When evaluating the need for a computerized system in a company one will also need to forecast the future demands of the company. After all to survive in the business world one must anticipate the future and not react to the past. How does one know when it is time to make the critica

l transition? It is when management finds itself unable to keep track of its business? Which products are profitable? Which are not? Which customers pay on time? Which are delinquent? Having easy access to this data is essential to running a healthy and competitive business. When the company has grown enough that management no longer has access to the data used to make informed decisions, then it is time to switch to a computerized data management system. These computerized data management systems are often called information systems. The company now has two choices. It can either hire a professional consulting firm to help select and install the computer system, or venture out on its own to make these important decisions. Adequate planning is the most important step in assuring the successful use of computer technology. Most companies would be better off seeking the aid of a consulting firm. They are better informed on the different types of hardware and software that would best suit the computing needs. An outside firm is a better choice because they are less likely to make a costly mistake when choosing the new system. Another benefit to using a consulting firm would be there help in setting-up the procedures for using the new computer system and the necessary training to implement those procedures.

Once the company has decided that they will benefit from computer enhancements it is then a matter of choosing which software and hardware at would be most useful. Software is just another name for the programming that computers run on. It is the language that tells computers what to do. When choosing software it is important to, make sure to select the right number and combination of software “modules” to meet a company’s needs. The objective is

Some common words found in the essay are:
, hardware software, consulting firm, computer system, using consulting firm, hardware software suit, consulting firm help, data management, computerized data management, computerized data, access data, software suit, informed decisions, increase productivity, company allow,
Approximate Word count = 1197
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)