261446 Information Systems

1. 261446 Information Systems Dr. Kenneth Cosh Lecture 1

2. I.S. • 261446 • 3(3-0-6) credits. • Dr. Kenneth Cosh • Office: • Notes: www.kencosh.com • Class Time: 13:00-14:30 – Tu/Fri • Assessment: • Quizzes (10%) • Case Study Presentations (20%) • Assignments (20%) • Midterm (20%) • Final (30%)

3. Course Description บทนำเกี่ยวกับระบบสารสนเทศและบทบาทของระบบสารสนเทศในองค์กร ลักษณะเฉพาะขององค์กรผลกระทบในด้านจริยธรรมและสังคมที่เกิดจากระบบสารสนเทศคอมพิวเตอร์และการประมวลผลสารสนเทศการสื่อสารโทรคมนาคม การวางแผนและการออกแบบองค์กรด้วยระบบสารสนเทศ การจัดการระบบสารสนเทศ ระบบสารสนเทศสำหรับผู้บริหาร ระบบสนับสนุนการตัดสินใจ ระบบผู้เชี่ยวชาญ ระบบสารสนเทศระหว่างองค์กรและระบบสารสนเทศระหว่างประเทศ

4. Course Description (2) • Introduction to information systems and the role of information systems in organizations. Characteristics of the ethical and social impacts of computing, information processing systems and telecommunications. Planning and design of enterprise information systems. Management information systems. Information Systems for Management. Decision support systems. Expert system. Inter enterprise information systems and information systems between countries.

5. Today’s Topic • Foundation Concepts

6. Information Systems • “Interrelated components working together to collect, process, store and disseminate information to support decision making, coordination, control, analysis and visualisation in an organisation.” (Laudon) • Key: Collecting (Input), Processing, Disseminating (Output) ‘Information’. • But what is Information?

7. From Data to Wisdom • Data: symbols • Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and "when" questions • Knowledge: application of data and information; answers "how" questions • Understanding: appreciation of "why" • Wisdom: evaluated understanding. (Ackoff)

8. What is an Information System? • “An information system can be any organised combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks, and data resources that collects, transforms and disseminates information in an organisation.” (O’Brien).

9. What is Information Technology? • Technologies are ‘devices’ which can assist with the working of the information system; • Paper and Pencil (Hardware) • Word of Mouth (Communication Networks) • Filing Cabinet (Data Resource) • Mostly we will be interested in computer based technology.

10. What is a System? • “Group of interrelated or interacting elements forming a unified whole.” (O’Brien) • Physical Systems (Weather Systems, Solar Systems) • Biological Systems (Human body) • Educational Systems (Schools, Universities) • Information Systems…

11. Systems • Systems have 3 basic elements; • Input: the ‘things’ which enter the system, (food, orbits, high / low pressure systems, data) • Processing: transformation process to convert input into output, (breathing, mathematical calculations) • Output: Transferring the transformed elements to their ultimate destination, (Physical movements, information) Input Processing Output

12. Feedback and Control • The System becomes more useful when there is Feedback and Control; • Feedback: data about system performance • Control: monitoring and evaluating feedback to determine whether the system is moving towards achieving it’s goal and then adjusting where necessary. Input Feedback & Control Processing Output

13. System Example • A Thermostat self-regulating Air Conditioning. • Input: Current room temperature. • Processing: Comparison with desired temperature • Output: Either On or Off • Feedback & Control: Ability of human user to adjust temperature.

14. Further System Concepts • Sub-systems • Systems rarely exist within a vacuum, they are normally part of some environment (or greater system). • Interfacing Systems • Often multiple systems share the same environment, in which case they often interact / have shared interfaces • The output of one system could be the input of the next (stock control figures are passed as input to sales department). • Adaptive Systems • Some systems have the ability to change itself or it’s environment in order to survive.

15. Information Systems • Collects data inputs, transforms them into information outputs and disseminates the information around an organisation. • Remember O’Brien’s quote? • “An information system can be any organised combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks, and data resources that collects, transforms and disseminates information in an organisation.” • Information Systems are comprised of 5 major types of resource; • People, Hardware, Software, Communication, Data

16. A Computer…for Dummies! • Input Devices • Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Scanner… • Output Devices • Monitor, Printer, Speaker… • Processor • CPU • Storage Capabilities • Main memory (RAM), Secondary memory (Hard Disk, CD’s etc.)

17. Information System Resources • People • Hardware • Software • Data • Network (Communication)

18. People Resources • End Users - the people who use the information systems. E.g. Customers, salespeople, engineers, clerks, accountants, all of us! • IS Specialists - the people who develop, implement and maintain the information systems. E.g. software developers, analysts, support staff.

19. Hardware Resources • Physical, Tangible devices & materials used in information processing. • Machines - PC’s, monitors, printers etc. • Media - disks, printouts, paper etc.

20. Software Resources • Information Processing Instructions • Programs (system, application software) • OS, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, payroll etc. • Procedures (Operating Instructions) • Data Entry procedures, paycheck distribution procedures

21. Data Resources • Databases • Knowledge Bases • Data vs Information? • Data - Raw material resources • Information - Processed data into meaningful product.

22. Network Resources • Communication Media • Cables, fibre optics, cellular, wireless • Network Support • Technologies to support the network, modems, internet browsers etc.

23. Vital Roles of IS within Business • Support of Business Processes and Operations • Help with automating processes • Support of Decision Making by its employees and managers • Ensure necessary information is available to make decisions • Support of its strategies for competitive advantage • Drive an organisation’s strategy

24. System Types • Operations Support Systems • Systems which process data • Transaction Processing Systems • Processing data from business transactions, such as sales and inventory processing • Process Control Systems • Monitoring and controlling business processes, such as calibration control for industrial production • Enterprise Collaboration Systems • Systems supporting team work, communications etc. such as email, chat or videoconferencing

25. System Types • Management Support Systems • Supporting effective management decision making • Management Information Systems • Provide information in prespecified reports, such as sales analysis, cost trends. • Decision Support Systems • Adhoc support for decisions, such as sales simulations • Executive Information Systems • Systems which collect information from many sources to produce strategic information, such as information about key competitors.

26. System Types • Other Systems • Expert Systems • Knowledge based systems that provide expert advice, such as equipment diagnostics or A.I. share trading advice • Knowledge Management Systems • Systems supporting the creation, organisation and dissemination of business knowledge, such as an intranet • Strategic Information Systems • Applying IT to gain a strategic advantage, such as online shipment tracking. • Cross Functional Systems • In practice, there is a lot of overlap between system functions.

27. Changing Role of IS • IS is performing an increasingly important role within organisations, that role is changing. • Technology Push effects • Business Pull effects

28. Technology - ‘Push’ • Increased Capability • Improved Processing & Storage • Improved Connection • Networks • Internet • Comparative Cost reductions

31. Business - ‘Pull’ • Factors encouraging organisations to increase their use of I.T. • Political Factors • Economic Factors • Social Factors • Technological Factors

32. Changing Role of IT in Organisations • 4 Era’s of Technology • DP Era (Data Processing) • MIS Era (Management Information Systems) • SIS Era (Strategic Information Systems) • Internet Era

33. DP Era (50’s-60’s) • Purpose : AUTOMATE • Form : Mainframe • Limitations : Hardware • Focus : Programming • Ownership : Computer Dept., Remote from users • Objectives : lower costs, make use of technology

34. MIS Era (70’s-80’s) • Purpose : INFORMATE • Form : Distributed Processing - PC’s • Limitations : Software • Focus : Identifying User’s needs • Ownership : Regulated by management, available as service • Objectives :Supporting management, meeting users’ needs

35. SIS Era (80’s-90’s) • Purpose : TRANSFORMATE • Form : Networking • Limitations : Management Vision • Focus : Identifying Business Opportunities • Ownership : Executives, Linked to business functions • Objectives : Supporting Business, meeting business needs.

36. Internet Era (Now!) • Purpose : ???...MATE • Form : Internet • Limitations : ??? Viability of Business Models • Focus : ??? Reach and Range • Ownership : Everyone - central to whole business • Objectives : it IS the business.

37. Mobile Era? • Ubiquitous / Pervasive Computing?