Icmt the Expected Trends

¶ … Icmt

In a competitive environment, one thrives based on their ability to build a competitive edge over their competitors. ICMT is one way through which organizations today gain competitive advantage in their respective industries. The term ICMT basically stands for the various tools and resources used in communication within the organization. Today, ICMT is used to a significant extent in various sectors including healthcare, business, and entertainment. It is expected that as more and more people purchase mobile devices, and the internet becomes more accessible, organizations will make huge profits from online activities and sales. This will, however, depend on how well they can address the risks of information security breaches and environmental damage. Environmentalists warn that increased use of computers and other electronic devices come at a cost to the environment. This text analyzes the expected trends in the ICMT sector, and the threats and opportunities presented to organizations by these trends. It also suggests ways through which organizations could maximize on the opportunities while minimizing the threat posed by the identified risks so as to be able to take full advantage of the projected trends.

Introduction

ICMT is an integral component of organizations today, supporting multiple segments in the economy, and providing benefits to homes, businesses and individuals. The ICMT industry has recorded significant progress over the last decades, evolving from the plain old telephone service (POTS) to advanced wireless and fiber optic technologies. Experts are of the view that despite this large extent of evolution, the ICMT industry is still largely immature, and significant opportunities exist in growth and innovation (Andersen & Coffey, 2012). We can, therefore, expect to see the multiplier effect of ICMT throughout specific industry sectors increase over the coming decades. ICMT is an element of ICT, which currently contributes approximately $1 trillion dollars to the U.S.' GDP and an estimated $400 billion in benefits to other sectors that rely on ICT directly (Andersen & Coffey, 2012). It is estimated that the ICT sector's contributions to GDP have risen by 25% since the 1990s (Andersen & Coffey, 2012). A study by the National Research Council in fact showed that the ICT sector accounted for approximately 25% of economic growth in the U.S. between 1995 and 2007 (Andersen & Coffey, 2012). This is sufficient indication that ICT has been a significant driver of economic growth since the 1990s. Worryingly, however, most researchers have focused on the evolution and growth of the ICT sector as a whole, leaving a lot to be desired in relation to the contribution of specific elements of ICT such as ICMT. This text seeks to address this knowledge gap by providing insight on how ICMT has developed and evolved in the U.S. over the years, and the risks and opportunities that it poses to organizations and business ventures.

What is ICMT?

The term ICMT is derived from two core terminologies -- information communication technology and media technology. ICT (information communication technologies) refers to the various tools and resources that are used to create, manage, store, and disseminate information. They include computers, broadcasting technologies (radio and television), and telephony. Information communication technologies, however, have one major technological limitation -- they are not able to deliver all forms of media. Television, for instance, could deliver information in video and sound form, but not text; moreover, a radio could deliver sound, but no video (Croteau, Hoynes & Milan, 2011). This is where media technologies come in -- these are communication technologies that allow for the delivery of all forms of media: live, text, sound, picture, video, and interactive. Towards this end, information communication and media technologies refer to the various tools of communication that allow for the delivery of live, still photos, sound, and print forms of media (Croteau et al., 2011). Examples include email, instant messaging and social networking sites.

Components of ICMT

The term ICMT is a composite term, which embodies four fundamental concepts: information, communication, media and technology. Gray (2012) posits that in order to understand the term effectively, one needs to have a perfect understanding of the aforementioned four components.

Information can be defined simply as processed data, or that which aids in the making of decisions. Waterville and Gilbert (2000) define it as a potentially useful fact capable of causing the human mind to change its view or opinion.

Communication refers to the transfer of information from one person to another, with the aim of getting them to accept a particular opinion (Waterville & Gilbert, 2000). Communication is a process requiring a sender, a receiver, a language and a code that is understandable to both the sender and receiver. Communication is said to have taken place when the sender's action produces a reaction from the receiver (Waterville & Gilbert, 2000).

Media stands for the various tools and resources used in the transmission and dissemination of information from the sender to the receiver. Communication media could take one of two forms: a) analog -- the conventional telephonic, television and radio broadcasts; and b) digital -- telegraphy and computer-mediated communication. The most commonly used media for communication include fiber optics, communication satellites, microwave transmission, coaxial cable, and wire pairs (Waterville & Gilbert, 2000). Communication media act as channels for communication, linking various computing devices so that they may interact with each other and share information.

The final component of ICMT is technology. This can be defined as the use of scientific knowledge to assist human beings in eliminating things that impede them from living comfortably. In this context, technology refers to the specific gadgets that are used in communication, including radio, television, GSM handsets, cell phones, telephone, computers, GPS (global positioning systems), and smart phones. It is these technologies that are linked together through communication media in order for information to flow.

Elements of an ICMT System

Any ICMT system comprises of five basic elements: people, data, information, hardware and software.

People: people are responsible for supplying data into the ICMT system and at the same time making decisions and judgments about the output information supplied by the system (Doyle, 2008).

Data: this is the raw material entered into the system, and which is later processed into information (Doyle, 2008).

Information: this is the output from the ICMT system; the result of data processing (Doyle, 2008).

Hardware: the physical components that comprise the system, including input devices (scanners, mouse, keyboards); output devices (plotters, printers, screens); storage devices (hard drives, memory); and tangible communication media used in the transmission of information such as coaxial cables (Doyle, 2008).

Software: the computer programs and applications that carry out the actual job. They include email, spreadsheets, and word processing software (Doyle, 2008).

Current State of ICMT in the U. S

ICMT systems in organizations in the U.S. are used for a variety of functions including payroll, stock control, order processing, purchasing, accountancy, banking, and ecommerce (Doyle, 2008).

ICMT in Healthcare: healthcare is a fundamental concern for populations and governments, particularly in the U.S., where the healthcare sector is largely profit-based, making the cost of healthcare significantly high (OSEC Business Network, 2011). ICMT has been used to not only improve the quality of care delivered to patients, but also minimize the costs associated with seeking out healthcare facilities (Fichman, Kohli & Krishnan, 2011). Numerous mobile applications have been developed in a bid to make healthcare more accessible. Traditionally, a patient had to make physical trips to the healthcare facility, and to at times queue for long hours before they could obtain medical care. Today, apps such as Omnifluent Health make it possible for patients to interact with physicians virtually, explain their symptoms, and receive their diagnoses via their mobile devices (Tehrani, 2015). Moreover, such apps allow physicians to effectively monitor their patients' progress and assess the effectiveness of administered treatment plans on a continuous basis (Tehrani, 2015). Other apps such as Fitbit help patients lead healthy lives by tracking and analyzing their quality of sleep and activity, and then offering suggestions to help them maintain healthy lifestyles. All these technological innovations help to cut down on healthcare costs as patients no longer have to make physical trips to the specialist anytime they feel unwell. Moreover, it improves the quality of care delivered to patients because physicians are able to monitor and make relevant changes to their earlier diagnoses early enough if need be.

Moreover, social networks such as Doximity that are exclusive for medical personnel provide means for specialists to interact virtually, and obtain perspectives on treatment and diagnoses from other doctors within the network (Katsanis, 2015). This places patients in a better position to receive the most appropriate diagnoses from their physicians following active consultations and engagement with other physicians.

ICMT in Logistics and Transportation: GPS technology has grown tremendously in the U.S., particularly in aerospace navigations and management systems (OSEC Business Network, 2011). These technologies use mobile devices to determine geographical position, and then relay information on the same to relevant parties over a mobile network (OSEC Business Network, 2011). This has helped to keep fleet and transportation management systems in check by allowing fleet owners to continuously monitor the movements of individual vehicles within their fleets.

ICMT in Business: social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter provide ample grounds for businesses to advertise themselves, and their products as well as interact effectively with their customers. Ecommerce and online payment systems have become more prominent in the business arena as a result of the diffusion of mobile technology. The Department of Commerce estimates, for instance, that ecommerce spending in the U.S. retail industry hit a significant $195 billion in 2011 (Department of Commerce, 2012). Businesses have also devised mobile apps geared at improving customer experience. This has served as a source of competitive advantage for organizations that invest in ICMT systems. A perfect example of such an organization is Walmart, which operates the Walmart App, through which consumes can locate their nearest store and even locate exactly where a specific item is shelved within the store (Walmart, 2015). ICMT systems have also helped to streamline procurement procedures, making it possible or organizations to maintain high levels of effectiveness in the supply chain. Organizations such as Walmart have, for instance, developed effective communication systems for monitoring movements in inventory, and relaying real-time information to suppliers once the reorder level is reached. This, as Kosasi and Saragih (2014) demonstrate, has aided the company in preventing stock-outs and ensuring that goods are available on the shelf whenever customers need them. The organization has in turn been able to retain the loyalty of its customers, and remain more profitable than its competitors (Kosasi & Saragih, 2014). ICMT systems have, therefore, gone a long way towards providing competitive advantage for organizations against their competitors.

Expected Trends in ICMT in the U. S

Increased Focus on Green ICT: ICMT has certainly changed the way we conduct business and live our lives; however, it has done so at a cost (Saha, 2014). Each stage of a computer or mobile device's life, from its production, through to its use and disposal has some effect on the environment (Saha, 2014). Manufacturing such devices consumes electricity, water, and harmful chemicals, and in turn generates hazardous wastes (Saha, 2014). It is estimated, for instance, that a single PC generates about a ton of carbon dioxide every year (Saha, 2014). As more and more people purchase smart phones and other mobile devices over the coming years, the extent of damage to the environment can be expected to go up (Saha, 2014). The government is taking steps to minimize this; and as such, we could expect to see organizations shift towards green ICT (Saha, 2014).

Green ICT can be defined as the adoption of practices and technologies "that will lead to more sustainable computing with the goal of reducing carbon emissions and energy usage" (OSEC Business Network, 2011, p. 7). Experts estimate that globally, investment in greener data centers will rise from $3.8 billion in 2010 to $13.8 billion in 2016 as organizations strive to undercut each other in green ICT investment (OSEC Business Network, 2011). Towards this end, we could begin to see organizations make huge investments in power management and server visualization technologies as a way of reducing emissions resulting from ICMT use (OSEC Business Network, 2011).

ICMT in Entertainment: with the increasing number of people who own smart phones and other mobile devices, one could expect some major changes in ICMT investment in the entertainment and gaming industry (OSEC Business Network, 2011). Experts posit that we, for instance, could expect to see an increase in wireless games over the coming years (OSEC Business Network, 2011).

Increase in Wireless Infrastructure: in 2011, the Obama administration committed to making high-speed wireless infrastructure available to all Americans regardless of where they live and work (The White House, 2011). The president committed to making more airwaves available for enhanced smart phones and other wireless devices, so that more and more Americans are able to use the internet to play, work, and learn (The White House, 2011). With this, we could expect to see more and more organizations conduct research and development in wireless technology, and invest in the same as a way of taking advantage of the president's offer. One could, therefore, expect to see huge investments in enhanced smart phones and wireless-enabled mobile devices over the coming years.

Risks and Opportunities for Businesses and Organizations

The expected trends discussed in the preceding section present both risks and opportunities for businesses and organizations in the U.S.

Opportunities

Expanded Operations: the increased availability of wireless networks is deemed to make the internet more accessible to a larger faction of the population. This translates to a wider online market for goods and services, and expanded ecommerce spending. Businesses could use this opportunity to make themselves known to customers outside their geographical locations through the World Wide Web and social media sites. Moreover, they could use this expanded online presence to make their products known across the country.

Increased Efficiency: the movement towards green ICT accords organizations an opportunity to gain competitive advantage over their competitors by designing their ICMT systems in such a way that they cause minimal or no damage to the environment. This they could do through the following strategies: