It cannot be denied that one of the main causes of the globalization era, which is coming sooner than everyone thought, is due to the rapid development of information technology. The implementation of the internet, electronic commerce, electronic data interchange, virtual office, telemedicine, intranet, and so on has breached physical boundaries between countries. The merger of computer technology with telecommunications has resulted in a revolution in the field of information systems. Data or information that in ancient times had to take days to process before being sent to the other side of the world can now be done in seconds. It is not an exaggeration if one of the IBM experts analogized it with the development of automotive as follows: "if the automotive world had progressed as fast as information technology, currently a diesel-fueled car could be produced, which could be driven up to a maximum speed of 10,000 km / hour, with a purchase price only. about 1 US dollar! ”. On a micro level, there is something quite interesting to study, namely how the evolution of the development of existing information technology has significantly affected competition between companies in the world, especially those engaged in services.
Current technological advances cannot be separated from people's lives. We can now immediately know the various information occurring in various parts of the world thanks to technological advances (globalization). If in the past we were familiar with the adage "the world is not as wide as moringa leaves", now that adage should change to today's world as wide as moringa leaves, because fast access to information in various parts of the world makes this world seem increasingly narrow because we can see what is happening in America, for example.
1. Technology Development in the Computerized Era
This period began around the 1960s when mini computers and mainframes were introduced by companies such as IBM to the industrial world. The ability to calculate so fast causes a lot of companies to use it for data processing purposes. The use of computers at this time is intended to increase efficiency, because it is proven that for certain jobs, using computers is much more efficient (in terms of time and cost) compared to employing dozens of human resources for similar things.
In that era, the competitive atmosphere had not yet been seen. The number of companies is still relatively small. Most of the big corporations indirectly "monopolize certain markets, because there are no significant competitors yet." Almost all large companies engaged in infrastructure (electricity and telecommunications) and mining at that time purchased computer equipment to help with their daily administrative activities.
The need for the most time consuming organizations at that time was for back office administration, especially those related to accounting and finance. On the other hand, the ability of mainframes to perform complex calculations is also utilized by companies to help solve technical operational problems, such as calculation simulations in the mining and manufacturing industries.
2. Era of Advancement in Information Technology
Advances in digital technology combined with telecommunications have brought computers into a period of "revolution". In the early 1970s, PC or Personal Computer technology was introduced as an alternative to mini computers. With a computer that can be placed on a desk (desktop), a manager or technician can obtain data or information that has been processed by a computer (at a speed similar to the speed of a mini computer, even a mainframe). The use of computers in companies is not only to increase efficiency, but also to support more effective work processes. Unlike in the era of computerization where computers are only "private property" of the EDP (Electronic Data Processing) Division of a company, in this second era every individual in the organization can take advantage of the sophistication of computers, such as for processing databases, spreadsheets, and data processing (end -user computing). The use of computers among companies is growing, especially supported by the competitive environment that has changed from monompole to a free market. Indirectly, companies that have utilized computer technology are very efficient and effective compared to companies whose processes are partially managed manually.
In this era, computers entered a new phase, namely as a facility that could provide a competitive advantage for companies, especially those engaged in services or services. Modern organizational management theories were introduced intensively in the early 1980s. One of the most studied and applied theories is about change management. In almost all change management theoretical frameworks, the importance of information technology is emphasized as one of the main components that must be considered by companies that want to win in business competition. Unlike in the previous two eras which emphasized the elements of technology, in this era of change management the more emphasis was on information systems, where computers and information technology were components of the system.
3. Technology Development in the Information Globalization Era
There are not many books that explicitly include this last era in the history of the evolution of information technology. The visible phenomenon is that since the mid-1980s, the development in the field of information technology (computers and telecommunications) has been so rapid that when it is illustrated graphically, progress has been seen exponentially.
When an international seminar on the internet was held in San Francisco in 1996, even information technology practitioners who had previously collaborated in research to introduce the internet to the industrial world honestly admitted that they never expected the development of the internet to become like this. It was as if they saw that what was planted was a magic tree seed, which suddenly split into a giant, towering tree. It is difficult to find a theory that can explain all the phenomena that have occurred since the early 1990s.
Nothing can hold back the rapid development of information technology. Its existence has eliminated the boundaries between countries in terms of flow of information. No country is able to prevent the flow of information from or to other countries, because the boundaries between countries are not known in the virtual world of computers. The application of technology such as LAN, WAN, GlobalNet, Intranet, Internet, Extranet, is increasingly evenly distributed and cultured in Public. It has proved very difficult to determine appropriate and proven effective legal instruments to counteract anything related to the creation and flow of information. Companies are no longer bound by physical boundaries. Through the virtual world of computer, one can search for customers in all levels of the world community who are connected to the internet network. It is difficult to calculate the amount of money or investment that flows freely through the internet network. Trading transactions can easily be carried out in cyberspace through electronic transactions using electronic money.
4. As a result of technological advances "Change in Mindset as a Condition" Community Verified icon
From the four eras above, it can be seen how the nature of competition and advances in information technology since the use of computers in industry to date are closely related to one another. Entering the information age means entering the world with new technology, information technology. Using information technology as optimal as possible means having to change the mindset. Changing the mindset is a very difficult thing to do, because basically "people do not like to change". If at this time the developed world and Indonesia's neighboring countries already have a special commitment to take part in the creation of information system components.
At least, the thing that must be present in every Indonesian is a willingness to change. Without "willingness to change", it is impossible for the Indonesian nation to be able to utilize information technology to rebuild a nation that was devastated by the current crisis.
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