Information Technology -- Communication Issues

Information Technology -- Communication Issues

The Importance of Technology Communication Strategy within an Organization

One of the most pervasive changes in the modern business organization is the degree to which information and communications technology (ICT) has become crucial to myriad different organizational functions. In virtually every application, modern technology offers improvements in the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of the transactions, analyses, and communications that are important to business operations. However, one potential problem is that as ICT systems become increasingly complex and increasingly sophisticated, they can be correspondingly more prone to technical problems that require specialists to resolve in order for business operations to continue. To a large extent, the modern business organization has become dependent on specialists who may not be involved in the actual business of the enterprise. Likewise, even the highest levels of authority within organizations are now unqualified to maintain some of the systems upon which their organizations rely to conduct business operations.

In that regard, modern business organizations now rely substantially on the ability of its communications systems to work together in fully integrated synchronicity among and between various technological component systems. In principle, the value of communications technology systems is no longer capable of being measured in isolation with respect to the specific functions provided by those systems in isolation. Today, the value of technology systems in general and of communications technology systems in particular is largely dependent on their mutual compatibility and their ability to function properly within an integrated network of multiple systems in environments where organizations cannot afford significant breakdowns of communications efficiency.

Analysis of Communications Strategy in the New York City Fire Department

In the years since the infamous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, post-incident analysis revealed glaring systemic problems in the communications systems relied upon by emergency services in New York City (DeGuttry, 2009). Among other findings, analysts determined that New York City emergency management responsibilities were not appropriately delegated as between the New York City Fire Department (NYFD) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). In addition to unclear lines of incident command authority between those two agencies, NYFD commanders in the field lacked the ability to communicate with their counterparts in the NYPD and other emergency management agencies in the area (DeGuttry, 2009). Even worse, the technology supplying signals from NYFD commanders to firefighters in the field were never properly tested in high-rise emergency scenarios. Had they been appropriately tested in advance, the NYFD could probably have avoided the greatest loss of life among its service members in the organization's long history in September of 2001 because evacuation orders would have been received by hundreds of personnel inside the Twin Towers before they collapsed (DeGuttry, 2009). Naturally, the appropriate advice would be to develop, test, and deploy a better communications system in New York City emergency management agencies.

In fact, that forensic analysis led directly to the design and implementation of an entirely new Network Centric Command: Communication and Information system. According to DeGuttry (2009):

"Network Centric Command is an information-sharing component for first responders. It allows first responders to connect with each other and links the Fire

Department Operation Center (FDOC) to other emergency operations centers.

The use of this system allows for the immediate exchange of relevant information between all parties involved. It is imperative that this system be updated at regular intervals in order to be used effectively and efficiently under extreme, emergency conditions. The Network Command uses voice, data, and video for situational awareness and all of these elements are indispensable for the Incident