Evaluation of the impacts of BlackBerry over business operations

Introduction
Lately, BlackBerry has become one of the hottest headlines that are concerned by majority of population. It is not only because of so-called “BlackBerry Battle” between RIM/NTP, but also its possible impact of marketing. As its maker believed, BlackBerry has fast become the must-have for executives and government personnel. Just like many other innovate product, it is highly argued that the influence of this pocket-size BlackBerry over business and individuals. There are two completely opposite opinions about the gadget’s influence over business operations. Is it really a “Crackberry” as many believed, or another annoying fancy product, which will drag people to be an addict, like PS for youth? In this paper, the value of this device will be carefully evaluated, and on the other hand, its downsides will also be discussed. Finally, focusing on avoid or reduce the intrusiveness of these sort of new technologies while continuing to tap their potential, appropriate recommendations will proposed.

value of BlackBerry to Business Operations
According to CNN website, BlackBerry is not only a gadget in a part of people’s lives. Once people use it, they cannot live without it. It can be used not only as a phone, but also can be used to push e-mail automatically from the company server to the end user. That simple concept has revolutionized corporate life. 4.5 million BlackBerry subscribers have already signed up, including some U.S. government staff, and their numbers are growing rapidly.[1] While RIM's executives have chosen to keep a low profile, they made a key decision early on to make sure their technology got maximum exposure by targeting top Wall Street executives. "Wall Street professionals are heavily communications focused, heavily customer focused, what we found was many of those people could instantly justify the investment into this, even though it was of an unproven technology," said RIM vice president of corporate marketing Mark Guibert.[2]

There is no doubt that for e-business to be successful, manager must understand their business both in terms of what it means to them and their major stakeholders. Since e-business can result in significant and pervasive change and seriously reshape organizations, careful and meaningful strategic planning is imperative.[3] Mobilising the benefits of email is a major breakthrough for business and is generating enhanced performance for all types of organisations. Users get an effortless solution to email on the move and can quickly share information and respond to urgent messages easily. Executives are able to respond immediately obviously will seed up the decision-making process. Indeed, it is good news for firms. In more specific details as follow, this point will be identified clearly.



A study carried out by Ipsos Reid for Research in Motion, makers of the Blackberry found that users of the device saved on average 47 minutes a day, with their productivity increasing by 27%.  Much of this came from removing bottlenecks in business processes, because staff could respond quickly to emails and make decisions on the move.  Depending on the exact tariffs, Blackberry users should expect their devices to pay for themselves in around 18 months, the company claims.[4]



BlackBerrys have proved useful during emergencies, because the data sent to and from the devices rely on servers and satellite networks different from the ones cell phones use. During the August 2003 blackout in the Northeast and the recent hurricanes in the South, BlackBerrys were the only way postal employees could communicate, BlackBerrys also were the only communication tools some agencies had that worked during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.[5]

The matter of security is important for internet, especially for e-business. Along with BlackBerry got it noticed by effective marketing strategies, its maker believe that for the devices to win the battle they have to convince IT professionals that the gadget is both easy to use and safe. "We made sure the CIO was happy," said Balsillie. "The CIO has a veto and they don't hesitate to use it because they lose their jobs if the security and reliability of company data is compromised."[6]

To sum up, by using BlackBerry, it will save your time – no returning to the office just to check email, increase your productivity and response times to customers, keep you in touch with the office anywhere, anytime, get your information when and where you need it, help people carry on with business by easily. As many addicts said, they will never miss an opportunity again. However, as long as BlackBerry’s use spreads so, inevitably, will the complaints about over-worked, addicted professionals who just cannot put the gadgets down.

[1] RIM unfazed as tech giants take aim at Blackberry, By Lucas van Grinsven, European Technology Correspondent, Posted: February 13, 2006 8:58 AM ET http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060213/wr_nm/telecoms_email_wir eless_dc

[2] How BlackBerry conquered the world, Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Posted: 6:49 PM EST (2349 GMT), http://www.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/03/23/blackberry.rim/

[3] PRODUCT AND INFORMATION NEEDS, Unit 5, E-Business, http://vle.surrey.ac.uk/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

[4] Information Age, Advisory Series, Vol2, No1, p25.

[5] Blackberry Jam, By Alina Tugend, Posted: November 1, 2004 http://www.governmentexecutive.com/features/1104-01/1104-01s 2.htm

[6] See ii.