It is an everyday observation to note that the world is shrinking: we can now fly from London to Sydney in under twenty four hours; and money can flood across frontiers wreaking havoc on the existing exchange rate and forcing governments to change the management of their economies.

This technological revolution and the shrinking world have been mirrored in the commercial world with the rise of the transitional corporation, which produces and markets on a world scale.

Competition is thus not contained within national boundaries: multinationals vie with each other on products, price, quality and customer service across the globe. In order to compete they must take advantage of the latest technology and thinking to improve the performance.

Information systems and telecommunications are essential elements in supporting and bringing about the present technological revolution; they have become an integral part of everyday life.