"The impact of
Information Society Technologies on social lives and economies"
IBA, Jamshoro arranges Professor Muhammad Umer Memon, Memorial
Lecture/Seminar
By: IMAMUDDIN KHOSO
Lecturer, IBA
July 01 - 07, 2002
The seminar on Information Technology was held at
Professor Nabi Bakhsh Daudpota Auditorium, IBA Building, Institute of
Business Administration, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The Chief
Guest was Mr. Mazhar ul Haq Siddiqui, Vice-Chancellor, University of
Sindh, Jamshoro. The proceeding of seminar opened up with the
recitation of Holy "Quraan". Professor Dr. Anwar AliShah G.
Syed, Diorector IBA, University of Sindh, Jamshoro introduced the
guest speaker Dr. Syed Mir Muhammad Shah. Director, IBA also
highlighted the influence of Information Technology on today's
society. He said, "Information Technology has revolutionized the
world of business to modernization."
The Director also underlined the applications of
computer in the business field. Director said: "Computers have
become so fundamental to modern society that without them, our economy
would grind to a halt. The computer has facilitated the business
beyond belief. The IT has made it possible to do online shopping so
called (E-Commerce/E-Busiriess). We can make buying or selling of
products over the web and it can be done even from living rooms, while
travelling or waiting. Potential customer visiting the site, can look
at catalogue of products and can also place orders if they decide to
purchase. Supply chair management software is aimed at increasing
productivity, optimize resources, minimize investments and enhance
customer satisfaction."
He said: "We live in the era of Globalization
that offers challenges, threats and opportunities. What is needed, is
to react effectively to keep pace with the world of Information
Technology. Courses and profile of training as being offered by IBA is
very much in accordance with the demand of the market. As we have
updated and advanced our syllabus with latest computer-related
courses. We have enchased the challenge into opportunity by getting
the whole Institute computerized. He envisages that in future no home
would be without P.C. As computers have made revolutionary changes in
the lives of people concerned with every walk of life." He said:
"Computers are used to juggle budgets, create purchase orders,
set up employee files, track expenses, income and pay taxes. In class
rooms, computers have become as essential to the learning process as
books, papers and pens. Students use computer to develop projects,
prepare internship reports collect information from electronic sources
around the world. In medicine today computers are used for every thing
from diagnosing illness to controlling the movement of robotic
surgical assistance."
The Guest Speaker Dr. Syed Mir Muhammad Shah who
happened to be the first Ph.D. in Pakistan in the field of information
technology. In his address he said: "Ihe information technology
may be split into three generations. In the first generation
(1960-1980), we had main frame, centralized architecture where
exchange of information happened to difficult & limited only
within organization. Stepping into 2nd generation (1981-1990), where
we had some user-friendly tools and techniques that enabled the
exchange of data across various entities and sharing of computer
resources between different locations in the organization through
LAN/WAN. New profession such as system analysts, network engineers
also emerged during this period. Third generation (1991-to date)
brought to us Internet/Web based/Mobile Technology. Software assumed
the role of industry. Common standards developed.
Development of software activity carried out in
several locations, across cities, countries and continents. New
professions evolved such as system architect, software engineer,
Business analyst, quality assurance etc. Systems were made easy to be
used by even non-skilled or non- profession users
(select/click)."
He further said: "Our society has switched
from Industrial to knowledge based society. In Industrial society
organizations were defined and recognized by activities and
geographical boundaries, where most of the transactions of the
business carried through physical contacts, roads, railway tracks and
airports. On the other hand in the knowledge based society,
organizations are defined and recognized by business processes, data
relationships and interfaces, where mostly business is carried
electronically. Technologies carry products of digital age. The
infrastructure of this society is comprised of hardware, software and
network. He also cited some of the reasons for limited success and
more failures of Pakistan in the field of Information Technology. He
believed that most of the areas especially in service sectors of
public organization continue to be deprived of Information Technology.
Government has not been able to launch enough automation projects in
the country. Main emphasis of all those involved in IT sector seems to
be in the export of software before attaining required level of
experience/expertise which may possibly be achieved through working on
local projects.
Pakistan as yet not included in the list of world
class quality software providers. Multimillion projects supported by
World Bank for computerization of State Bank of Pakistan has been
awarded to foreigners rather than local software houses. Working in
projects of such a nature and magnitude could have provided
opportunities to acquire practical knowledge." He said:
"Government must pay heed and take concrete steps to enhance the
awareness and usage of I.T in the country to keep pace with the
globe."
THE SEMINAR WAS FOLLOWED BY QUESTION ANSWER
SESSION.
In the last Vice-Chancellor said in his
presidential remarks that the lecture was comprehensive and
informative as it took us from antiquated computers to current and
future ones. Investment in social development is investment in
knowledge and human resources are having edge over material resources.
We will try tooth and nail to make our human resources friendly and
familiar with the latest jargon of computer." The Seminar ended
with the vote of thanks by the Director, IBA.
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