There are many components of a business, and each has its own roles and responsibilities. Information Technology is an integral part of any organization, and thus it has its own distinct roles and structures.
Customer Service and Research/Development
Besides the components listed in the presentation (referringto class content), there is also customer service and research/development. Customer service would fit under the sales part of the organization, as it directly correlates with the sales of a product or service (Indeed, 2025b). Having a good customer service department allows consumers to feel valued and entices them to continue supporting a business. Research and development is commonly a standalone department, and its roles in an organization include testing and creating products, as well as analyzing product/customer data (Indeed, 2025a).
IT’s Role in a Business
Information technology can fit anywhere within an organization. It can be a standalone department or a subdepartment of another business component, such as HR, operations, or marketing. IT helps businesses stay afloat in this technology-driven world by providing the means to adapt to competition and ensure security (Arora, 2024). Some roles within IT include the following: Chief Information Officer, Computer Systems Analyst, Information Systems Manager, and Computer Programmer. Chief Information Officers are responsible for ensuring the IT department runs smoothly and is properly implemented in an organization (Kenton, 2025). A Computer Systems Analyst is required to analyze data to create and implement solutions to problems such as networking and administration; An analyst is tasked with improving efficiency (CareerOneStop, n.d.). An Information Systems Manager’s job is to plan and coordinate IT/computer system activities within a business (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). Computer programmers develop and test the code and programs needed for computer applications to run (CareerOneStop, n.d.).
IT can be organized in many ways, such as the functional structure (specialization and defined hierarchy), independent service line structure (each service line acts as an independent department), leveraged structure (internal IT teams work with external service providers), and the hybrid structure (integrates external service providers into the internal team) (Gutiérrez, 2024).
Conclusion
Businesses are complex and are made up of multiple departments or components. Customer service and research/development are two of them. As a part of the sales department, customer service directly impacts how well customers perceive the company and the likelihood of recurring customers. Research/development creates and tests the products that go onto the market. IT is an important part of any organization, helping organizations stay up to date and protecting their data. The three main ways IT can be organized are functional structure, independent structure, and hybrid structure.
References
Arora, R. (2024, August 3). The role of Information Technology in today’s Business World. Momentum. https://www.m-inc.com/article/the-role-of-information-technology-in-todays-business-world/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, August 28). Computer and Information Systems Managers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm
CareerOneStop. (n.d.). Information technology occupation list | explore careers | careeronestop. https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/CareerClusters/information-technology-occupation-list.aspx
Gutiérrez, N. (2024, October 4). The IT department: Structure, roles and Responsibilities. Prey. https://preyproject.com/blog/the-it-department
Indeed Editorial Team. (2025a, June 6). What does the research and Development Department do? | indeed.com. Indeed. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-does-the-research-and-development-department-do
Indeed Editorial Team. (2025b, July 26). Guide to Customer Service (with video) | indeed.com. Indeed. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-customer-service
Kenton, W. (2025, July 28). Chief information officer (CIO): Definition, role, and salary. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cio.asp