Investigating the Relationship between:

“Information Technology and Improving Organizational

Relationships”

Date: 05/13/9102

Submitted by: Mohammad Asif Ataee

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Abstract
Now improving organizational communication is one of the most important goals that
managers of organizations pay for. In the future, organizations use the most important source and
the most important capital, information, and act on strategic goals. The use of information systems
and new technologies, especially (IT) in organizations and communities, is the most important tool
for improving organizational communications and accelerating the movement in this direction.
Therefore, the use and use of (IS) information systems in an organization and the creation of a
suitable platform for implementing it is a good tool for increasing the productivity of that
organization and its incorrect application can impose problems on the organization and also reduce
productivity. This article is intended to investigate the relationship between information
technology and organizational communications. Therefore, definitions of information technology,
organizational communication, and the relationship between information technology and
organizational communication have been made. (IT) ability cognition and Personnel recognition
is necessary. Inappropriate use of new technology for professional knowledge transmission leads
to inadequacy of technology and cost waste. Afghanistan is a country that faces many social,
economic, political and cultural challenges, and it can be said with certainty that the proper use of
information technology is very important in providing better organization’s services for the people.
The lack of necessary infrastructure in public administration is one of the main problems for using
new technologies for running administrative affairs. Therefore, this research seeks to explore the
context, opportunities and importance of this phenomenon, so that to one day see the realization
of information technology in Afghanistan organizations.

Keywords: Information, Technology, Communication, organization,

Abbreviation

IT – information technology

IS- information system

ICT- information communication technology

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Introduction

Comparison of the developments of the last three decades suggests that these developments
are fundamentally different from the past, the main reason for these differences being the
revolution that has occurred in these decades.

The occurrence of the information and communication revolution in these decades has
made the present era known as the Information and Communication Age. The factor that triggered
such an era is "Information and Communication Technology."

The use of information technology has spread alongside a variety of information systems
designed for different needs. Information technology enables managers to communicate more and
better with the organization, the workplace and the employees. Increasing participation in decision
making, increasing decision-making speed, reducing the organization's pyramid height, improving
coordination, and enhancing expert staff are just some of the impacts that IT creates in the
organization.

Managers who are constantly involved in making decisions about spending or investing in
using of technology in their organization should know how use of information technology and
information systems are useful and effective in the organization. They should measure the impact
of information technology on the quality of the product or service, the improvement of customer
service, and the improvement of communication and information, all of which are the primary
indicators of success for today's organizations.

The root of many personal, organizational and social problems can be found in the lack of
effective communication, the role of the communication system or in general misunderstandings
and communication interpretations. Managers use effective communication to coordinate and
adjust their time.

Effective and correct communication is always one of the important factors in

organizations. Experiences have shown that circulation of affairs is disturbed if the correct
communication is not established in the organization.

Thus this research was aimed to study current status of information technology usage in
Governmental Organization, and effective usage of technology via Personnel views.
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Information Technology

Information Technology (IT) is one of the most important issues of the day. Information
technology has affected all human affairs without exception, so without it, many human affairs
can’t be realized. In this research, the concept of information technology, its applications, its
development factors, and many other principles are examined.

What is IT?

For information technology, there are various definitions that appear to be the most
complete definition: “IT, a set of methods, tools, processes, and systems that collect, transfer, store,
process, publish, and Data retrieval helps people”. 1

Information technology can be the point of convergence of electronics, computers and

telecommunications. This convergence has two main features:

Eliminating distances: By locating computers on a global network, the Internet eliminates

distances.

Computerization of communication systems: This feature transmits audio, text and image
through computer. In one sentence, IT can be considered the foundation of the future life of a
human society.

Components and Elements of Information Technology

Information technology consists of different elements and components, the most common
of which are:

Infrastructure. Includes computers, transmission networks, Internet and so on.

Applications. It includes management information system software, customer relationship

management, computing software, portals, and so on.

1
Einollah Jafar Nejad Qomi, the Basics of Information Technology, (Babol: Computer Science Publishing, 2008), 10.
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Manpower. Specifies the people involved with IT. All people in the community, employees,
managers, are involved with information technology, and the culture of using it must also be
created in the community.

IT management. Includes organizing, managing strategies and procedures.

The Importance of Information in Organizations

The flow of information about the current status of each organization is based on its daily
activities Information technology plays an important role in the upward flow of information, as
data collected daily is collected by this technology and transmitted to the top for decision-makers
who are responsive to issues and situations.

Information is essential for any organization, and it's just like the blood that runs in the
organization's veins. Without information, the board of directors and the heads of the organization
are not able to make key decisions.

The role of data and information in the management of organizations is crucial, as the
information space of an organization is more accurate, coherent, and more systematic, the
organization can achieve better its goals.

Therefore, today information is considered as an important strategic source for

organizations.

The impact of information on public relations of organizations

Considering the importance and application of information in any organization and

necessarily in the public relations of that organization, it can be said that the organization needs
some information for the reasons and some of these effects will be mentioned below, which
include:

Identify the strengths of the organization;

Identify the weaknesses of the organization;
Identify the organization's external opportunities;
Identify the threats of the organization;
Update the information in the organization;
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Why do we need information?

Now we want to see why we need the information:

We use information to help with decision making. As long as we do not have enough
information to base our decisions on it, we cannot make the best possible decision. If the necessary
information is not available, we can only guess.

One of the roles of the information system is that we can confidently get information and
use it.

What information do we need?

Managers actually get a lot of information, most of which is oral, and chooses what is
relevant and appropriate. The administrator may receive oral information that is not suitable for
current decisions, but it is likely to be useful for future decisions.

Therefore, managers use that kind of information that can be used in decision making.

When do we need information?

Often, we only need information about actual and potential issues, but we are faced with a
wealth of information about everything that needs to be carefully scrutinized.

Many executives spend a lot of time and effort finding little information about yesterday's
activities. The status and need we determine at the moment is what information we need.

It is very useful to regularly review the information in the schedule. We may find that
information that we previously needed irregularly needs is now entirely regular, which should be
included in the programs so that this information can be generated on a regular basis.

Advantages of Information Technology

Today, the importance of information technology in order to increase the speed and
precision of the various activities of organizations and thereby increase their productivity are
clearly outlined. Particularly, organizations whose different parts are scattered or distant in
geographies, or institutions that are required to do a variety of work, will solve many of their
problems through this technology.
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What is certain is that information technology is considered as a new tool for working in
the contemporary world, and its lack of use creates a lot of problems for the organization.
Information technology has many capabilities in resolving the problems of organizations, some of
which are referred to below:

Increasing the accuracy of the work

Increasing the speed of access to information
Increasing reliability
Save large volumes of information

Application of Information Technology in the Organization

Information technology in organizations has different applications, most experts have

categorized these applications into two categories: operational and information.

a- Operational applications

The use of information technology in a specialty is called its operational application. The
preparation of the rights list, the planning of production, distribution and allocation of labor and
other specialized tasks, including the fields of operational information technology use.

At this level, the computer will expand the automation of work and administrative affairs,
which resulting in economic performance and speed in doing of works.

b- Information applications

Information technology application facilitates the collection, storage and dissemination of

information. The role of information, helps in controlling and disseminate information in
accordance with the organization's goals, regulations and standards.

Planning, training, marketing research, sales forecasting, etc. are among the fields of
information technology application.

IT challenges in Afghanistan

Regarding the role of information technology in generating public opinion about the
government and the need for the development of information technology in the country, the
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question arises as to whether Afghanistan has the capabilities of developing information

technology applications?.

What now affects the Afghan society in the full use of IT tools is the lack of managerial
development in terms of cultural, practical, infrastructural and economic dimensions. The most
important barriers and challenges for the development of information technology in the country
are as follows:

 Most of the country's executives who are planning and deciding on the development of
information technology do not have the necessary knowledge in the field of information
technology.
 The lack of serious attention to the academic and practical training of managers has
prevented them from making appropriate use of funds in the development of information
technology.
 The administrative system of the country suffers from the negative consequences of
bureaucracy. Therefore, there is no serious attention in government agencies to the
development of scientific information technology among government employees, and this
is one of the main reasons for the failure to provide services to people based on information
technology.
 There is no science education in the field of information technology in the country, but
there is more general knowledge about IT.
 As a result, there is a lack of planning in all of the IT development projects in Afghanistan.

Communication

What is communication?

The term communication used in the field of communication sciences embraces a variety
of concepts, such as the transmission and dissemination of knowledge and ideas, the creation of
social cohesion, intellectual affiliation, and public co-operation.

Newer definitions call communication "transmission of concepts" or "transmission of

meanings", or the transmission or exchange of messages.

Golly has defined communication as such:

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"The relationship is the mechanism by which human relationships are created and based
on it, and all the manifestations of thought and means of transmission and their preservation in the
place and time based on it are developed. Everything involves the relationship between facial
expressions, behaviors, movements, sound resonance, words, writings, printing, railways,
telegraph, and all the means recently built to overcome time and space. " 2

The Importance of Communications

Communication is one of the most effective tools in human social life, communication in
the development of human societies cannot be considered simple.

Today's human beings, after obtaining their basic needs, they need to use existing
communication networks in the community. Because it can able them to do their communication
needs, in particular the shortage of manpower in various fields requires the use of multiple
communication networks.

Types of communication in an organization

In an organization, the communication process is as follows:

General communication: It relates to all work and information about the work environment.

Official communication: Between members and organization is already defined in the

hierarchical structure of the organization.

Informal communications: which freely established between the members of the organization.

Top-down communication: communications that high-level executives make with their

subordinates. In this way, the framework of executive procedures, policies and demands of the
members of the organization becomes clear.

Down-to-top communication: communications that transmit information from the bottom of the
organization to the top of the organizational pyramid.

2 Hamid Sabri, Introduction to Communication Knowledge, (Print, Quds Publishing, 2010).7

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Communication goals

In general, communication is carried out for one of the following purposes:

1- Notify or notify
2- Teaching
3- Recreation and entertainment

Conclusion

For more than two decades, information has been raised along with other factors of
production as a valuable source. In line with the expansion of business activities, globalization and
rapid changes in the organization's environment, information is considered as a strategic factor. To
the extent that today it is considered as a powerful competitive tool in dealing with environmental
problems and challenges as well as the proper use of opportunities. In this regard, establishing an
appropriate information system with the use of information and communication technology to
collect information processing and maintenance is vital.

Although information and communication technology (ICT) technology has never been
able to replace human resources in decision making, but this technology can help them to do their
work better.

In general, it can be concluded that the improvement of the organization's communication

through the use of information and communication technology is greatly increased, and further
improvement depends on the use of technology and information.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of information and
communication technology on improving the organizational communication on Mostofiat staffs of
Herat province. This objective has been studied in three parts including technology, information
and communication.
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