices, shaping transportation through ride-sharing apps and navigation tools, and even contributing to environmental monitoring and sustainability efforts, thus becoming an inseparable and transformative part of modern existence.
What steps have been taken by the Government of India to improve the efficiency of government services being delivered?
The Government of India had taken several steps to improve the efficiency of government services being delivered. Some of the key initiatives up until that point include:
- Digital India: Launched in 2015, the Digital India campaign aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It focuses on improving online infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and delivering government services digitally.
- e-Governance Initiatives: Various e-governance projects have been launched to provide citizens with easy access to government services. Initiatives like the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) and the Unified Mobile App for New-age Governance (UMANG) have been introduced to consolidate services under a single platform.
- MyGov Platform: MyGov is a citizen engagement platform that allows citizens to contribute to various government initiatives, policy-making, and governance by providing their feedback, suggestions, and ideas.
- Aadhaar: The Aadhaar system, a biometric identification program, has been utilized to streamline the delivery of government services. It helps in verifying the identity of citizens and is linked to various welfare schemes and services.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The DBT program aims to directly transfer subsidies and benefits to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, reducing leakages and ensuring more efficient and targeted service delivery.
- Jan Dhan Yojana: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a financial inclusion program that focuses on ensuring access to financial services like banking and insurance for all citizens, particularly those from lower-income sections.
- e-Kranti: This initiative aims to transform and modernize the delivery of government services by leveraging technology. It focuses on providing electronic delivery of services, mobile governance, and digital literacy.
- Good Governance Day: December 25th is observed as Good Governance Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The day is intended to promote efficient and transparent governance practices.
- Open Government Data Platform: The government has established a platform to provide free access to a wide range of government datasets, promoting transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: While primarily a cleanliness and sanitation campaign, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan also seeks to improve the overall efficiency of public spaces and services.
- Skill India: Skill development initiatives have been introduced to enhance the skills and employability of citizens, thus contributing to a more productive workforce and efficient service delivery.
- Reforms in Public Service Delivery: Efforts have been made to simplify processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and make government services more citizen-friendly. Initiatives like citizen charters and grievance redressal mechanisms have been introduced.
How is IT beneficial in the insurance sector? Mention any three factors.
With the help of a computer database, the insurance companies can keep all their records up-to-date. Starting date of policies, processes for continuation, date of next installment, date of policy maturity, interest dues and bonus, survival benefits, etc. are stored using computers. Nowadays, insurance policies can be purchased online through the respective company’s website. The policy premiums can also be paid online at regular intervals from the comfort of your home.