WGU C182 COMBINED IT UNITS 2 TO 8 OVERVIEWS:
UNDERSTANDING IT ROLES AND SYSTEMS | VERIFIED STUDY SET |
2026 STUDY UPDATES
Section 2 Overview
Information technology (IT) is the technology used to create, maintain, and make information accessible using
systems for information storage, retrieval, and exchange. It focuses on the technologies needed to develop,
maintain, and use computer systems, software, and networks supporting the storage, processing, and
distribution of information. IT provides the information backbone of virtually any organization.
In this section, you will explore the role of IT in supporting the goals of an organization and the various roles
and functions of technology as they relate to you (the user), the organization, and society at large. You will
survey the computing disciplines and their focus, as well as the various job roles in each and the training paths
to those job types. Finally, you will survey the role of data and information systems in the organization, explore
aspects of quality data, and look at the input-output-storage model of a computing system.
Section 2 Goals
By the end of this section, you will be able to complete the following tasks:
• Define information technology (IT).
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
• Identify major IT roles and functions.
• Explain the importance of ensuring that data and information systems support business goals and
processes.
• Differentiate between information and data.
, • Define information system.
• Describe characteristics of valuable data.
• Differentiate between input, output, and storage.
• Define information technology (IT).
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
Many organizations have leveraged information technologies (IT) to advance their business goals, provide
better services and products to their customers, or accelerate internal processes. It is hard to imagine an
organization today that does not use at least some kind of technology that supports the development of
products or the provision of services.
What Is Information Technology?
Next, we will talk about what information technology is. Before moving on, consider your current
understanding of information technology.
Information technology is the technology used to create, maintain, and make information available. IT
manages and supports the technologies needed to develop, maintain, and use computer hardware and
software, along with network connectivity and performance. Further, IT is responsible for the storage,
processing, and distribution of information. These are just a few examples of how information technology
affects nearly every area of business; IT provides the information backbone of practically any organization.
Systems
Next, we will learn about systems. Consider your current understanding of what systems are.
A system is a collection of elements that interact to achieve a common goal. IT as a system includes the
hardware, the software, the networking elements (maintained by IT professionals), and the people who use
them. Moreover, every component could also be viewed as a system.
,Information technology is a critical function for an organization, as it supports diverse types of business
functions, from production to human resource management.
Technology in Our Daily Life Learning Objectives • Define information technology (IT). "Technology in Our Daily
Life" (4:24) https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=f8d9a610-f651-4982-
93e9abeb010974c5&start=97
Technology has become so portable that it is quickly and seamlessly integrating itself into nearly every facet of
our lives. This is just as true in businesses as it is in our personal lives. Follow Jessica, an environmental health
and safety representative, as she walks you through her day and how technology affects her daily professional
life. As you watch the video, think about the following: Have you ever used your mobile device to perform a
work function? What about reading an audiobook or using music streaming services such as Apple Music or
Pandora?
The IT Function in the Organization
Learning Objectives
Define information system.
Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
User Support
Every user across an organization has a different level of experience with technology. As such, IT professionals
must provide various levels of support to enable employees to complete their tasks. Users may need to access
different organizational resources, have new hardware systems installed, or print a document on a printer that
has stopped working. IT provides support to users by first analyzing the needs and issues, then identifying and
implementing solutions so users can stay productive with minimal technical interruption.
Data and Information Management
The IT function focuses on the efficient storage and dissemination of organization data and information to
support its effective use. IT professionals build systems to enable storage, retrieval, analysis, and use of
organization data and information with an eye on disaster recovery and business continuity to mitigate the
high costs of losing data.
Networks
Networks support communication between the elements of an IT system. They are put in place to enable the
exchange of data between organizational servers and to give employees access to resources. This includes any
remote employees. Networking technologies rely on hardware and software to connect computer systems and
, data repositories, whether they are a few feet apart from each other in a single room or thousands of miles
apart on separate continents.
Systems Integration
Information technology infrastructure includes a variety of different systems. An organization may use one
system to support the managing of its human resources and another to track the progress of ongoing projects.
Different systems used by an organization often need to work together, perhaps even retrieving data from each
other. When a system is introduced or updated, it needs to seamlessly work with the other elements of the
infrastructure.
Vendors provide IT equipment, software, and services. The deployment of those systems in an organization
often requires setting up and configuring the product to align with the specific organizational needs and to
integrate with other systems already in use. In these cases, IT professionals engage in complex activities to
ensure the new product integrates with the organization’s infrastructure ecosystem.
The IT Function in the Organization Learning Objectives
• Define information system.
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
User Support
Every user across an organization has a different level of experience with technology. As such, IT professionals
must provide various levels of support to enable employees to complete their tasks. Users may need to access
different organizational resources, have new hardware systems installed, or print a document on a printer that
has stopped working. IT provides support to users by first analyzing the needs and issues, then identifying and
implementing solutions so users can stay productive with minimal technical interruption.
Data and Information Management
The IT function focuses on the efficient storage and dissemination of organization data and information to
support its effective use. IT professionals build systems to enable storage, retrieval, analysis, and use of
organization data and information with an eye on disaster recovery and business continuity to mitigate the
high costs of losing data.
Networks
Networks support communication between the elements of an IT system. They are put in place to enable the
exchange of data between organizational servers and to give employees access to resources. This includes any
remote employees. Networking technologies rely on hardware and software to connect computer systems and
UNDERSTANDING IT ROLES AND SYSTEMS | VERIFIED STUDY SET |
2026 STUDY UPDATES
Section 2 Overview
Information technology (IT) is the technology used to create, maintain, and make information accessible using
systems for information storage, retrieval, and exchange. It focuses on the technologies needed to develop,
maintain, and use computer systems, software, and networks supporting the storage, processing, and
distribution of information. IT provides the information backbone of virtually any organization.
In this section, you will explore the role of IT in supporting the goals of an organization and the various roles
and functions of technology as they relate to you (the user), the organization, and society at large. You will
survey the computing disciplines and their focus, as well as the various job roles in each and the training paths
to those job types. Finally, you will survey the role of data and information systems in the organization, explore
aspects of quality data, and look at the input-output-storage model of a computing system.
Section 2 Goals
By the end of this section, you will be able to complete the following tasks:
• Define information technology (IT).
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
• Identify major IT roles and functions.
• Explain the importance of ensuring that data and information systems support business goals and
processes.
• Differentiate between information and data.
, • Define information system.
• Describe characteristics of valuable data.
• Differentiate between input, output, and storage.
• Define information technology (IT).
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
Many organizations have leveraged information technologies (IT) to advance their business goals, provide
better services and products to their customers, or accelerate internal processes. It is hard to imagine an
organization today that does not use at least some kind of technology that supports the development of
products or the provision of services.
What Is Information Technology?
Next, we will talk about what information technology is. Before moving on, consider your current
understanding of information technology.
Information technology is the technology used to create, maintain, and make information available. IT
manages and supports the technologies needed to develop, maintain, and use computer hardware and
software, along with network connectivity and performance. Further, IT is responsible for the storage,
processing, and distribution of information. These are just a few examples of how information technology
affects nearly every area of business; IT provides the information backbone of practically any organization.
Systems
Next, we will learn about systems. Consider your current understanding of what systems are.
A system is a collection of elements that interact to achieve a common goal. IT as a system includes the
hardware, the software, the networking elements (maintained by IT professionals), and the people who use
them. Moreover, every component could also be viewed as a system.
,Information technology is a critical function for an organization, as it supports diverse types of business
functions, from production to human resource management.
Technology in Our Daily Life Learning Objectives • Define information technology (IT). "Technology in Our Daily
Life" (4:24) https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=f8d9a610-f651-4982-
93e9abeb010974c5&start=97
Technology has become so portable that it is quickly and seamlessly integrating itself into nearly every facet of
our lives. This is just as true in businesses as it is in our personal lives. Follow Jessica, an environmental health
and safety representative, as she walks you through her day and how technology affects her daily professional
life. As you watch the video, think about the following: Have you ever used your mobile device to perform a
work function? What about reading an audiobook or using music streaming services such as Apple Music or
Pandora?
The IT Function in the Organization
Learning Objectives
Define information system.
Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
User Support
Every user across an organization has a different level of experience with technology. As such, IT professionals
must provide various levels of support to enable employees to complete their tasks. Users may need to access
different organizational resources, have new hardware systems installed, or print a document on a printer that
has stopped working. IT provides support to users by first analyzing the needs and issues, then identifying and
implementing solutions so users can stay productive with minimal technical interruption.
Data and Information Management
The IT function focuses on the efficient storage and dissemination of organization data and information to
support its effective use. IT professionals build systems to enable storage, retrieval, analysis, and use of
organization data and information with an eye on disaster recovery and business continuity to mitigate the
high costs of losing data.
Networks
Networks support communication between the elements of an IT system. They are put in place to enable the
exchange of data between organizational servers and to give employees access to resources. This includes any
remote employees. Networking technologies rely on hardware and software to connect computer systems and
, data repositories, whether they are a few feet apart from each other in a single room or thousands of miles
apart on separate continents.
Systems Integration
Information technology infrastructure includes a variety of different systems. An organization may use one
system to support the managing of its human resources and another to track the progress of ongoing projects.
Different systems used by an organization often need to work together, perhaps even retrieving data from each
other. When a system is introduced or updated, it needs to seamlessly work with the other elements of the
infrastructure.
Vendors provide IT equipment, software, and services. The deployment of those systems in an organization
often requires setting up and configuring the product to align with the specific organizational needs and to
integrate with other systems already in use. In these cases, IT professionals engage in complex activities to
ensure the new product integrates with the organization’s infrastructure ecosystem.
The IT Function in the Organization Learning Objectives
• Define information system.
• Explain the purpose of an IT department in an organization.
User Support
Every user across an organization has a different level of experience with technology. As such, IT professionals
must provide various levels of support to enable employees to complete their tasks. Users may need to access
different organizational resources, have new hardware systems installed, or print a document on a printer that
has stopped working. IT provides support to users by first analyzing the needs and issues, then identifying and
implementing solutions so users can stay productive with minimal technical interruption.
Data and Information Management
The IT function focuses on the efficient storage and dissemination of organization data and information to
support its effective use. IT professionals build systems to enable storage, retrieval, analysis, and use of
organization data and information with an eye on disaster recovery and business continuity to mitigate the
high costs of losing data.
Networks
Networks support communication between the elements of an IT system. They are put in place to enable the
exchange of data between organizational servers and to give employees access to resources. This includes any
remote employees. Networking technologies rely on hardware and software to connect computer systems and
