Types of Organisation and Their Use of ICT

  Many companies are having to adapt new strategies to stay ahead in the market and make sure they evolve as the market is changing/adapting. While some have adopted strategies that are 'new and exciting', such as streaming films through your laptop/game console/tv with companies such as Netflix and LoveFilm, some have not adopted this and have been left in administration, or closing completely, such as Blockbuster and HMV. These websites what have moved to the 'online supermarket' of consumerism and have made the classic high street chains being forced to close are constantly growing and expanding, coming up with new ideas. In the past, companies such as HMV had the opportunity to embrace the digital revolution, but decided to instead, stick with their 'traditional' form of selling. Companies such as Amazon have also taken over, where you are able to buy everything and anything at a reasonable price - sometimes much cheaper than what you pay in the retail stores.
  Organisations are able to be categorised in a number of ways, with three main types of organisation can be readily identified; commerical organisations, public organisations and non profit or charitable organisations.
  Commercial organisations are what known typically as businesses. They trade in a highly competitive market, with their aim being to expand and grow the business with profit. The smallest of these businesses are single-person, sole traders, who usually own a small, local business such as window cleaners. The bigger end are giant multi national companies such as Coca-Cola. All these businesses thrive through selling products at a profit, allowing them to expand. Commercial organisations could use ICT for many reasons, for multi-national companies they would use it for nearly everything in their business, such as to promote new products on social networks or keep in touch with other directors/managers across the world through email.
  Public organisations are those that are funded mainly through taxation, and are controlled directly or indirectly by the government. These include; direct government bodies such as the civil service, local governement such as schools, colleges and health service. These organisations are based on public service, not profit. Although these organisations are still given budgets, they are not expected to make a profit. Public organisations, such as schools, would use ICT by keeping a database on all current pupils, with all the personal information they gained from the families, however they would also use it for reasons such as the school website, and to 'register' pupils at certain times of the day.
   Non-profitable/Charitable organisations raise their finances through donations or grant funding, and use these funds to go towards a particular issue or cause in society. They are regulated by the government commissions to ensure that funds are used properly. Some would argue that they are a privately owned organisation, with a form of public service objective. These organisations would use ICT to calculate their finances, and to delegate the money to certain areas/people who they are helping.