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48 TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS RESEARCH

Group Videoconferencing
Group videoconferencing reproduces the face-to-face meeting effect by using
large TV monitors or multimedia projectors. Videoconferencing systems have the
advantage of integrating with other vital business technologies like spreadsheets
and presentation software. Thus, much data (including numerical figures) can be
exchanged during videoconferencing as organizations try to engage in consulta-
tive decision making and further research and analysis. Videoconferencing has
become even more attractive in the postterrorist business environment on con-
siderations of cost and safety.

Virtual Reality
Virtual reality creates 3-D environments in which to create a product in a com-
puter and show it to prospective interested groups with details regarding price,
materials, and other relevant information. Greeting messages with virtual flowers
can compete with Hallmark cards in a big way in the future.

Linkage of PCs to Electronic Devices
One of the latest efforts being made by Microsoft and Sony is to link PCs and
consumer electronic devices. For instance, a company can plug a camcorder to
a PC or to a TV set top box for sending video mail over the Internet (Clark &
Bank, 1998). Business transactions, communication, and research through this
mode will be accelerated multifold when the device is perfected.
Thus far we have discussed the usefulness of software packages, the Inter-
net, and other facilities for collecting data needed for decision making. How-
ever, unless the data collected periodically by different departments and from
different sources, find a repository in a central system, where the information
can be retrieved at any time by any decision maker, organizational effective-
ness will be compromised. We will now see how data can be effectively stored
for retrieval whenever necessary.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND MANAGERIAL
DECISION MAKING

As organizations take on expanded functions and grow in size, it is important for
them to be equipped with a good information system from which data can be
accessed for analysis by executives and managers at different levels. Putting
effective information systems in place requires careful architectural planning.
Computerized information systems enable the efficient operation of different
subsystems in the organization inasmuch as information for any area such as
finance, budget, plant maintenance, transportation, distribution, marketing, or
human resources, can be readily drawn by any department.