Introduction to IS & Fundamental Concepts

Infsy 540Dr. R. Ocker

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Information Systems and Their Capabilities Chapter 1: Introduction to Information Systems and Their Capabilities

Foundations of Information Systems

Vladimir ZwassVladimir Zwass

Chapter 1:Introduction to Information Systemsand Their Capabilities

Chapter 2:Fundamental Concepts of IS

First EditionFirst Edition

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What are some characteristics of today’s business environment?

Characteristics of today’s business environment:

globalization global marketplace global competition global work groups global information systems

Characteristics of today’s business environment:

transformation of industrial economies knowledge and information-based

economies productivity innovation time-based competition shorter product life turbulent environment

Characteristics of today’s business environment:

transformation of the organization flatter decentralized flexible collaborative work and teamwork empowered workforce lower operating costs

Transformation of the Business Enterprise traditional business firm -

hierarchical centralized standard operating procedures for mass production

new style of business firm - flatter decentralized flexible arrangement of generalists and specialists

Transformation of the Business Enterprise

similar to a symphony consist of knowledge workers

college educated members of profession (e.g., engineers,

doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc.) jobs consist primarily of creating new

information and knowledge IT has evolved to enable and support new

form of organization

What is an information system (IS)? interrelated components working together

to – collect, process, store, disseminate

information

to support – decision making, coordination, control,

analysis, and visualization in an organization

Components of an IS

Hardware software databases telecommunications (networks) human resources (system professionals

and end users) procedures (specifications for the use,

operation, & maintenance of IS)

3 activities in an IS produce information 1. input - capture of raw data 2. processing - conversion,

manipulation, and analysis of raw input 3. output - distribution of processed

information CBIS - computer-based information

system - our focus in this course

Information vs. Data

information technology =IS + telecommunications

information - data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to humans

data - raw facts before they have been organized and arranged into a form useful to people

Information is a corporate resource...

Attributes of Quality Information

Timely complete concise relevant accurate precise appropriate form

Business perspective on IS

an IS is an organizational and management solution, based on IT, to solve a business problem

to use IS effectively, must understand organization - e.g. culture knowledge workers - users of technology management - diff. levels require diff. types of

systems role of IT within the organization

Sociotechnical Perspective

We will take a sociotechnical perspective on IT - the technology and the organization must mutually adjust to one another to achieve satisfactory fit

task

technology people

structure

Different kinds of systems

Organizations and info. systems can be divided into four levels:– operational-level

– knowledge-level

– management-level

– strategic-level

Organizational information systems provide: knowledge-work support support knowledge and data workers in an

organization; help workers design products, distribute information, and cope with paperwork; fastest growing applications

operational support monitor low-level activities and

transactions of the organization

Organizational information systems provide: management-level support support management activities of

monitoring, controlling, decision-making, and administrative activities of middle managers

executive-level support support long-range planning activities of

senior management

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Information SystemsInformation Systems

Interorganizational Systems

Support ofKnowledge Work

OrganizationalSupport

ManagementSupport

Pro-fessionalSupportSystems

OfficeInfo.

Systems

Execu-tiveInfo.

Systems

DecisionSupportSystems

Mgmt.ReportingSystems

Tran-saction

ProcessingSystems

Six Major types of Systems

TPS transaction processing systems MRS management reporting

systems DSS decision support systems

EIS executive information systems PSS professional support systems OIS office information systems

1. TPS transaction processing systems

operational level perform and record daily routine

transactions necessary to conduct the business

2. MRSmanagement reporting systems

Used by managers responsible for specific

functions or processes in a firm

provide routine summary and exception

reports

managers use these reports to help control

their area of responsibility

3. DSSdecision support systems

Designed to support individual and

collective decision making

often use information from external

sources

more analytical power than other types

of systems

4. EISexecutive information systems strategic level of the organization

support long-term, strategic view

used by senior executives

easy access to summarized company data

incorporate external information on

industry and economy

5. PSSprofessional support systems Support performance of tasks specific

to a given profession For example

lawyers doing legal research architects designing buildings designers modeling a new automobile

6. OASoffice information systems support and help coordinate knowledge

work in an office environment emphasis on increased productivity systems include e-mail, scheduling

systems, word processing

7. Expert Systems (ES) Branch of Artificial Intelligence suggest a decision based on a knowledge base (rather than

a data base) incorporate heuristics

– informal “rules of thumb” ES can be incorporated into all types of

IS or can be used as stand-alone system

Information Architecture

particular form that IT takes in an organization to achieve goals

computer systems base - HW, SW, data, telecommunications operated by technical people

Information Architecture Managers design an organization’s

information architecture decide how to arrange and coordinate the

various computer technologies and business system applications to meet the information needs of each level of the organization – operational, knowledge, management,

strategic more details next lecture

10 Principal capabilities of IS

1. Fast and accurate data processing with large-capacity storage and rapid communication between sites

2. Instantaneous access to information 3. Means of coordination 4. Boundary spanning 5. Support for decision making

10 Principal capabilities of IS

6. Supporting organizational memory and learning

7. Routinizing organizational practice 8. Differentiation of products and

services 9. Modeling 10. automation

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Key Terms in Chapter 1 & 2Key Terms in Chapter 1 & 2

Information SystemsInformation Systems LiteracyKnowledge WorkTransaction Processing SystemManagement Reporting SystemDecision Support System Executive Information SystemProfessional Support SystemOffice Information SystemExpert SystemInterorganizational System

Information SystemsInformation Systems LiteracyKnowledge WorkTransaction Processing SystemManagement Reporting SystemDecision Support System Executive Information SystemProfessional Support SystemOffice Information SystemExpert SystemInterorganizational System

ComputerSoftwareHardwareTelecommunicationsComputer NetworkInternetWorld Wide WebCoordinationBoundary-SpanningOrganizational MemoryModelAutomationBusiness ProcessBusiness Process RedesignSociotechnical Perspective

ComputerSoftwareHardwareTelecommunicationsComputer NetworkInternetWorld Wide WebCoordinationBoundary-SpanningOrganizational MemoryModelAutomationBusiness ProcessBusiness Process RedesignSociotechnical Perspective

PlanningControllingLeadingOrganizingInformation Systems Architecture

PlanningControllingLeadingOrganizingInformation Systems Architecture