The larger and more complex an organization, the greater its need for information, and thus the greater its reliance on information systems. Access the web sites of two of America’s giant, diversified corporations, AT&T and Philip Morris. Then answer the following questions:

1. What kinds of information systems are used by these companies, including the use of a web site?
2. Based on the information available at their web sites, what approach to managing information systems do each of these organizations employ?

Internet Exercise

One organization that makes extensive use of information technology is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Investigate the agency’s web site, with particular emphasis on its use of information technology. Then answer the following questions:

1. What types of data and information are collected, analyzed, and reported by NOAA?
2. What types of information systems are used by NOAA as it collects, analyzes, and reports information?
3. NOAA must report information to a wide variety of end-users of that information, from individual citizens, to commercial fisheries and agribusinesses, to environmental protection groups, to scientists working in university and commercial research labs, to weather forecasters, to disaster relief agencies. What impact might this variety of information needs have on the agency’s use of information systems?

Explore Further

One technology that is employed at NOAA is artificial intelligence (AI). Search the Internet for other for-profit or not-for-profit organizations that employ AI. See how many different applications of AI you can find.