¶ … Information Technology as an Assemblage in Business Recently there has been an overwhelming growth in information technology and subsequent advances related to business management. The developments have also seen information technology become an integral part of doing business with most notable areas being accounting, information storage, and communication. Considering the growing use of information technology and the efficiency it has facilitated in business activities, it is ideal to address information technology as part of business systems (Belanger and Watson-Manheim, 2006). In an article published on the BBC website -- "New technologies helping start-ups shoot for the stars" -- the advances seen in today's technology are sophisticated and yet serve as an enabling factor for startup businesses in leaping forward to embrace a substantial volume of growth at the very onset (Wall, 2014).

With the available technology, startup businesses that embrace technology are in a position to reach out to a diverse global market immediately at the launch of their designs. Compared to the earlier challenges experienced in accessing and using technology, in the present day, businesses can access faster and more user-friendly technologies. Additional to the ease of use and access, technological advancements in the present day have facilitated virtual interface platform for communication and feedback as well as cloud computing for storage of data, manuscripts, and software.

The story on Martin Kenwright, a digital image designer, exemplifies the advantages of technological advances to entail time and cost efficiencies. Martin is in a position to use technology to reach out to talented freelance developers from around the globe through the virtual communication interface. With recruitments done work would be initiated without the need for incurring additional cost related to overheads. The team would work, communicate and exchange ideas on virtual technological platforms throughout to the completion stage. Since the core objective in business additional to maximizing profit is minimizing cost, information technology presents a golden opportunity that facilitates that plus others (Wall, 2014).

The information accessed on information technology platforms reveals details on the organization as per the specific organization information shared needs. Businesses have the freedom to choose what information they share and who has access to that information using the available technology. Adrian Kelly BBC news article on -- "Technology for small businesses on your terms" -- observe that small business prefer to conduct their business on their own terms (Kelly, 2015). This desire by small business is facilitated by the available user-friendly information technology platform allowing business to undertake business operation according to their preferences and capabilities (Kelly, 2015).

Small businesses are in a position to protect their information, create priorities and grant access credit to information at their own discretion. The continued growth in the field of information technology facilitates a wider choice for businesses to choose where to locate their offices and how to compete in the market. This level of freedom in business operations adds to the need to consider information technology as part of the business and the platform availed a boost towards achieving greater heights. Kelly (2015), observes that the freedom availed in choosing how to consume and utilize information technology will not compromise the businesses ability to meet their consumer needs. On the contrary, the freedom afforded by information technology places the business at an advantage to focus more on measures to articulate their consumer needs.

Actor-network Theory

The theory looks at the systematic way and framework for incorporating technological advances with the surrounding infrastructure. The theory gives both human and non-human actors an agency that is desirable in determining existent interactions. According the proponents of the theory - Michel Callon (1991) and Bruno Latour (1992) -- it is a description of the composition of the human and non-human actors (Belanger and Watson-Manheim, 2006). In the composition, the constituents are afforded identities given the enduring strategies in interactions to contribute to a desired end. In the interactions the players come up with a common understanding, identify representatives and appoint each other targeting collective and individual goals. In the Actor-network theory both the actors (humans) and actants (non-humans) are in the same scene in the construction of interaction network that work to ensure the stability of the overall business systems.

Evaluate how Information Technology can be seen as an assemblage

The performance of an organization in determined by output it gives through its financial year accounts, growth in sales records, the size of the market share and the volumes of produced. Such information is attainable from information technology systems of accounts, customer database, inventories and market analysis reports. Clearly information technology facilitates access to relevant information detailing...

In the event that the various business systems fail to share some information through the available information technology systems it is impossible to come up with comprehensive reports of the businesses' performance. Example failure of the stores department to share their store sheet information to the production department, it is not possible to determine what volumes to produce. Information technology plays an integral part in this instance by providing a platform where stock levels are made available to the productions department. The production's department then relates this information to inform the sales departments. Using information technology, it is then possible for ideal volumes of production to be planned.
Information technology fosters sharing of information from the market to the customer relations offices, relevant production and development departments and the management. The various human entities involved in the day-to-running on the business will interact to determine the ideal measure given the information gathered. Further references will be made from information technology databases to assess past information related to current situations. With this on hand planning on relevant action will be initiated with communication and assessments relying on the technology platform to arrive at the ideal and optimal actions. Implementations of the plans are monitored through information gathered to allow for corrective actions and the accurate target of desired goals. Information technology, in this case, plays an integral part of providing information and alerts throughout the planning and implementation. In the end, the organization stands a better chance of success

With the above understanding of the role played by information technology, it is relevant to conclude that information technology is part of the systems in the business. The contribution despite being virtual is relevant and important towards the overall outcome targeted by the business as a whole. Information technology enhances information sharing and allows planning and communication of the plans within the different levels. The link between the different players in the business and the target consumer is ever present through information technology. The link allows for a better understanding of the market and the consumers thus a responsive business to customer needs. It also plays a relevant role in eliminating the tedious manual analysis that is needed in day-to-day running of the business. Information technology is thus an important component in business systems assemblage.

Information Technology Assembly Enhancing Transmission, Storage and Retrieval of Information

Since information technology facilitates the circulation of the different knowledge in business systems, its assemblage in business will ensure a strong interrelation prevails. Incorporating information technology in business systems ensures data from different departments within a business is accessible throughout and it stored safely. This information once stored can be used for future references in planning expansionary strategies.

If a business intends to venture in the new product, it would use the available information on the existing product and recently launched products. This information will comprise the customer needs and their preferences. Information about the recently launched product will guide the business on expected market reactions providing information on the plans made to launch the product the planners would use this information to engage the product development market to come up with a product that is ideal for the market. Plans for launching would be developed through an assessment of previous plans and adjusting the plans accordingly targeting success. On implementations, each stage would be assessed making reference to the plans and changes effected depending on the information gathered from initial steps. Information technology assemblage ensures a proliferation of the information that avails interaction and adjustments incorporating the overall systems of the business into one.

Critically analyses

Comprehensive understanding of all basic components of the business is facilitated through the assemblage of information technology in business. This goes further to allow interactions and association of the different components in the business appreciating their different contributions and providing strategic support to each system towards the achievement of common goal (Reinsch et al., 2008). According to Reinsch et al. (2008), information technology assemblage in business will facilitate strategic planning considering stakeholder interests and the ideal measures to articulate the different needs of the stakeholders efficiently.

Information technology is an expensive undertaking in business starting from the cost of purchasing equipment to the cost of installation and maintain. Additionally, it is expensive to gather and input information in the systems. These costs are highly inhibitory to startup businesses and their relevance not easily appreciated at the onset (Reinsch et al., 2008). The expected gain from embracing information…