Why are information systems so essential for running and managing a business today? Information systems are a foundation for conducting business today. In many industries, survival and even existence is difficult without extensive use of information technology. Businesses use information systems to achieve six major objectives: operational excellence; new products, services, and business models; customer/supplier intimacy; improved decision making; competitive advantage; and day-to-day survival. 1-2 What exactly is an information system? How does it work? What are its people, organization, and technology components? From a technical perspective, an information system collects, stores, and disseminates information from an organizations environment and internal operations to support organizational functions and decision making, communication, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization. Information systems transform raw data into useful information through three basic activities: input, processing, and output. From a business perspective, an information system provides a solution to a problem or challenge facing a firm and represents a combination of people, organization, and technology elements. The people dimension of information systems involves issues such as training, job attitudes, and management behavior. The technology dimension consists of computer hardware, software, data management technology, and networking/telecommunications technology, including the Internet. The organization dimension of information systems involves issues such as the organizations hierarchy, functional specialties, business processes, culture, and political interest groups. 1-3 How will a four-step method for business problem solving help you solve information systemrelated problems? Problem identification involves understanding what kind of problem is being presented and identifying people, organizational, and technology factors. Solution design involves designing several alternative solutions to the problem that has been identified. Evaluation and choice entail selecting the best solution, taking into account its cost and the available resources and skills in the business. Implementation of an information system solution entails purchasing or building hardware and software, testing the software, providing employees with training and documentation, managing change as the system is introduced into the organization, and measuring the outcome. Problem solving requires critical thinking in which one suspends judgment to consider multiple perspectives and alternatives. 1-4 How will information systems affect business careers, and what information system skills and knowledge are essential? Business careers in accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, management and human resources, and information systems all will need an understanding of how information systems help firms achieve major business objectives; an appreciation of the central role of databases; skills in information analysis and business intelligence; sensitivity to the ethical, social, and legal issues systems raise; and the ability to work with technology specialists and other business professionals in designing and building systems.

Please summarize this for me and make some points, this is for an assignment. thank you.